I tried to search for all the other Darcy's (Ensure) thread, but couldn't find answer to my question. Not sure if I missed it...

I have someone from other country intersted in feeding his gliders Ensure, since it's difficult to buy ingredients of other diets. Once you open the bottle Ensure and mix in the calcium, how do you store the mixture? Do you freeze it like BML and HPW? If you only refridgerate it, how long does it last before it goes bad?

Thank you!

Not sure as we do not feed the Darcy diet, but I am sure someone who does will be around shortly to assist!

I just saw this post, sorry for the delay.

Once the ensure is opened and mixed, I store mine in the fridge. Depending on how many gliders they have a bottle could last them a week ( for a pair ). I haven't had any problem with any of my parents having theirs in the fridge that long, but you can pour the mixed ensure into ice cube trays and freeze if it is a concern.

I also store the Ensure in the fridge. I think one bottle lasts about a week for my pair and I have had no problems keeping it in the fridge for that long. In the past I have tried freezing it in ice cube trays but found it to be more trouble than it was worth.

The plan per glider each night (as far as I know) is:
1 tablespoon Ensure
1 tablespoon mixed fruits & veggies
1 tablespoon protein (any from the list you posted but not limited to any one in paticular).

thats what ive heard im actually thinking bout switching because i drink ensure every morning for breakfest!!! With a piece of fruit... but it comes in packs of 6 and i only drink 5 of the six a week. sooo always have an extra lol!

thank you for all the feedbacks!

HappyToBeHere - keep in mind it is not plain Ensure - it needs to have additional calcium mixed in it.

If you add water to your ensure to mix the calcium, you need to feed alittle more each night to make up for the water. I usually give 3 TBS for each pair. Some nights it's all gone, some nights there is alittle left.

Also, it's 1 TBS of fruits AND 1 TBS of veggies for each suggie each night, along with the protein and mixed ensure.

You can freeze Ensure as well. Just make sure you shake, pour, shake, pour, shake pour, etc. The consistency changes slightly but mine would all still eat it well.

I only give mine Ensure as a supplement and find that they don't like it and will not eat it well if it has been refrigerated more than 5 days. When the company was contacted several years ago, I believe they said it should not be kept longer than 3 days in the fridge (but I don't think that thread is around anymore).

I contacted the Ensure company about a year ago and asked about freezing it. they said they really had no idea how long it can be kept in the freezer, as they have never tested that. But they did say it was safe to freeze, but that the consistency and appearance will be changed as it thaws out, but nutritionally is the same.

there is ensure with added calcium isnt there? I know there is a low fat and then the normal...

you are supposed to use plain ensure and add the calcium, no chocolate and the other ensures have to much sodium in it.
i put 1/2 tsp. plus a dash more of calcium in 1 bottle of plain, regular vanilla ensure. my gliders love it. shake good before each use.

ask tbull she has it down pat.


regards,
nancy in fl/detroit

I haven't checked the ensure with added calcium info, they don't carry it in my town. But all the "special" ensures that I have checked, have much more sodium than the regular. You need to be careful with anything but the regular. My hubby brought home some for me that had "plus" in small letters. When I checked it, it had 100 more calories than the regular! It went right back to the store.

ok so regular ensure and add calcium?

is that the rept calcium? the stuff you can buy like at any pet store thats for reptiles?

Yes regular ensure but NO not reptcal calcium! Human grade calcium citrate. Look at TBull's site http://www.lovegliders.com/ under "diet & Toy info" and you'll see pics and info.

I checked the high calcium ensure before and it has 290 mg of sodium vs 200 mg from the regular sodium!

so no high calcium then either, and thanks!

thanks. you guys dont make me feel like a bad mommy for going back to this diet (GG kept saying how it is for sick gliders etc). I think the important thing is that they r eating right? and getting the vitamins minerals they need?

Darcy's diet was originally created because of/for a glider that had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (Lord Darcy, whom the diet is named for). However, Lord Darcy's owner was very happy with how well Darcy and the rest of her gliders did on the diet. After discussing it with her vet, she continued using it for all of her gliders (with some slight changes, which is why there is a 'sick' version and there is the regular version that is typically fed).

Some people have been concerned about the amount of vitamins in the diet, and the potential for weight gain. Others have been feeding it for a while and very happy with it. It has been a while since Lord Darcy's owner has posted here, but last I heard, she was still feeding Ensure to all of her gliders (including Lord Darcy who has been in remission for years).