View Full Version : Question about calcium
Petnick
09-20-2011, 06:04 PM
Merlin is now 9-10 weeks old and doing great. I will keep him this winter and release him in the spring.
Reading about MBD worries me and I was wondering about calcium intake. Right now he still likes his formula but I was thinking about later.
I have guinea pigs and these guys have very high vitamin C requirements so I put vitamin C in their water. I was wondering if the same thing could be done with squirrels: adding calcium to their water. I found some fruit flavoured Tums. Could these be diluted in the water and put in the bottle?
Wonkawillie
09-20-2011, 09:47 PM
If you make Boo Balls, and add plenty of FV, then they get calcium in a healthy food they love!!!! It always worked for me. Plus I would offer a fruity Tums, just for fun from time to time.
Rhapsody
09-20-2011, 09:50 PM
While they are still drinking their FV we recommended you introduce a quality Squirrel Block into their daily diet ---I personally use HHB & HT (both are great at keeping the calcium balanced in their diet) along with healthy vegetables, wild plants, smalls amounts of fruits and nuts / acorns.
Why do you want to keep this squirrel for winter ??? It,s not yet too cold in Quebec ( same weather in Montreal than NYC now) .in 2 weeks your squirrel is releasable .
grey squirrels are releasable at 12 weeks old . Are you close to Montreal? Because we have a lot of orphan babies there and they will be release soon before winter .
You know all babies born this summer are outside now and their mothers will leave them alone in few weeks and they have to take care of themself . Its the nature .
You know , its not really good to keep a squirrel in winter ( if its not a NR or retarded) because in quebec the winter is very very long and more you keep this squirrel with you and less he will be wild and ready for release in spring ...he will have less chance in spring because more predators need to feed their own babies in spring. during winter squirrels have less activity and need less food than summer . they are active 35% of their time ( 70% in summer ) and because they sleep a lot they meet less predators . For the food , its not a probleme because squirrels are very smart and find the food than the others buried ( they never find this one they buried themself ) .
What kind of formula do you give it ? Because in quebec just some people (who comes here) give FV . And they don,t have good replacement milk for squirrel , they are poor in fat and proteines . Do you see or speak with somebody to help you to raise this baby ?
If you keep it , the balance of food is very important . They need a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits everyday and you will have to buy special food like monkey biscuit, block from Henry,s or some other blocks for rats only on internet because in quebec its very difficult to find.
quality food for squirrel are very important when they are in captivity and cost money .
If you live in Montreal and want help to release contact me by PM .
You can write me in french on your PM .
Rhapsody
09-20-2011, 10:43 PM
Squirrels can be started on Soft Release @ 14 weeks old
Here are some Helpful TIPS for Release:
http://mothernaturesrescue.webs.com/release.htm
Petnick
09-20-2011, 11:31 PM
Merlin is a red squirrel and during the school year (I teach) I live in an area where there are no red squirrels.
Outside the school year, I live at the place where he was found and plan to do a soft release then. The only way I could release him in a few weeks is to drive to the cottage (which will be closed since it is not heated), release him and leave. Red squirrels have first year survival rate of 22%. I want to give him a chance to survive.
astra
09-20-2011, 11:42 PM
Why do you want to keep this squirrel for winter ??? It,s not yet too cold in Quebec ( same weather in Montreal than NYC now) .in 2 weeks your squirrel is releasable .
grey squirrels are releasable at 12 weeks old . Are you close to Montreal? Because we have a lot of orphan babies there and they will be release soon before winter .
You know all babies born this summer are outside now and their mothers will leave them alone in few weeks and they have to take care of themself . Its the nature .
You know , its not really good to keep a squirrel in winter ( if its not a NR or retarded) because in quebec the winter is very very long and more you keep this squirrel with you and less he will be wild and ready for release in spring ...he will have less chance in spring because more predators need to feed their own babies in spring. during winter squirrels have less activity and need less food than summer . they are active 35% of their time ( 70% in summer ) and because they sleep a lot they meet less predators . For the food , its not a probleme because squirrels are very smart and find the food than the others buried ( they never find this one they buried themself ) .
