Concerns re: Henry's Healthy Blocks

[Izzie]

OMG, Cuds LOVES this food! So it scores 100% in terms of palpability. Thank you all for suggesting it.

I have some concerns though. Has anyone had a laboratory nutrient analysis done on Henry's Healthy Blocks? My vet has reservations about the fact that the label only lists nutrients as percentage of daily value without a quantitative amount of each nutrient listed. I'd love to have an analysis done if it hasn't been already. I guess, based on the website info, they were formulated based on avaiable data re: nutient content of ingredients and nutrient requirements of rats? The finished product, if never tested, could come out not quite as intended. I'm going to looking into the cost of having a nutrient analysis done.

[SammysMom]

Go under search and search henry's healthy blocks. There is SO much info here about them that I am sure your questions will be answered. Good job with your investigating!!!:thumbsup

[Jackie in Tampa]

yes they are yummy...
& well researched.....
btw, my vet thought they were mauhvalous!!!!

[island rehabber]

Izzie, here's a good place to start: the recipe for the blocks, which is FREE to anyone who has the talent/patience/counter space to make their own. :D

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27994

[stepnstone]

:sanp3 I'm not touching this question but I'm sure the answers are going to be coming here directly.
My baby loves her HHB's

[Izzie]

What I'm really concerned about here is that some vitamins and other trace nutrients are degraded by heat. So unless a laboratory analysis has been done on the finished product...

Also the nutrient guidelines for rats upon which HHB's are based are calculated as amount per kg of food "on an as fed basis for diets containing 10% moisture and 3.8 - 4.1 ME/g and should be adjusted for diets containing differing moisture and energy concentrations". AND "concentrations represent the minimal requirements and do not include a margin of safety."

Since HHB does not list moisture or energy content... I find this a little troubling. Not to say HHB's are not good. I'd just like more information. I can get most of these questions answered for under $60 by sending a bag out to a laboratory for analysis.

[SammysMom]

:goodpost :goodpost :goodpost

[Jackie in Tampa]

Here's JITs analysis...
sick sqs get happy and well...:p

hi jack!:wave123

[CritterMom]

Easy guys! I think I remember Izzy is a vet tech or similar and so has a lot of access to a vet that she likely gets to have all kinds of academic conversations with.

Please let's not do this...

[Scooterzmom]

Izzie, here's a good place to start: the recipe for the blocks, which is FREE to anyone who has the talent/patience/counter space to make their own. :D

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27994

The great thing about the blocks is they ARE easy to make. The trick is to be organized: weigh and grind the nuts, have all your ingredients ready, plus some corn oil or coconut oil on the side, your cookie sheet lined with foil on standby, your oven preheated... and there you go. They're a cinch to make, especially if you have a big electric mixer - with one of those you don't even need to get your hands oily ;)

[mpetys]

The great thing about the blocks is they ARE easy to make. The trick is to be organized: weigh and grind the nuts, have all your ingredients ready, plus some corn oil or coconut oil on the side, your cookie sheet lined with foil on standby, your oven preheated... and there you go. They're a cinch to make, especially if you have a big electric mixer - with one of those you don't even need to get your hands oily ;)

Ahhh! Big electric mixer. That is what I need! :D I have been wanting one of those mixers on the stand for years (20 plus years that I can remember!). I may have to treat myself to one soon. Everytime I go to Costco or Sam's Club, I drool over them. But now that I can say it is needed for the squirrels, I think I can justify the expense by Christmas. It will be my gift to myself!

[stepnstone]

Easy guys! I think I remember Izzy is a vet tech or similar and so has a lot of access to a vet that she likely gets to have all kinds of academic conversations with.
Please let's not do this...

:thumbsup CritterMom! ... I also want to applaud 4S for remaining on a professional level. :bowdown

Until we have knowledge, everything is a learning experience...

[mpetys]

:thumbsup CritterMom! ... I also want to applaud 4S for remaining on a professional level. :bowdown

Until we have knowledge, everything is a learning experience...

:goodpost

And what just amazes me is how all this knowledge and learning experience is FREE for the asking. I have learned so much this past year from TSB members. One thing I have learned is that there are no dumb questions and the worst thing we can do is to make someone afraid to ask questions.

[Pierre]

:thumbsup CritterMom! ... I also want to applaud 4S for remaining on a professional level. :bowdown

Until we have knowledge, everything is a learning experience...


:goodpost

[Pierre]

:goodpost

And what just amazes me is how all this knowledge and learning experience is FREE for the asking. I have learned so much this past year from TSB members. One thing I have learned is that there are no dumb questions and the worst thing we can do is to make someone afraid to ask questions.


