Is this a good habitat?

[queen05]

Hello All-
I am an animal LOVER, and am considering adopting a pair of Southern Flying Squirrels trapped by a friend of mine who had them constantly chewing into his cattle feed. I hate caging animals in snall spaces, and have a lovely screened porch that is about 8x 10. I am wondering if there is anyone here that has expereince with flying squirrles who can tell me if this space could be made into a suitable habitat for the new babies. It has a nine foot ceiling, and brick floors. My plan is to install sterilized tree braches to give lots of climbing/gliding space, a nice nest box, and feeding stations throughout. Any thoughts?

[CliffordandDaisy'sDad]

Queen we did that to 1/2 of our porch to make Daisy and Clifford a day play room, they are grays. It was luck that welded wire comes in 4ft widths and the uprights on the porch are exactly 4ft apart. We just put up welded wire on the inside and left the screen on the outside.

[queen05]

Dad,
Did you get the welded wire at a home improvement place, and what area would I look for it in? This is going to be a permanent home, as we have inside dogs that I don't think would "socialize" well with squirrels. They will be inside with us some, but mostly we'll be outside with them. I want this to be an extra super play/live space.
Thank you!
Laine

[CliffordandDaisy'sDad]

Ok, now we're talking. ;)

I got it at Home Deposit in building materials. Any building supply or good Hdwr store should have it. I used 1/2" X 1/2" in four foot widths. I think it comes in 25 and 50 ft rolls.
If you want to get really fancy, there's a bronzetone paint you can roll on the wire. Once it's painted brown, it tends to disappear and you don't even see it.
Is your porch wood frame?
You can go to a aluminum shop - someone that makes Al screen inclosures would have it too and a good Hdrw might - and get Al strips. Paint them with the bronzetone paint too.
Once you lay the welded wire over the frame, put the Al strips over the welded wire on the wood framing so they can't get to the wood.

[rehabber]

May I ask why you are not going to release the babies? They will be much happier in the wild where they belong.

[queen05]

While we all know that they would be happier in the wild, and should not have been trapped to begin with, release doesn't look like a viable option. They are now completely tame, and have become accustomed to human contact and regular feeding. They were trapped fairly young, and after visiting with our local rehabers, it looks like it is in their best interest at this point to stay pets. Right now they are in a fairly small cage, so this will be a much larger space for them, with far better diet and care.

[queen05]

OK, what gauge wire should I belooking for? I keep finding everythign from 19 gauge to 25 gauge...and have no idea what to get!

[CliffordandDaisy'sDad]

Standard galvanized after 1/2 X 1/2 is usually 16 gauge. That will be fine and is the easiest to find.

While I'm thinking of it! Make all the outside walls double wired. Put 1/2 X 1/2 on the outside, then leave a gap where the frame is, and 1/2 X 1/2 on the inside again.

That will keep any outside animals from getting to them.

[Momma Squirrel]

Welcome Queen05, my husband and I had flying squirrels, one for 13 years. They are great pets. They do require alot of love and special attention due to their size and habits. You have to have alot of patience and understanding, remember their time is at night and you will need to be there for them. Have you named them? Do you have any pictures. By the way, ours weren't caged, they allowed us to stay in THEIR bedroom and take care of them LOL

[queen05]

Thank you dad-glad to hear 16 gauge is good as the higher the gauge the more expensive! I had already decided I was going to "double screen". I was out there yesterday starting the intense cleaning process that I am putting the space through before I screen and "habitat-ify" (he he) and I found a grass snake. They are pretty tiny this time of year, but it they can eat birds they can hurt my squirrel baby. So, I'll be doubling up.
Momma squirrel, I don't get my new baby until the 21st of May. She/he is coming from Beamont TX. We were going to adopt a pair that were captured that we didn't think were going to be eligable for release, but gladly, they were able to go back. Once I got the idea of a flyer as a pet I couldn't let it go. So, I am a soon to be momma! I'm not sure if it is a girl or boy just yet, but either way, it's name is Trinket.
Thanks dad for all your advice and help!