Age for release?

[Rodney Ro-Dent]

I have a baby squirrel that is probably about 10 weeks old. I have had him almost 3 weeks but not quite. He is still getting about 10 cc of puppy milk replacer 3x a day, and I have him in a large bird cage now (it's 33" by 17 by 17, emergency purchase on craigslist hahaha,) with toys, a hammock, some branches, a cuttle bone etc. He was ready to get out of the cat carrier about a week ago but the cage wasn't built yet. He plays in the cage hes in now and we let him out a couple of times a day to play.

We are building him a release cage today based on Pamela Lee's example, hubby just left for Home Depot.

I"m planning to start getting him used to the release cage for a few hours a day over time, we are putting behind my barn so he can come out there while I'm cleaning stalls etc., I think it will work well

I saw a post from someone who said their squirrel is 5 months old and gets 30cc formula in the evening. Does it take that long to get them ready for release or what is the age when they are ready for it? My little guy is eating some nuts and ate a green bean and a piece of carrot, and is interested in some hi dollar rodent chow I got for him. Have also ordered some of Henrys Healthy Blocks.

If he has to stay with me that long, I'm concerned about the winter. Although I am in FL we usually have several hard freezes and frosts, it gets very cold where I am. Often my horse troughs and buckets freeze over. I don't want to have a newly released squirrel trying to figure things out when it's cold out.
I don't have a problem keeping him over the winter, I just want to do what is best for him so that he will have the best chance to survive when he is free.

thanks so much

[Jackie in Tampa]

I live in a normal neighborhood, with cats,dogs, cars and hawks!
I do a slow soft release...
They stay inside until about 4 months old at the very least...however I do roll their cages outside as often as I can for UV...never leaving them in the sun though...always in the shade.
From there we move to The Half Way House, my release cage. Depending on the sq, is how I decide when to open the door. I also provide a few different nest box choices at that time...hanging them close, but high as I can.
The idea is to wild them up...disassociate people, but acclimate them to all the noises and other wilds calls and alerts. I add all the native foods through out the time I have them. Especially while in release cage.
Pamela Lees release cage is a wonderful choice...be sure to use the 1/2 by 1/2 hardware cloth.
You will want to secure the wire well...you are also protecting them from coonies getting in!
NO CHICKEN WIRE!!!!!!!

Others will add their advise and ideas!
Have fun with the hammer...watch the thumbs!!!
We want pics too!:thumbsup
In the freeze ...I wrap moving pads around the entire cage at night and remove during the day...
I also have a heater inside a rabbit cage in the HWHouse...I am a very good {over protective] mommy!

[Rodney Ro-Dent]

I live on a small farm, but I have 11 dogs, the neighbor has a cat, and i have hawks, a couple of owls in my barn loft and various other predators here.

We have a small concrete pad behind the barn that we are going to put his release cage on so he can't dig out and nothing else can dig in, and also put a nest box etc in there for him. The cage will be located right next to a wooded area so he can hear all the forest noises and there are also lots of squirrels in there that he can talk to, plus it's mostly in the shade but there will be areas of sunlight he can get to if he wants.

I figured he can come out there with me for a few hours each morning while I'm in the barn, then come in when I go to work in the afternoon. Then when I'm off I can start leaving him out there for longer periods til he's more comfortable out there.

So I should start him in there in another few weeks, and then just leave him out there but protect him if bad weather or whatever?
I think I may wait til after hurricane season to start leaving him out there.

What kind of wild foods do you add? I have lots of oak trees and so on but they don't have any acorns right now. I have no idea what they eat in the wild.