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View Full Version : How many grams a day is a healthy target for gaining?



snakegetters
09-16-2006, 02:52 PM
How many grams a day should baby grey squirrels be gaining at various stages of their development? What is a healthy target range? Is there a chart I can access that will show my target numbers?

island rehabber
09-16-2006, 03:31 PM
Several of my sources say 7grams per day is good average weight gain for grey squirrels.

snakegetters
09-16-2006, 03:33 PM
How much will this vary at various stages of their development?

Critter_Queen
09-18-2006, 10:27 AM
I was told that any gain is considered a good thing.

Here's my experience (one I finally charted)

At less than one week of age, Weez was 30 grams. He grew at a rate of 2-4 grams per day until about the 2 week mark. Then it was 4-8 grams each day from two weeks to about 4 weeks and he has consistantly gained a minimum of 8-12 grams per day since. He is currently 8 weeks old and weighs about 300 grams. He seems to be leveling out a bit with the weight gain now that nearly half of his food intake is solids.

Hope this is helpful!

Oh, and with Oakley...my severely dehydrated and starved squirrel of about 5-6 weeks old started out by gaining 4-8+ grams per day when I got him...he was very underweight and has nearly made up for all his loss in the last 10 days. Went from 108 to 162 in eight days. After 10 days he's at about 200 grams...

sqrlpup
09-18-2006, 12:50 PM
I've found this to be pretty useful...

http://www.squirrel-rehab.org/rehabinfo/infantfeeding.html
Eyes closed,

http://www.squirrel-rehab.org/rehabinfo/eyesopen.html
Eyes open.