:goodpost

[island rehabber]

Let's keep it civil, folks, okay? If you feel the need to be snarky about something, keep it in PM's, or keep it to yourself. :shakehead

[jo_schmoe]

Ahhh! Big electric mixer. That is what I need! :D I have been wanting one of those mixers on the stand for years (20 plus years that I can remember!). I may have to treat myself to one soon. Everytime I go to Costco or Sam's Club, I drool over them. But now that I can say it is needed for the squirrels, I think I can justify the expense by Christmas. It will be my gift to myself!
Check out Kohls when they have their big sales....I picked up my big Kitchen Aid for about 300 bucks there on sale. I love it so much I think I may have it placed in with me when I die. LOL

[rehabber]

Have not been here in a long while, but received 2 grown grey squirrels in for me to release out here in the country and they were raised on Henry's with lots of fruits and veggies. They were beautiful and after a few weeks to get used to the place were released without a problem. I have never used this with any of my babies and have wondered if it was used much. I have always used ZuPreem Dry Primate Chow that I grind up with some pecans to make a powder. I then mix it with Mott's applesauce to make marble size balls, have never had a squirrel that did not love it. Started this when I had my NR, BB as he could not hold food so had to be soft that he could eat out of a bowl.

[momma2boo]

Have not been here in a long while, but received 2 grown grey squirrels in for me to release out here in the country and they were raised on Henry's with lots of fruits and veggies. They were beautiful and after a few weeks to get used to the place were released without a problem. I have never used this with any of my babies and have wondered if it was used much. I have always used ZuPreem Dry Primate Chow that I grind up with some pecans to make a powder. I then mix it with Mott's applesauce to make marble size balls, have never had a squirrel that did not love it. Started this when I had my NR, BB as he could not hold food so had to be soft that he could eat out of a bowl.

What you have done with yours sounds similar to what I do. I use Harlan Teklad, Fox Valley Formula, Pecans ... grind and mix with babyfood fruit. (I add a couple other things like organic cocunut oil and multidophilus powder)
I've never had a problem with any of my squirrels eating this.

I have no experience with Henry's but many here feed them to their squirrels.

[UDoWhat]

What you have done with yours sounds similar to what I do. I use Harlan Teklad, Fox Valley Formula, Pecans ... grind and mix with babyfood fruit. (I add a couple other things like organic cocunut oil and multidophilus powder)
I've never had a problem with any of my squirrels eating this.

I have no experience with Henry's but many here feed them to their squirrels.

I have used both ideas, Zupreem mixed as you said and the Boo Ball recipe also. I do add FV to the Zupreem mix, however. AND have made my own HHB's from the recipe provided on TSB. All have been good as far as I can tell. When I run out of the ingredients to make my own HHB's, I will treat me and my squirrels to the HHB's that can be purchased on 4Skwerlz's site. (I bought ingredients for a year or more or so it seems. :rotfl ) What was I thinking???:thinking I will continue to use all recipes, as I have different needs for different squirrels too.

Marty

[island rehabber]

I don't bake, and if something has more than 2 ingredients (formula & water :D) my eyes glaze over, so I order and feed the Henry's Healthy Blocks to my rehab squirrels and have been for at least 2 years now. Growth formula for eyes opened-to-release age, and Adult formula or Picky Blocks if I have to (*shudder*) overwinter some. The squirrels love them and I know they are getting their necessary nutrients right there, without me worrying about what else they're (not) eating. :D

[rehabber]

Thanks, when they brought the squirrels, they brought 2 small bags of the blocks and I have tried to get some of my "kids" to try them, but no going. Will keep trying.

elaine

Sometimes your Knight-In-Shining Armor turns out to be a dumbass in some tinfoil!

[MomOf2squirrels]

I have been feeding my Galileo HHB ever since she started eating solid food. she likes them, she is 2 years old now has a nice healthy coat of fur, is energetic and well dispositioned unless she is guarding her nest, she has raised one litter and is currently raising another. She has been healthy all this time with no issues. So for me that is proof enough that the blocks are good for squirrels.

[Jackie in Tampa]

This is THE HENRY!
He is strictly on the Healthy Diet...loves his HHBs...
look at his fur...perfect!
His attitude is what really shows good health...
He is a gentle giant...
Look at his tail!
HHBs!

