peeping noises and not really wanting formula

[MomOf2squirrels]

My baby Christopher Columbus has not been wanting his formula I have changed him over from the liquid Esbilac to the one part powdered esbilac with one part whipping cream and 2 parts water. I have omitted the whipping cream last night and today. I didn't think that sounded like a good idea in the first place. I did scald it first though before adding it to the formula. Yesterday and this morning he was making peeping noises when he slept and he slept a lot, but when he was awake he was playing with his brother Galileo. I refer to them as males but they may actually be females I am not really sure. In any case neither baby really seems to like the esbilac But they did take some but not the usual amount today. I am also looking for a vet in Chicago that may see them. No one wants to see squirrels because they are wild animals. So if anyone knows of a vet in Chicago that may help me please let me know. My babies are about 5 - 6 weeks old. All help will be respectfully appreciated.

Licia :thankyou

[virgo062]

Hi momof2squirrels....I feed my babies the whipping cream and the yogurt and they thrive on it. Mine are 4 weeks old and unless they are eating they are sleeping. I have one that sleeps through his feeding. Are they grey squirrels? you can certainly tell if they are boys or girls. It seems like they grow into their penis. I don't think scalding the formula is a good idea but someone will be here shortly to verify that. When I first started with these fellows they didn't care for the formula either until I added the yogurt and/or whipping cream. Don't give up and don't change their formula Esbilac is the best thing you can give them. Good Luck girl :)

[MomOf2squirrels]

Hi Virgo, I don't scald the formula just the whipping cream. I have not added the yogurt. There are so many ways on the internet. It is hard to decide which way to go. I had started them out on the liquid esbilac and they seemed to enjoy that. But since I don't drive I thought it would be better to get the powdered so I could just make what we need. Thanks Virgo I am watching for help. At least Christopher has stopped peeping, And seems active now. I keep trying to give him a little of the formula mixed with water only for now. Thanks again.
Licia

[virgo062]

I use to do the same thing searching all over the internet for information. I have found that to many cooks spoil the soup so I am happy found this site there are many qualified rehabbers here with such knowledge I just stick to what the experts tell me. I have released two squirrels 1 opossom and 3 (very cute ) raccoons but this is my first experience with pinkies and I rely heavily on these opinions. They all say the powder is best but if your babies like the liquid then I would go for it. One thing that works for me is patience we are dealing with wild animals and they will dictate to us what they want or need. Also do you have them on a feeding schedule? And did you turn them over to see if they are male or female? I hope they are males considering their name...lol

[lizharrell1]

Hi Mom of 2 Squirrels, and welcome to the Board. Congrats on your 2 babies and for caring for them. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, babies will refuse a feeding, often because, once their eyes are open, there are so many new and exciting things to look at. The only purpose for adding heavy whipping cream into their formula is to give them additional fat, and scalding the cream would break down the fat molecules in the cream. So in my opinion, you would be better off NOT adding the cream if you are going to scald it. For some of my pickier eaters at that age, from time to time, I would occasionally add a little stage 1 baby applesauce to the formula (and I do mean A LITTLE) to get them interested in eating. Just hang on though, I know our more experienced rehabbers will be on shortly, and just to prepare you EVERYONE ON HERE WILL WANT TO SEE PICS!!!!!!:jump

[virgo062]

May I also add that Chris' squirrels and more on the internet has fantastic prices on Esbilac. I normally pay $18.00 for 12 ounces and they have it $22.95 for 28 ounces.

[lizharrell1]

I meant to ask: are both babies eyes open?

[MomOf2squirrels]

Thanks Virgo and Liz. I will try and keep them on the powder and maybe add a little applesauce like liz says. I think the peeping noises were just squirrel noises but Christopher worries me because he is sleeping an awful lot but when he is awake he does play and roll around and fight with Galileo. Maybe they are just being fussy. And it is true about them being interested in their world around them. plus I had them at work with me the past 2 days and they were not as free as they usually are. I only had experience with one squirrel before these two and he was already on solids when we found him wandering around in our front yard one cold spring night in April. he had no interest in formula I released him in the third week of august and he is doing fine. I see him but he doesn't come back here. and just stops for a minute when I call him and he looks at me and scampers off.I found that odd cause I felt like he really liked it here. But am glad he didn't go far and he is okay. I left his cage out but he never returned except maybe to get some ohio chestnuts I left there. but it could have been another squirrel in the area too. And then these two little sweeties were sent my way. They were so small and weak I didn't think they would survive the night and Christopher was injured. Galileo didn't even have his eyes open yet. It's been about 2 weeks now. They are lots of work and responsibility but I love them so and am happy to care for them.

[lizharrell1]

There is also the possibility that they are older than you estimate. I read your other thread, describing how you found them. When did Galileo open his eyes? They usually open their eyes around the 35th day or 5 weeks. If your babies are around 7-8 weeks now, he could also be refusing because he is trying to self wean. The two I had last summer, Sophie and Spyro, did just that. Around 8 weeks, it was like all of a sudden they both just wanted nothing further to do with it. They were eating plenty of fruits and veggies, and did just fine.