What kind of formula do you give it ? Because in quebec just some people (who comes here) give FV . And they don,t have good replacement milk for squirrel , they are poor in fat and proteines . Do you see or speak with somebody to help you to raise this baby ?
If you keep it , the balance of food is very important . They need a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits everyday and you will have to buy special food like monkey biscuit, block from Henry,s or some other blocks for rats only on internet because in quebec its very difficult to find.
quality food for squirrel are very important when they are in captivity and cost money .
If you live in Montreal and want help to release contact me by PM .
You can write me in french on your PM .
:peace
11-12 wks might not be a very good time for release, especially, in Montreal.
Montreal is much colder than NYC and gets much more snow (lived in both, Montreal and NY). Even though it is rather mild in Montreal right now, it usually cools down pretty fast.
Of course, most rehab centres and rehabbers release at 12 wks, even Fall babies, but that can be understandable as they cannot possibly overwinter all babies they have and, therefore, have to pick the minimum age that a squirrel can be released. 12wks is the minimum, as in the wild that's when baby squirrels begin to emerge from their nests under their momma's supervision. However, even after that, they remain close to their momma for quite a few months, continuing learning from her, and Fall babies - for the whole winter. Most of them spend winters together to keep each other warm.
So, even though they are allowed out of the nest at about 12 wks, they are not completely on their own.
But private people, who end up raising a baby squirrel, are not under the same time and space constraints as rehab centres and rehabbers are, because they don't have 300 babies and, therefore, can find enough room to overwinter. So, if there is a way to overwinter a baby, why not?...
Especially, since a 12wk singleton raised by someone cannot be compared to a 12wk wild baby, who is under his momma supervision and care for the whole winter, or to a 12wk baby from a rehab centre, where it grew up with other babies and has release buddies.(besides, there is no accurate statistics on the survival rate of late Fall releases of the rehab centers)
So, for a singleton it will be better to be overwintered.
He doesn't have enough time to learn how to build a winter nest (or how to fight for a good tree hole), he hasn't stashed enough food for the winter, he has not grown his winter coat, he doesn't have his momma to teach him many things squirrels need to know in the winter.
There are tons of singletons that have been raised and overwintered and released in the Spring successfully.
Personally, I'd rather overwinter him.
Montreal is a cold place, colder than NYC. Gets much more snow.:) :grouphug
astra
09-21-2011, 12:08 AM
:peace No offense to Montrealers, but, I, personally, find Montreal much colder than NYC, and definitely, much more snow. I think, Toronto is closer to NYC in temp and amount of snow, than Montreal...:dono
maybe, just my perception:thinking
Petnick
09-21-2011, 07:28 AM
Thanks Astra!
I do live close to Montreal and I know how cold and snowy it will soon be. The place where I found Merlin is even colder. That, the fact that I can't do a soft release and the fact that he is a singleton where my reasons for my decision to keep him for the winter. I am aware of the consequences of my decision and I plan to release a happy and healthy little dude when the mild whether comes back.
Again, thank you! (And I am not offended by the fact that you say that Montreal is cold.....I know that it is:) )
jo_schmoe
09-21-2011, 07:34 AM
Thanks Astra!
I do live close to Montreal and I know how cold and snowy it will soon be. The place where I found Merlin is even colder. That, the fact that I can't do a soft release and the fact that he is a singleton where my reasons for my decision to keep him for the winter. I am aware of the consequences of my decision and I plan to release a happy and healthy little dude when the mild whether comes back.