[Jackie in Tampa]

Just last night {sunday}a local non member, yet TSB reader, has contacted me about the fur on his 4 y/o pet sq...she is having issues and bald spots...
As it turns out he wants to start feeding her monkey biscuts again:nono
He has been feeding boo balls for almost 1.5 years, got the recipe here.
I warned him of the sugar amounts in MBs, and that they are not targeted at sqs. I advised him to start HHBs immediately...he does feed her veggies daily and always has.
I could not speak for the boo balls, as I have no clue the balance of the nutrition levels...{nothing personal, They haven't been analysed yet have they?:peace }
I asked him to join again...but you know how some guys are...:shakehead

All I can say is my sqs have great fur and attitudes....
what more can you ask for!:thumbsup
and they like them!:D

:poke Sometimes it takes tough love to switch sqs to the right diet, so don't budge...they'll eat them Rehabber...

[momma2boo]

Just last night {sunday}a local non member, yet TSB reader, has contacted me about the fur on his 4 y/o pet sq...she is having issues and bald spots...
As it turns out he wants to start feeding her monkey biscuts again:nono
He has been feeding boo balls for almost 1.5 years, got the recipe here.
I warned him of the sugar amounts in MBs, and that they are not targeted at sqs. I advised him to start HHBs immediately...he does feed her veggies daily and always has.
I could not speak for the boo balls, as I have no clue the balance of the nutrition levels...{nothing personal, They haven't been analysed yet have they?:peace }
I asked him to join again...but you know how some guys are...:shakehead

All I can say is my sqs have great fur and attitudes....
what more can you ask for!:thumbsup
and they like them!:D

:poke Sometimes it takes tough love to switch sqs to the right diet, so don't budge...they'll eat them Rehabber...

No, I have not had the Boo Balls analyzed. I have decided that since Fox Valley has been analyzed and Harlan Teklad has been analyzed (two of the three main ingredients that make up the Boo Ball) that I am not going to spend the money that could go into squirrel care on getting it analyzed. Everyone is familiar with pecans, fruit, and coconut oil (the other ingredients).

BTW, Henry's tail is beautiful!

[UDoWhat]

No, I have not had the Boo Balls analyzed. I have decided that since Fox Valley has been analyzed and Harlan Teklad has been analyzed (two of the three main ingredients that make up the Boo Ball) that I am not going to spend the money that could go into squirrel care on getting it analyzed. Everyone is familiar with pecans, fruit, and coconut oil (the other ingredients).

BTW, Henry's tail is beautiful!
:goodpost and I agree, his tail is gorgeous. The girls will be nuts about him, I bet!! :rotfl

[Jackie in Tampa]

No, I have not had the Boo Balls analyzed. I have decided that since Fox Valley has been analyzed and Harlan Teklad has been analyzed (two of the three main ingredients that make up the Boo Ball) that I am not going to spend the money that could go into squirrel care on getting it analyzed. Everyone is familiar with pecans, fruit, and coconut oil (the other ingredients).

BTW, Henry's tail is beautiful!:rotfl I hope you don't think I can crunch the numbers...
I had to come up with a specail JITs Dosing for Dummies...:rotfl
yeah...I am good at sqs, smoking cigs..I drive ok...but math is not a part of JIT...nope!:rotfl
If I have to do it...I maybe waiting forever...
:poke maybe someone can figure out the numbers...
I'll tell Henry you said so...:thumbsup

sorry to thread jack:peace

[momma2boo]

:rotfl I hope you don't think I can crunch the numbers...
I had to come up with a specail JITs Dosing for Dummies...:rotfl
yeah...I am good at sqs, smoking cigs..I drive ok...but math is not a part of JIT...nope!:rotfl
If I have to do it...I maybe waiting forever...
:poke maybe someone can figure out the numbers...
I'll tell Henry you said so...:thumbsup

sorry to thread jack:peace

I feel your pain. I tried to crunch the numbers and it made my head hurt so badly that I walked away.

BTW, I have a wild squirrel with a head tilt who will only eat plain HTs or a version of the Boo Ball (minus the FV). She won't touch it if there's formula in it. So she gets mostly HT with a smattering of pecans and enough baby food fruit to make it moist enough to roll into a ball.

[Shaena]

I am glad someone brought up that Henry's Blocks have not had a nutritional analysis- meaning they are no different than any other homemade food here, and are being promoted by familiarity rather than technical knowledge. I agree that making 'boo balls' etc should you choose or whatever other things with FV or other professionally analyzed feed as an ingredient is much more clear to measure nutrition with, and I have chosen to study squirrel needs from zoo and vet charts
and only use fresh food for my own boy, who is two pound of muscle. To be honest, I see people being controlling and hateful about other peoples general choices of diet if it does not fit 'their' way- without doing any nutritional study of the details, which is simply foolish, as it misses the point entirely.

