Newbie with two boys, ralph and reggie!

[morgiesmoon]

I recently found two boy squirrels no sign of mom. From all the info I have found online I am guessing their age to be about 7 to 8 weeks. They haven't wanted to nurse, I am feeding the goatmilk heavy cream yogurt, or at least tried to. though they eat acorns, fruit, some nuts and seeds, and they do drink plenty of water. They are potting on their own. I did try stimulating them, but I've been pee'd on by both boys, and they both poop.

I wondering if these boys are brothers, or they just both happened to be abandoned. the first one was found about five days a go trying to run up the neighbors pant leg. He was unwilling to climb more the five feet up a tree, and I took him home. Two days later The other one came down out of the palm tree. No mom in sight. They both were really hungry, and thristy.

I have a few questions. for one The way I lead them to their water dish was my mixing a little banana in with the water. They love banana, and after the first day they were drinking the water fresh. I was considering maybe I could try adding a tiny bit of banana to my formula mixture? Until they get used to? Any ideas on that?

Also I assumed they were brothers, but the one I got first is a little bit smaller, in weight. And he seems a day or two behind in development. He's also calmer then the other. Is it possible he was just the smaller of the two? Or could these be from two different nests? They were both found around the same tree. Or could it be a head injury? He has no other issues though.

Also I know I need to get a cage for these guys, as they are in an aquarium until I get paid, which will just be a few more days. I want to build one, any good ideas on the size or design would be awesome!


This is the first one
http://thegavotte.webs.com/305323_1527690288030_1707884204_767665_749002_n.jp g

http://thegavotte.webs.com/308514_1530412676088_1707884204_769475_110993408_n .jpg

http://thegavotte.webs.com/309048_1530427836467_1707884204_769477_536795128_n .jpg
http://thegavotte.webs.com/316079_1528406865944_1707884204_768309_614104696_n .jpg

[morgiesmoon]

Ugh, sorry about my random typos. Like that should be going potty on their own.

[SammysMom]

Oh my goodness they are adorable! I am not an expert, but I think they are little enough to still need formula. Fox Valley is the formula of choice and it can be ordered online. It is a powder so that if they really refuse to drink it, it can be added to what are called boo balls. The recipe is in the nutrition forum as is a LOT of very helpful information.

[morgiesmoon]

I do want to get that fv stuff. But I won't be able to untill at the earliest Wednesday. So I want to make sure they are getting enough fat and calcium until then. ( I am using food stamps, I know thats kinda wrong, to feed them all the fruits and other things I have got for them, plus wild foods. )

[SammysMom]

I see you are using goat's milk formula. That is a great option. Are you wanting to take them off of that for some reason?

[morgiesmoon]

Well, everything I have read says that the fox valley is really good. However they aren't taking the goats milk stuff either. I am thinking if I add a bit of fruit juice, or their favorite, banana to it, they might eat it, but I'm not sure if that's ok to do .. ?

[SammysMom]

Are they very warm and are you warming the formula to very warm? What else are they consuming?

[morgiesmoon]

oh yes they are warm. They have a heating pad under their aquarium on one side, and I wrap them in the blanket that sits on the heating pad when I feed them. They just aren't interested. But they eat everything I give them. Rodent block, acorns, raisins, banana, palm tree fruit seed things, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds. pretty much in that order of most to least, and they have a mineral stone they like as well. And they have access to fresh water which they both drink.

[astra]

blocks and veggies are good, but don't give them seeds.
They are still little and their primary foods should be formula, blocks and good green veggies. Fruit - very limited, only as a treat and only after they have eaten their daily block and veggies.

Sunflower seeds are not good for them. Pumpkin seeds can be given, but it's better if you give them later, after their eating preferences and tastes have been established. In other words, only after they regularly and without fuss eat their daily blocks, green veggies etc, can they get treats (nuts and fruit).

There is tons of info in Squirrel Nutrition section - please help yourself.:grouphug :)

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/foru...ad.php?t=17557

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28009

[SammysMom]

Okay, I see what the "problem" is. You are essentially giving them the equivalent of candy and then wondering why they won't eat their spinach...lol I did the same thing with Sammy so understand. They really need the formula and blocks. They also should be eating greens and other veggies. They should NOT have sunflower seeds, raisins or nuts. Nuts are okay as a treat, but only after they are eating what they really need. I know it is tempting to feed them stuff they really LOVE because it feels good to watch them enjoying it, but you wouldn't give kids candy instead of a regular meal and it is sort of the same thing. It is called "tough love" and it is the most important thing you can do for these little guys! Thank-you for taking care of them and for asking the right questions!