Again, thank you! (And I am not offended by the fact that you say that Montreal is cold.....I know that it is:) )
A red?? :jump
I agree with Astra about over wintering. IF you can get him back to the place he was found in Spring....that would be his best chance for survival. I dont know that some people understand the Red squirrel fully...and he most definitely needs to be were others are. Im suspecting the reason you dont have any in your area is because there isnt the proper food for them. Their diet is a bit different than other squirrels....so finding a place where they thrive is sometimes quite difficult. Number one cause of death for Red squirrels is starvation. I am over wintering 5 Reds....so if I can do it.....so can you.
Pics??
pappy1264
09-21-2011, 07:38 AM
I need to point something out....yes, wild babies are on their own at that age (12 weeks) usually. But they have been with mom all along and have learned things that will help them. When we raise them, it can take them a bit to pick up on things, and a release when it will be cold very soon at that age, in my opinion, is not the best choice. In warmer climates, not a problem, but not in areas where winter comes on quick. (Heck it has already dropped here to into the 30's the past two nights here...and I was worried for the ones I just released a couple weeks ago and they were 6 mos old!)
Petnick
09-25-2011, 10:12 AM
Here's Merlin!
Nancy in New York
09-25-2011, 11:47 AM
I always give a supplement in their water. 1 cc of each in their water bottle.
http://www.vitacost.com/Twinlab-Cal-Quick
and
Twinlab Liquid Potassium plus Magnesium
http://www.vitacost.com/Twinlab-Liquid-Potassium-plus-Magnesium
I know that it isn't good to give in their water bottle, but this is the only way they take it. I only use it as a supplement, as there is no replacing a healthy diet.
Busysqrl
09-25-2011, 01:48 PM
Oh my! Merlin is a little QT for sure. I TOTALLY agree with Astra and Pappy. Astra, you explained it so well about the release process for rehab centers and the differences between them and private people who raise squirrels. Releasing a 12 week old squirrel just when the leave start to drop is almost like a death sentence. I'm glad to hear you're going to overwinter your little guy. You should have no problem wilding him up when Spring comes. Hopefully you can do a soft release with a large release cage somewhere where other Reds live. He sure is cute! :grouphug
jo_schmoe
09-25-2011, 01:56 PM
Here's Merlin!
Oh Merlin!!! You are a looker!!!!
What a sweet guy!!!!
:Love_Icon Merlin:Love_Icon
If he needs friends....I have some spares!!
jo_schmoe
09-25-2011, 02:11 PM
One thing I wanted to mention to you...is he needs pine nuts. They are about 70% of his diet in the wild. Also....red squirrel require more protein than other squirrels....so try and offer him some meal worms or wax worms. My guys bite the heads off and eat just that part....but they LOVE them.
I offer my reds pine nuts every day. It doesn't cause them to NOT eat the good veggies or their block...they eat it ALL. When I found my Reds...they were living in a basement with their mother. The owner of the house was going to gas them so I had no choice but to take them and chase the mom off. It was too cold to try and set them out for her...and most likely she would have just brought them back in the house. As I was looking for the nest...I found her midden....it was FULL of pine cones ( nuts are inside).
Shop around for them....at first I was spending 38 bucks a pound...but I found a site online that ships them still in the shell. There are different types of pine nuts....so if you need help finding the right ones...let me know.
Scooterzmom
09-25-2011, 02:58 PM
:peace No offense to Montrealers, but, I, personally, find Montreal much colder than NYC, and definitely, much more snow. I think, Toronto is closer to NYC in temp and amount of snow, than Montreal...:dono
maybe, just my perception:thinking
I completely agree with astra on that. Our winters in fact are comparable to the ones atop mount Washington in New England, and THAT is much colder than New York city. I too would not release a singleton this late in the season... certainly not in the Laurentians (as I suspect this is where you found him :)). We have already had a few nights with frost warnings here. I do believe that a good healthy diet over winter and a slow, very gradual release in the spring - allowing plenty of time to wild up again - would be much more advisable IMHO.
Petnick
09-25-2011, 03:18 PM
Scooterzmom, I found him in the Eastern Township. And I plan to release him nice and gently there when the warmer weather comes.
Until then, he is my spoiled baby! :jump
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