[virgo062]

I just mix my formula with warm tap water then I boil a cup full so that I can sit the formula in it to keep it warm. I never scald their formula. Hey I released nut nut 2 at first he returned every night to play then the visits got shorter and now sometimes he stays and sometimes he just scurrys off after eating. I am glad because that means I did a good job raising him. I'm glad you are enjoying little Christopher and Galieo they have a way of tugging on your heart strings don't they? Just stay with this site the rehabbers can help you with anything you need....Now where are those pic's?????

[MomOf2squirrels]

They were found by my niece Thursday August 27 By Sunday night on the 30 Galileo opened one eye. I compared them with pictures on the internet and figured Christophers eyes were open because he may have received trauma from falling out of his nest But he also could have opened them naturally too. Christopher was bleeding around his nose and mouth when he was found. The pictures of 4-5 week old squirrels still had their eyes closed, So maybe they are older. They do eat some solids like pecans and henry's healthy rodent blocks they chew on but still have a hard time. I put some a piece of collard greens in their with them and they couldn't rip it apart yet very well. And at least with the formula I know they are getting all their vitamins and minerals they need. Their front teeth are still tiny and hardly out. their bottom teeth are nice and sharp. I know cause sometimes when they nibble on my fingers in play, they really chomp down. They don't break skin but I say ouch! Very loudly I might add, and they immediately stop. Thanks for all your suggestions and ideas they are helpful I have been worrying about Christopher all yesterday and today and it really helps to have other squirrel lovers for moral support and advice. I do have pictures but when I tried to download them it said the pictures were invalid. I don't know why it would say that. My employer took them with her cell phone. Maybe that's why.

[JLM27]

If you have the pics in your computer and you can view them, maybe you can re-save them in a file type that TSB will take. There is a list of these file types at the bottom of the picture upload pull down.

[MomOf2squirrels]

JLM, Thanks but I found out why my pics didn't upload. My picture files are too big. But my son said later he would take a picture of them. And everyone else who has been helping thank you very much. I gave them some more formula a little while ago and they took it better this time and after I fed them that I wiped off their little milk faces and gave them a piece of the henry's healthy squares I think I found the link on this site. They were eating them but still have a hard time with them because they're teeth are still little. But they seem to be doing better. I think Christopher Columbus is just a weak squirrel. Maybe from whatever happened the day someone killed his mother. He was bleeding when my niece found him. I also noticed he does not sit on his hind legs as well as his brother does. He falls over when trying to eat in an upright position. He sometimes eats hunched over or lying on his side. Well I have to get going now. The babies are sleeping and I have a chance to take care of myself and the house a little bit. Thanks again everyone.
Licia

[JLM27]

OK. So there is a way to resize them, but I forget the free download name. Anybody?

[MomOf2squirrels]

Thank you very much to everyone who offered help to me I ended up adding mashed banana only a thin slice in the formula for Christopher Columbus and Galileo They ate it like a couple little piggy babies, It was good to see them eat like that. They are also eating a lot more solids and only seem interested in their AM feeding and bedtime feeding. In between that, they love the Henry's Healthy blocks but I cut them into fourths, also they eat different veggies like endive, zucchini, green pepper, apple and banana. They are very playful and active and so gentle, sometimes they get a bit carried away with each other but usually when there is food involved. I also give them pecans and horse chestnuts. Their tails are almost as bushy now as adults It will be too cold to set them free when they are big enough so I will wait till spring. I saw the first squirrel I released today he didn't let me touch him but he did get very close and took some pecans from me. I was glad to see he is still alive and also careful in crossing the street. He prefers to climb the tree and cross the street via a telephone line. I thought that was quite interesting but on his way back he crosses the actual street. He did this several times while I watched him. Anyway thanks again everyone.
Licia

[crazysquirrels]

At about 10 weeks mine slapped the milk out of my hand. Refused it. So onto foor they went. Glad they are eating and doing well.

[MomOf2squirrels]

Well so far mine are eagerly sucking all the formula from the eyedropper and fighting each other for it. I used to take them out to feed them but found it is better to do it through the bars because they get into the little cup and get the formula everywhere trying to suck it up from the double shot glass I use with the eyedropper. They are eating solids pretty well too. They have not figured out the drinking bottle on the side of the cage yet. I keep trying to show them but they seem afraid of it and prefer to drink the water that drips into the dish I keep under the metal drinking tube. They are getting so big they almost look like miniature adult squirrels. Seems their tails get bushier every day. They are the most adorable precious things. I am sure I enjoy them more than my sons who are grown now. They love to come out of their cage too and scamper around the kitchen. They never seem to let me out of their site unless they get tired and then they walk into my room that is off the kitchen and climb up into my bed and hide under a pillow and curl up to sleep with their fat little tummies full. I think I could get used to helping baby squirrels grow up.