Not pooping.

[Audrey_Burns]

Ok, so my husband was cutting down a large tree today and, sadly, killed a momma squirrel, and brought her babies home to me. So I know these guys are orphans. They don't appear hurt in any way, and once I warmed them up and rehydrated them they got pretty active.
There are three of them, and I'm thinking they are three weeks old. They have some slight, fuzzy hair on their backs and whisker area, and their bottom teeth are poking through. I have them in a cardboard box, with an old t-shirt for bedding, and under the box I have a heat pad set on the lowest setting, covered with a towel. I fed them electrolyte solution twice, two hours apart, and now have them started on Esbilac. I've fed them three times so far, and on average they take about 0.8 ml or a little less. They are eating great BTW, no aspiration at all so far. I have gotten all three of them to urinate at least twice, but I am worried because I haven't been able to get them to defecate. They spent about 6 or 7 hours away from mom. Is it too soon to worry? Or should I take some sort of action? I'll post some pictures tomorrow, have to buy a camera battery. Any advice?
Thanks,
Audrey
Forgot to add, I'm using 1 part formula and 3 parts water

[TinyPaws]

Sounds like you're doing everything correctly....As far as the heating pad, don't cover the whole bottom, only half...this way they can move off the heat if they get too hot...

As for the pooping...I would just give it more time...them not eating for awhile could explain that, but still keep an eye on it....

Thank you for saving these babies....RIP Mama.....

Do you know what the sexes are?

[Audrey_Burns]

No, I'm not quite sure. But they all look the same, and they look male to me, but I'm totally new at this. These are the first baby squirrels I have ever seen!
I'm glad to know I can give them a bit more time on the poop, it makes me feel quite a bit better. It is also very encouraging how well they took to the formula!

[island rehabber]

Hi Audrey...awful about the mom but I am so glad you're raising her little ones. They should be eating every 3 - 3.5 hours at this point, with one late-night feeding (midnight or 1am if you can. Don't let them go more than 6 hrs without formula or hydration at this age.) Now I will tell you that .8ml is not enough for babies this age and they may become dehydrated. The best thing to do is weigh them on a gram scale, then we can really give you the right amount of formula per feeding. In the meantime, see if you can get at least 1.3 - 1.5ml per feeding into them. (.8ml is more what a little neonate (pinky) would take, and these guys are older according to your description.) As for poops, you may not see them for another day or so, and they will be black. Poops from mamma's milk are black; poops from Esbilac are yellow-to-tan colored. Their first poops will be black and then will change color later on.
After you've had them on diluted Esbilac -- 1 part powder to 3 parts water -- for another day, increase to full strength formula -- 1 part powder to 2 parts water -- from then on. Make sure the formula is VERY warm....the temp it would come from mamma squirrel's body, which is about 102*. Many babies won't eat well if the formula isn't warm enough. Keep up the good work, and we are here to answer all quesetions! :thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

:Welcome :wave123
Thank you for helping!
Welcome to TSB, we have a very informative forum for baby sq info.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56
Be careful, you may fall in love!:jump

[Audrey_Burns]

Update-
Had one poop this morning. I will increase the feeding asap, like as soon as I'm done typing. :) The stools this morning looked like formula stools though. Yellowish in color. The babies are very responsive to touch, and are feeding well. I've been warming the formula using my body temp, but this next feeding I will make sure it feels warm, and not body temp.
These little guys are great. I hope they make it!

[Jackie in Tampa]

I have found some babies really eat better with very WARM formula.
Poop sounds normal color wise.
Great job!:bowdown
:poop :poop :poop :poop :poop :poop we love poops!

[Audrey_Burns]

Well, I think I have three little girls!
BTW My husband couldn't really help but cut the tree down. We had a massive ice storm at the end of January. TONS of trees are destroyed and have to come down. I have a feeling my three are not alone in this. :(
Right now the babies are not too much work for me to handle, although it takes an hour or more to get everyone fed and business taken care of. But, I'm a stay at mom, so I have the time. We love animals and live in a wooded area, so we were hoping to release them near our house if they make it. But I'll certainly let you good people know if they become too much for me to handle. Just finished rehydrating them some more, so I'm off for a nap. Thanks so much,
Audrey

[Audrey_Burns]

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww344/AudreyBurns/pictures003.jpg

Size comparison to a quarter

http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww344/AudreyBurns/pictures004.jpg

[TinyPaws]

OMG!!! Look at those precious babies....They are adorable...Kisses from Auntie Dee.....:grouphug

[pamela lee]

AWWW, You have beautiful pinkies. You had said you thought they are 3 weeks old. They are more like 1-2 weeks old. You should be feeding around the clock every 2-2 1/2 hours. They are sooo sweet, plump and pink.

[Linda and Cooper]

Oh my, be still my heart! How sweet is that? I love the pics!
I remain Squirrel Smitten in Florida,
Linda/FL

[Nancy in New York]

They look adorable. Nice job.

[MsOakley]

I think the tan fur starting on their muzzle would put them at 2-3 weeks. Feeding every 2 1/2 hours sounds right to me. Beautiful babies.

[tree-queen]

it is fairly normal for them not to poop for a while. I just got an orphan and he didnt poop for almost 24 hours after i got him. he just went, earlier today. don't be too worried, but keep stimulating them and try putting them in a container of warm water and rubbing the bodies gently. good luck :) they are sooooooo cute :D:Love_Icon