How much food to feed

[mpetys]

Hi all,

My MonkeyButt is about 7.5 weeks old. He is on Fox Valley formula but seems to play around a lot with it. What I mean is that he will eat and then he tires of it and refuses it. Then he will take it but doesn't suckle but instead kind of chews or gnaws on the nipple.

He has been getting rat blocks up to this point. I did give him some avocado earlier on but he almost choked on it and someone recommended just keeping him on formula and the rat block for now.

Well, I want to know if he is at an age that I can start feeding him the Henry's Healthy Blocks in the morning, veggies during the day and treats in the evening, along with as much of the formula he will still take. Is this an okay plan?

He does sit up now to eat. I let him try some things today. He prefers peas over green beans. He loved the mushroom. He went nuts over the cilantro and was kinda "ehh" with the Belgium endive. I just presented him with a small assortment. At the end, I gave him a blueberry. He was in heaven. After some nibbling, he wanted his formula and after he had his fill, he drifted off to sleep.

Am I hurrying him along? What do ya'll recommend as for how much of veggies I should present to him now. How much when he weaned? How much of the treats? How much when he is weaned? I currently have rat blocks but will be placing an order for Henry's Healthy Blocks. That is to be in place of the rat block, right?

Thanks for all your help.

Michele in Tampa

[mpetys]

Bumping this, hoping for some answers.:)

Michele in Tampa

[virgo062]

At his age he should be on solid food...But give him the formula as long as he will take it. If you read my past posts you will see I am not the expert on nutrition:rotfl but I'm trying...Here's what I know...No "junk" food. Start him on the HB and see the nutrition section for healthy veggies. If Monkeybutt is going to be released bring in some outdoor stuff for him to knibble on. I always had fresh clover, grass and my poor roses and they loved it.

[island rehabber]

Michelle it's WONDERFUL that MB is eating his rat blocks and he'll probably like HHB's even better. Blocks should be the main staple of his diet as he weans himself off formula. He's young to be weaning, though, so continue to offer him formula even if he tapers down to 4-5cc's a day. It's giving him the calcium he needs. Veggies are great and eventually he'll be eating only blocks & veggies....watch the fruits and nuts because they will give him that sweet tooth, and next thing you know ithat will be ALL he wants to eat....:nono :)

[virgo062]

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And Keylime Pie:poke

[lizharrell1]

Yeah....ABOUT the blueberries. I just offered Brenna and Tessa blueberries the other day and yep they love them. The problem is this: their cage looked like a crime scene after they were done with them. Pinkish purple EVERYWHERE and I DO MEAN EVERYWHERE!! And just in case anyone is wondering: nope, you CAN"T get blueberry stains off of the nest box. Trust me. I tried!:D

[virgo062]

yup keep in mind whatever you feed monkeybutt will wind up on the floor and the walls...I don't know how they do it:thinking

[lizharrell1]

And why is, when they eat avocado, they smack REALLY loud and chew like their little lives depend on it. I mean, it is an AVOCADO. Really no chewing needed!:dono

[virgo062]

I guese it's the same as us eating chocolate cake...:rotfl Sorry I jacked up your thread

[lizharrell1]

I'm sorry too!!!:D

[mpetys]

I'm so glad I bumped my original post. Thanks for all the replies.

virgo062, I have brought in oak branches for him and acorns. Have not tried any grass or clover.

island rehabber - MonkeyButt is still on his formula. I did switch to the Day One 20/50 formula for squirrels over 4 weeks old. I have read on this board that a lot of people keep them on the 32/40 and don't even go to the 20/50. When I placed my order, I ordered one of each. You know, I assumed that maybe MonkeyButt was in the process of weaning himself as he sometimes is not as enthusiastic about it as before and sometimes just chews on the nipple. Now I am wondering if he is one of those squirrels that preferred the 32/40 formula. I have a little bit of that left in the freezer so I may make a batch and see if he is happier with that. I just got an email that my order of HHB are shipping! Yeah. Can't wait to get those. I have found that if MonkeyButt knows there is a blueberry on his plate, he will turn his nose up at the veggies! So the blueberry will be kept out of site until he eats his veggies!

lizharrell1 - I know what you mean about the avocado. MonkeyButt just want to get right into it. I mean, he lays down, stretches out and is in heaven.

I am sure I will be picking everyones brain Saturday at the get together.

Michele in Tampa