[astra]

Have you actually read the thread? ....

Because had you read it, you'd realize that, 1st off, it's 6 years old. During these 6 years this question has already been discussed and resolved.
Secondly, you would have seen that it is the booballs that haven't had nutritional analysis, and their author explains why.
Thirdly, if you still have concerns about hhbs, then you should address your questions directly with their author and manufacturer - that's how people go about their questions regarding a given product.

Instead of posting a confrontational comment which, rather ironically, condemns "hateful" and "controlling" people here while sounding rather judgemental herself without doing any basic "research" of her own into the question, you may find it more productive to pose your questions directly to Henry's and do some research into how commercial block is created (for comparison).

I am glad someone brought up that Henry's Blocks have not had a nutritional analysis- meaning they are no different than any other homemade food here, and are being promoted by familiarity rather than technical knowledge. I agree that making 'boo balls' etc should you choose or whatever other things with FV or other professionally analyzed feed as an ingredient is much more clear to measure nutrition with, and I have chosen to study squirrel needs from zoo and vet charts
and only use fresh food for my own boy, who is two pound of muscle. To be honest, I see people being controlling and hateful about other peoples general choices of diet if it does not fit 'their' way- without doing any nutritional study of the details, which is simply foolish, as it misses the point entirely.

[astra]

Have you actually read the thread? ....

Because had you read it, you'd realize that, 1st off, it's 6 years old. During these 6 years this question has already been discussed and resolved.
Secondly, you would have seen that it is the booballs that haven't had nutritional analysis, and their author explains why.
Thirdly, if you still have concerns about hhbs, then you should address your questions directly with their author and manufacturer - that's how people go about their questions regarding a given product.

Instead of posting a confrontational comment which, rather ironically, condemns "hateful" and "controlling" people here while sounding rather judgemental herself without doing any basic "research" of her own into the question, you may find it more productive to pose your questions directly to Henry's and do some research into how commercial block is created (for comparison).

And by the way, people here choose from a number of blocks to feed, HHBs being among them. Each person ultimately decides for him/herself which block to use (I guess, in spite of "hateful and controlling" people)


And one last thing:

Would be interesting to know where you found rich enough material to study "squirrel needs" (because it is basically non-existent or very scant because squirrels aren't being studied extensively).
It would be especially interesting to know what you studied exactly to understand how you combine a preference for an " analyzed " feed and your adamantly sounding preference for only fresh stuff. Because had you actually studied anything at all about the commercially available "analyzed" feed, you'd know that "fresh" isn't anywhere near there (not to mention fillers and non-human grade ingredients).

[island rehabber]

Thank you, astra. Beautifully and professionally said -- you missed your calling in the diplomatic corps. :bowdown

Some use HHB's, some do not. I was one of their first customers and have raised at least 100 squirrels on them who all grew healthy and were successfully released. That's all I need to know -- what my eyes have seen.

[TubeDriver]

Henry's Blocks do have the advantage of a long track record of happy, healthy squirrels with hundreds (thousands?) of squirrels and over many, many years. I'll take this simple form of empirical evidence over a nutritional analysis any day. We don't do clinical trials with squirrel food but even with drug development, issues are often discovered after the drug has been approved for use in the general population.

People also have had success with other commercial rodent blocks and with homemade recipes too! We don't formally endorse any specific brand but Henry's Blocks appear to be a safe, healthy if somewhat pricey option.

I'll also add that the owners behind Henrys have worked extensively with squirrel owners to help treat MBD and have spent many years studying the illness.

To be transparent, I have met the owners of Henrys and I think they are good people so consider my opinions in that light.



I am glad someone brought up that Henry's Blocks have not had a nutritional analysis- meaning they are no different than any other homemade food here, and are being promoted by familiarity rather than technical knowledge. I agree that making 'boo balls' etc should you choose or whatever other things with FV or other professionally analyzed feed as an ingredient is much more clear to measure nutrition with, and I have chosen to study squirrel needs from zoo and vet charts
and only use fresh food for my own boy, who is two pound of muscle. To be honest, I see people being controlling and hateful about other peoples general choices of diet if it does not fit 'their' way- without doing any nutritional study of the details, which is simply foolish, as it misses the point entirely.

[Blueyezatl]

Tried to click on the link mentioned where the recipe was but it says link isn't available. Can someone direct me to the recipe for the Henry block