[morgiesmoon]

thanks so much for you advice! I have checked out the nutrition section before I posted. They actually prefer the rodent block to anything else, and every thing I read about sunflower seeds is that mostly it just adds fat, so I was thinking that might be good just as a stand in until they decide to take the formula. I know that is really important, but they just won't nurse. Which is why I was thinking about adding some fruit, maybe a little banana or some apple juice, but I'm not sure if that would be ok or not. They are mostly eating rodent block and acorns and palm tree fruits.

I do need to get some veggies. I'm going shopping tomorrow morning to added to my squirrel foods, and veggies are on the top of the list.

[SammysMom]

Sunflower seeds are NOT okay. Offer formula before anything else while they are hungry. They won't starve themselves and will be more willing to eat the good stuff if they don't have an option of "sweets". They really need the formula and fruit is not a replacement nutritionally at all. They need the calcium or MBD is a very real potential problem.

[astra]

sometimes, people dip the tip of the syringe with formula in it into something sweet (e.g., molasses, apple juice) to entice them to take the syringe. It helps to make them take the syringe and start eating formula.
Just don't give them the added sugar king of sweet, don't let them "ruin" their taste buds, especially, since they seem like picky eaters to begin with.

Once you get FV, it might be a bit easier to get them to eat formula.
Also, you could try BooBalls (nutrition section) - another way to get some formula into them.

So, try dipping the syringe tip in something sweet and see if they take it.

and as Sammysmom said: " TOUGH LOVE".

[morgiesmoon]

Thanks also sammys mom, that is a good point. I've had alot of success with the rodent block. They actually prefer that to anything else. They go into instant fight mode, as soon as I feed it to them. .. Maybe I need to skip the rodent block meal time once to get them to eat formula? I don't know. They wouldn't take the formula from the beginning, before I introduced anything else

I had read on other sites that raisins were good treats, but if they aren't good I will stop giving them now!

[morgiesmoon]

That is what I am worried about. that they aren't getting enough calcium because they only wanted to eat on their own. They don't want to nurse. I'm almost thinking maybe I could try giving the formula in their own little dishes and see if they lap it up, since they are very independent eaters.

[SammysMom]

I also thought they were good, but have seen that they are a choking risk and too high in sugar.
You are really trying to learn and that is all you can do when you are new. TSB is the place or life saving squirrel info. Most of what you find here is tried and true excellent info!

[NovaAlison23]

Might I suggest you mix the goats milk with banana yogurt? They love banana, the yogurt is good for them, and they get that banana flavor. My baby Leah was having a rough time with the goat milk mix, but I got her to eat a little at a time. She LOVES it with a FV mixing in, and is catching up with the others. (We use Vanilla yogurt, my babies love it).

[SammysMom]

Good idea Nova!

[morgiesmoon]

Thats what I was wondering, if I could add bananas to the mix to get them into it. :D thanks!

[NovaAlison23]

I wouldn't use real banana, but banana yogurt would be amazing. My babies are getting their first taste of banana tonight as a special treat. They have all 4 made it a full week with me, all 4 are on 10 cc's of formula 3-4 times a day, and they eat all their rat block/HHB every day, along with all the veggies (Jack LOVES cucumber).

[morgiesmoon]

banana yogurt worked for reggie, he's the smaller one and he ate 5ccs of formula! Ralph didn't want any, but I am going to try again in a few hours. I took away all his hidden pieces of rodent block for now, until he eats some formula.

[NovaAlison23]

Good job momma, you are on the way to a healthy diet for the rest of their lives.

[morgiesmoon]

thanks!!

[morgiesmoon]

Just a quick update, taking out the rodent block totally worked. they both went nuts for the formula, and their tummies are full and it seems they are sleeping so much better!

http://thegavotte.webs.com/DSCN0878.JPG

[SammysMom]

Excellent! Be sure to let them have block too at some point during the day, but so glad they ate the formula!

[morgiesmoon]

Oh yes. Planning on putting that in with them in about an hour. and after that twice a day from now on. I think I got it figured out, so far as a good schedule for feeding.

[SammysMom]

You're doing great! :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup