He wont eat Vegetables

[mstiffc8]

I was giving my squirrel plenty of fruits, vegetables and lab blocks. He has rocks, antlers, branches, sea shells, you name it This squirrel has it. But now he isnt eating his vegetables anymore. He will eat his fruit and lab blocks an leave the rest. I know that a bigger part of their diet should be these vegetables and not the fruit. I cut out all fruit now, limit his lab blocks, and gave him a way bigger selection of vegetables. He still wont eat them. I dont want to starve him how long should I keep this up?

Right now his bowl has in it:
Cherry tomatoes (He will eat these)
Celery
Mushrooms
Green Beans
Carrots
Romain Lettuce
Fresh Parsley and Cilantro
Brussel sprouts

Any suggestions will help. Thanks

[Mavrycs Mommy]

what block are you using? i do believe they have everything your squirrel needs and that veggies are mostly for variety (i may be wrong though im DEF not an expert.... Mavryc is a learning experience) but i DO know blocks have everything a rat needs but of course a squirrel is not a rat.... i hope an expert stops by soon to help you out!!!

well and obviously there is not rat block in the wild so obviously he will need to eat them eventually but im pretty sure he wont starve as long as hes eating block!!!!

[Scooterzmom]

My guys simply refused to eat broccoli and kale. Then I tried steaming them and bingo! You might want to give it a try. I also started making boo-balls to which I added chopped kale (or broccoli) in them and that worked too.

I've been making them some veggie soups - boiling the veggies (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, a little bit of carrot) with a bit of water (just barely enough to cover the vegggies), then running that in the food processor and freezing the mix in cubes. I serve them frozen cubes of their soup and they LOVE it.

[Rhapsody]

Have you read this thread for picky eaters? - maybe it can help.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27996

[Fireweed]

Good ideas, Scooterz!! :thumbsup I also spread a bit of smushed/wet rodent block or formula or almond butter (a bit, I said! :D ) on kale leaves or other veggies...they start to lick the veggies and pretty soon they are eating them.

I'm going to try that soup idea, too. Scooterz, did you ever try just processing the veggies and then adding some warmish water to that for a soup-like consistency without boiling the veggies? If so, did they eat it? :dono

[Scooterzmom]

Good ideas, Scooterz!! :thumbsup I also spread a bit of smushed/wet rodent block or formula or almond butter (a bit, I said! :D ) on kale leaves or other veggies...they start to lick the veggies and pretty soon they are eating them.

I'm going to try that soup idea, too. Scooterz, did you ever try just processing the veggies and then adding some warmish water to that for a soup-like consistency without boiling the veggies? If so, did they eat it? :dono

Apparently the problem with my guys and green veggies is, they won't eat them if they're raw - if so, then they have to be "disguised":shakehead I've tried spreading peanut butter on kale, on broccoli... they lick it off and promptly toss the rest out of their cage :skwredup

[astra]

how about blanching them? - throwing them into already boiling water literally for half a min. or so?... or just pouring just below boiling water over them? - that might render the taste of the veggies somewhat "cooked", but will, hopefully, preserve more vitamins that are, sometimes, lost in cooking?...

steaming might be another good option

[fire-eyez]

I was giving my squirrel plenty of fruits, vegetables and lab blocks. He has rocks, antlers, branches, sea shells, you name it This squirrel has it. But now he isnt eating his vegetables anymore. He will eat his fruit and lab blocks an leave the rest. I know that a bigger part of their diet should be these vegetables and not the fruit. I cut out all fruit now, limit his lab blocks, and gave him a way bigger selection of vegetables. He still wont eat them. I dont want to starve him how long should I keep this up?

Right now his bowl has in it:
Cherry tomatoes (He will eat these)
Celery
Mushrooms
Green Beans
Carrots
Romain Lettuce
Fresh Parsley and Cilantro
Brussel sprouts

Any suggestions will help. Thanks

I would remove the tomatoes because I believe they are considered a fruit which is probably why he is eating them....you want to be careful with the amount of fruit because you do not want diabetes to be a factor. I give my grey fruit every other day or 3 times a week.....

[mstiffc8]

Have you read this thread for picky eaters? - maybe it can help.
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27996

Yes this was the first thread I looked at when I started noticing the trouble I was in. He likes his Lab blocks though. They are called Forti-Diet made by Kaytee. We sell them at work and we recommend them for any rodent. So getting him to eat those isnt the issue I just thouht by him not eating any of his vegetables he could be missing out on something nutrition wise. I looked at a Forum on here showing their diet pyramid and The second largest section was veggies.

I'm going to get started right now on all the new suggested ways you all have taught me. It is technically day #2 for him receiving his portioned blocks and soley the greens in his cage and so far he is still being stubborn.

[mstiffc8]

My guys simply refused to eat broccoli and kale. Then I tried steaming them and bingo! You might want to give it a try. I also started making boo-balls to which I added chopped kale (or broccoli) in them and that worked too.

I've been making them some veggie soups - boiling the veggies (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, a little bit of carrot) with a bit of water (just barely enough to cover the vegggies), then running that in the food processor and freezing the mix in cubes. I serve them frozen cubes of their soup and they LOVE it.

This method I am really excited to try. I just received a brand new food processor in the summer and I haven't had a chance to try it out yet!

[jo_schmoe]

This method I am really excited to try. I just received a brand new food processor in the summer and I haven't had a chance to try it out yet!
Good idea. The only way I can get any of my Reds to eat a veggie is if its frozen. Try that. Keep a good variety in their dish. I believe they eat what they need and that also can change at different times of the year. If he was eating veggies before...and now has stopped....maybe its his bodies way of saying he doesn't need veggies right now...after all...winter s coming...and just because they are captive...doesn't mean they have lost their natural ways at survival...diet included.

[SquirrelsinSingapore]

Mine wilds take brocolli only if mixed with peanut butter
They reaaaally liked those smell of peanut

Did a mini experiment with bunch of wilds over a couple days,
and am convinced that firstly its the smell attracts them.

And I think showing variety can entice your :Squirrel to try out diff objects

Well, keep us updated :thumbsup

[Pierre]

Don't take away or limit his lab block! Those contain all the nutrition he needs. The vegetables and all the other stuff is for variety. Try the suggestions above for the vegies but don't take away his blocks! He needs those.