Feeding frustrations

[lizharrell1]

My babies, a male and a female, are now about 6 weeks old, eyes have been open for about 10 days. They are both healthy and doing well. My little male, who is smaller than the female, is all about business when it comes to chow time. He runs around crazily for a second, latches onto the nipple, and then goes about filling his little belly. No muss no fuss. My female, on the other hand, thinks that she should take no less than 30-45 minutes to eat, looks at the nipple, sniffs it, inspects it, licks it, looks for the serial number on the nipple (just kidding about that part) and it just takes forever for her to feed. Everyonce in awhile she even has the nerve to glance up at me with her little black squirrely eyes as if to say "Am I aggravating you yet? Am I?" Any suggestions on how to get Queen Bee to feed more efficiently? Also, when can I wean them from their formula? They have just started nibbling cheerios, walnuts and other goodies.
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[lizharrell1]

Also, I am trying to post pics, and am unsure how to do so. I went to attachments and uploaded photos. What next?

[philomycus]

Some squirrels are 'better' feeders than others. Just be persistent with your feedings. I have a lot of little ones right now, so when I go to feed, I sart with the ones that really want to take their time 1st. When they get difficult, I go to the next squirrel, and so on. I play musical squirrels and come back on the one that was being difficult, rotating that one inbetwwen the others. feed her first a little, then feed him and go back to feeding her a second or even thrid time. During weaning, it's hard on them too, becuase htey clearly dont want solids or formula yet, they are in the process of getting their bodies converted over. I wouldn'r be excessively concerned with the amt of formula she's getting if she is aminting a great body weight, because she may be nibbling on solids more than you think.

Also introduce yogurt (they love it and it's a good source of Calcium).

[miraclesquirrel]

Welsome to the world of squirrels and other babies.:) Yes it can be frustrating but every baby is different on how it eats. You must be patient, she get it in her own good time. They are very smart and I'd say she is playing you a bit. She probably is looking for the serial number on the nipple:rotfl .
Squirrels self wean at about ten weeks, although I have had some that months later when new liters came in would "steal" a drink or two just for jollies. Keep the hard foods in there with them, and if you haven't already throw a couple nuts in too. They need to learn the gnaw them open. Great workout for the teeth and jaws.
They sound like they are doing well and as long as they keep gaining it's all good.
Do they have a light source or go out on a porch in a cage or something like that for at least twenty minutes a day. They must have natural light or they will get Metabolic Bone Disease. I am lucky I have a huge back porch that is enclosed with hardware cloth so they get the natural light and get to see the wilds that have me trained to feed them everyday.
Make some of Gamma's squirrel biscuits too, all the right stuff for good health and growth in them. I'm bout ready to taste one for myself, they can't be bad if all mine will chow down on them.
Good luck

[lizharrell1]

What is the best way to introduce foods to them? They seem to just want to "play" with the cheerios, pushing them around and then carrying them and depositing them in a hidey hole of some sort. I have been afraid to leave nibbles in their cage when I am not around for fear they might choke. (My mom had a baby squirrel when I was about 5 and when she was at school (she was a teacher) the little squirrel choked on a pecan. I don't want that to happen to mine.