krysgrandmond
11-09-2014, 12:06 PM
So it's no secret that my Darla is a big bully when it comes to her brothers coming between her and her food, but HOLY COW is she getting big!! Hubby and I joke about her being chunky (I swear, she's going to think her name is Chunky Money), but I know that being overweight can lead to problems as well, so I'd like to get a handle on it now if it's an issue.
They're about 14 weeks old. 3 boys, 1 girl. We feed Harlan Teklad 2018's with about 4-6 HHB's cut up and mixed in the bowl daily, along with a salad mix of endive, romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, celery greens, and kale, and make it interesting every couple of days by adding a bit of either snap peas, acorn squash, sweet potato, asparagus or carrots.
2-3 time per week, all 4 receive a piece of cut up fruit, sometimes apples, sometimes pears, sometimes melon. Once or twice a week, I give them all a nut or two (walnut, almond, pecan or hazelnut) and a couple of times a week, they also get a bowl of FV/Enfamil mix of formula to share.
They have a ready supply of fresh water from two different bottles (they also have 2 block and 2 salad food bowls so that there's no crowding/fighting at the same spot all the time), and a healthy supply of branches, leaves and toys. They play and run around like crazy.
Darla is very active with her brothers, running, playing and wrestling, but is known to "steal" the food right from their mouths if they don't eat it fast enough.
They're all quite healthy. The boys are nice and lean, muscular looking. All 4 of them are very agile (almost acrobatic!), eyes are shiny and full of life, but she is just HUGE in comparison to them! She has started to get her winter coat, VERY fluffy with white spots behind the ears, but the boys haven't yet.
Not sure if there may be a metabolic problem with her, or if females are just prone to put on the extra weight at this time of year? Will try to get a photo comparison later today. She doesn't FEEL much heavier than the boys when I hold her, but the boys feel a little more "solid" if you know what I mean? lol
Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their experiences, as this whole thing has been very much a learning experience for me! :) Thanks!
They're about 14 weeks old. 3 boys, 1 girl. We feed Harlan Teklad 2018's with about 4-6 HHB's cut up and mixed in the bowl daily, along with a salad mix of endive, romaine, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, celery greens, and kale, and make it interesting every couple of days by adding a bit of either snap peas, acorn squash, sweet potato, asparagus or carrots.
2-3 time per week, all 4 receive a piece of cut up fruit, sometimes apples, sometimes pears, sometimes melon. Once or twice a week, I give them all a nut or two (walnut, almond, pecan or hazelnut) and a couple of times a week, they also get a bowl of FV/Enfamil mix of formula to share.
They have a ready supply of fresh water from two different bottles (they also have 2 block and 2 salad food bowls so that there's no crowding/fighting at the same spot all the time), and a healthy supply of branches, leaves and toys. They play and run around like crazy.
Darla is very active with her brothers, running, playing and wrestling, but is known to "steal" the food right from their mouths if they don't eat it fast enough.
They're all quite healthy. The boys are nice and lean, muscular looking. All 4 of them are very agile (almost acrobatic!), eyes are shiny and full of life, but she is just HUGE in comparison to them! She has started to get her winter coat, VERY fluffy with white spots behind the ears, but the boys haven't yet.
Not sure if there may be a metabolic problem with her, or if females are just prone to put on the extra weight at this time of year? Will try to get a photo comparison later today. She doesn't FEEL much heavier than the boys when I hold her, but the boys feel a little more "solid" if you know what I mean? lol
Anyone with insight is encouraged to share their experiences, as this whole thing has been very much a learning experience for me! :) Thanks!