The skunk gets "obesity management" cat food. Skunks have a tendency to get overweight in captivity. He also gets a variety of vegetables, and some mealworms.
Yes, they do! Sammy's currently a butterball, even though I watch their intake. I'm currently seperating them to feed, small portions twice a day of veggies, and a mid day snack of a couple mealworms apiece. I make them "find" them. I give a few pieces of kibble each time they are crated. I prefer the higher taurine in ferret food. Lately, I've been supplementing with a half 500 Vit C tab, since Sammy lost most of his coat over the winter for unknown reasons. They both seem to be doing well, now that their weight is more managed. Artie's is good, and his arthritis isn't bothering him now that the weather is warming up.
I didn't realize you had pet skunks! I'd love to see more pictures of them, and I'm interested in what their husbandry is like for you. Skunk diets seem to be very controversial.
I currently have two, a chocolate and white (8) and a champagne and white (6). I used to have 4 total when I was doing domestic skunk rescue, and one time I had 5 babies running around, that came from an illicite breeding. I also know how to descent babies, without surgery. I've taught the method to a few vets that now use it. I have a thing for natural skunk smell, I think it's great! I posted a few outside shots of Sammy recently, Here. He's a ham for the camera. I used to be involved with the various pet skunk groups, and know all about how controversial diet is. I used to have all of mine on the Skunkie Delight (Dr. Pitcairn's recipe). As they matured, bloodwork showed liver damage, anemia, and other diet related problems. I switched them off of it, and now use the ferret food and mealworms, crickets, sometimes a piece of chicken or turkey. Bloodwork looks alot better. Mostly, I go the cheap route, and give frozen veggie mix, defrosted with warm water, but I love it when I can get fresh veggies. Then I'll try giving them whatever's available. They love pumpkin. This year, I'm planting several varieties for the Fall. I have two friends who have different feeding procedures, supplementing diet with various items. Taurine really is a major need. I've noticed improvement overall since offering the Vit C. One friend uses Omnivore food, but she uses it a lot for her program. She also gives hedgehog bug mixes. The boys each have their own large dog crate for sleeping in. I prefer to let them free-roam the house, but Sammy (aka Pixel, the Skunk Who Walks Through Walls) will climb anything and gets a kick out of knocking over cages. He will also mysteriously end up outside. After feeding them this morning, I found him on the front porch. My hubby was on the computer, right by the front door. The screen door was closed, but Sammy still found a way out. I was running around, feeding everyone else, and just happened to notice he was AWOL. They get lots of (normally) supervised out time through the day, but are crated at night and when we're not home. The crates are big enough for a large litterbox, and a blanket. I don't use any litter, just dump and rinse boxes as they are used. They have a couple of litterboxes in their favorite potty spots while out, as well. Pet skunks really do much better being given free-roam of the house, and I wish I could leave them out all the time. They tend to be more cuddly and interact with humans more. On a side note about the Skunkie D, using cooked brown rice, it makes a great maintenance diet for ferrets. My insulinoma ferrets did very well on it, living 2-3 years longer than expected, and without surgery.
While browsing, I found this site that you may be interested in. Well, horribly disgusted is more like it. It's about dogfighting. It's not pro that, but explains it using the words of people who do it. Just some more fuel for the fire, ya know?
My LJ (and real life) friend lahermite said I should add you as I am becoming a back yeard naturalist at the ripe old age of 51. I very much look forward to reading through your 365 urban species series. Have already learned something new about turkeys and am looking forward to reading more!
Your job is what was my dream job when I was 8. I'm kind of envious. It turns out while I love watching Nature and other science shows on TV, my brain isn't very well-equipped to excel in those tough biology and other science classes I would have needed. So now I'm an English teacher who watches science shows on TV haha. But the point is, I LOVE reading your posts about all this enrichment stuff. It is enrichment for me too!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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When I read "enrichment device" I was half waiting to read an explanation on how this device will aid in creating more baby skunkies.
This was my first thought for some reason
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I posted a few outside shots of Sammy recently, Here. He's a ham for the camera.
I used to be involved with the various pet skunk groups, and know all about how controversial diet is. I used to have all of mine on the Skunkie Delight (Dr. Pitcairn's recipe). As they matured, bloodwork showed liver damage, anemia, and other diet related problems. I switched them off of it, and now use the ferret food and mealworms, crickets, sometimes a piece of chicken or turkey. Bloodwork looks alot better. Mostly, I go the cheap route, and give frozen veggie mix, defrosted with warm water, but I love it when I can get fresh veggies. Then I'll try giving them whatever's available. They love pumpkin. This year, I'm planting several varieties for the Fall. I have two friends who have different feeding procedures, supplementing diet with various items. Taurine really is a major need. I've noticed improvement overall since offering the Vit C. One friend uses Omnivore food, but she uses it a lot for her program. She also gives hedgehog bug mixes.
The boys each have their own large dog crate for sleeping in. I prefer to let them free-roam the house, but Sammy (aka Pixel, the Skunk Who Walks Through Walls) will climb anything and gets a kick out of knocking over cages. He will also mysteriously end up outside. After feeding them this morning, I found him on the front porch. My hubby was on the computer, right by the front door. The screen door was closed, but Sammy still found a way out. I was running around, feeding everyone else, and just happened to notice he was AWOL. They get lots of (normally) supervised out time through the day, but are crated at night and when we're not home. The crates are big enough for a large litterbox, and a blanket. I don't use any litter, just dump and rinse boxes as they are used. They have a couple of litterboxes in their favorite potty spots while out, as well. Pet skunks really do much better being given free-roam of the house, and I wish I could leave them out all the time. They tend to be more cuddly and interact with humans more.
On a side note about the Skunkie D, using cooked brown rice, it makes a great maintenance diet for ferrets. My insulinoma ferrets did very well on it, living 2-3 years longer than expected, and without surgery.
Descenting a Skunk
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http://www.workingpitbull.com/dogfighting.htm
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