Baby went and changed on us again… lots of questions…

[KathleenNYC]

Hello everyone, it’s me again just looking for a little advice.
We think Wort is about 8 weeks old now and once again, as we just get used to baby, he changes… it is amazing how quickly he is growing and developing. We know now, he is blind in one eye, but spunky as a squirrel should be, though he tends to run in circles... He seems healthy and happy. Loves to run up your arm or chest and snuggle in your neck and just hang out on your shoulder. 152890
We have begun the weaning process. He is still getting his Fox Valley four times a day (and it seems he can never get enough). At last check he is 110 grams, and he is getting 8cc a feeding.
Question 1: is this enough?
We got him Henry’s Blocks, and printed out “Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels (Rev. 4/22/11). “ (it is on the frige for reference.) So as I gather foods for dinner, he is getting his veggie portions for each day. (I scatter the food in his box, so he can hopefully develop the skills to find it on his own.)Though he is not finding them on his own yet, and when you give it to him and he drops it on his bad side, he can’t seem to find it again. 152891
Question 2: Should I hand feed him the solids or painfully wait for him to find it?

Question 3: How many healthy blocks should he be getting a day? I cut one block in half and give it to him, he seems to really enjoy it, but I am not sure how much he is actually eating…

Question 4: How much veggies should he get?

Question 5: Is it ok to vary his diet at this age, or is it too much for his digestive system? I revert to my human mother skills and wonder if we supposed to introduce foods slowly and individually.
He is still toileting like a champ, a little darker and on his own now. (Never thought I would be counting squirrel poop…)
Question 6: Water bottle or bowl? (Or syringe of water, I really don’t want to enable him too much.) What is most natural for him with his capabilities…?
He seems to have a nice fur coat developing, (gets plenty of exposure to daylight, so I assume as the days get shorter, nature is telling him to grow more hair…) However, here in the apartment now that the heat is pumping, it is warm! (We wear tee-shirts and pre-Wort, I would turn off the radiators and open windows…) But, they do turn down the heat from 10pm till 5am, and it can get a little chilly then.
Question 7: Is he old enough to remove the heating pad? and/or should just I put it on at night?
The last few days we have been noticing that the dogs barking in the park are beginning to frighten him, so, this weekend I am getting my enclosed terrace ready, making a space for his cage so we can eventually give him some exposure to regional temperatures and outdoor sounds.
Question 8: How old should he be when we start to bring him out there?
Have to say I am very disappointed about this early snow!!! Oh well, not too sad really... We get to continue to love him up… (He is still minding-his-manners and is really gentle, cuddly and curious.) But as much as it frightens me!!! We do want him to be happy and free!!!

[Nancy in New York]

First off, keep him on the Fox Valley as long as possible, don't wean him off. With a little one of FV you never have to worry about MBD if he takes enough.
Are you planning to release him? He seems quite small for an 8 week old squirrel at 110 grams.
If so, please don't do so in the winter. We are getting a Nor'easter up here starting this afternoon.
He already has a handicap with being blind in one eye,
and apparently having difficulty finding food that is even placed in his cage.

[KathleenNYC]

No way, is he going to go now, we are in it for the long haul!!!
Flo thought maybe he could go in November if it was mild enough. But right now, looking out the window I am worried about the babies out there already.

We will keep him forever if we have too, if he can’t find food and such. (Researching non-releasable license for NYS) But I would love to also be able to prepare him for the spring release if he can. I know he should be free, but we will have to just wait and see.

He might be on the small side, I have no way of really gauging, but he is pretty full and healthy. He can still fit in my hand when eating. Here he is munching on a Henry block.
152944

Maybe weaning is the wrong word, we are just getting the other foods in his diet, I have read so much about healthy diet and having all of the required nutrients. I have read on here to give him the fox valley as long as he will take it! No problems there, I am sure he will be off the FV long before the bag is done...
I guess I just want to prepare him to be as strong and healthy as possible.
He sure is cute!!!
152945

[Nancy in New York]

No way, is he going to go now, we are in it for the long haul!!!
Flo thought maybe he could go in November if it was mild enough. But right now, looking out the window I am worried about the babies out there already.

We will keep him forever if we have too, if he can’t find food and such. (Researching non-releasable license for NYS) But I would love to also be able to prepare him for the spring release if he can. I know he should be free, but we will have to just wait and see.

He might be on the small side, I have no way of really gauging, but he is pretty full and healthy. He can still fit in my hand when eating. Here he is munching on a Henry block.
152944

Maybe weaning is the wrong word, we are just getting the other foods in his diet, I have read so much about healthy diet and having all of the required nutrients. I have read on here to give him the fox valley as long as he will take it! No problems there, I am sure he will be off the FV long before the bag is done...
I guess I just want to prepare him to be as strong and healthy as possible.
He sure is cute!!!
152945


Perfect....I like your way of thinking. He may just be "small boned". He clearly doesn't look skinny at all.
To keep a NR squirrel in NY, you have to be licensed first. Then you have to have a vet certificate signed yearly saying that your squirrel is an NR. You are therefore agreeing to keeping that NR for educational purposes.
That's the legal way to do it....but some times people can get very creative, and/or secretive....:baghead :rotfl
You have already read about nutrition? Wonderful...I have a feeling this is one lucky little squirrel finding his way to you....:Love_Icon
I believe on the package of the blocks it suggests feeding 2 per day along with other healthy veggies. Fruits are usually used only as a treat and not given to daily.
Make sure that he has plenty of safe branches etc to chew on, they need to keep their teeth trimmed down, or you can run into trouble.
I would try using a water bottle on his cage. Tap it with your finger and let him feel the water on his mouth if you can get him over there. They usually pick up drinking from a bottle pretty fast.
:Love_Icon

[lilidukes]

What a healthy looking baby he is great job:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

I have a boy Puff just a little older who is blind in one eye too. Puff will go in circles until he finds his food, given time I believe their sense of smell will develop to a higher level than a fully sighted squirrel. I have never had myself a fully blind squirrel but I've met one who got around so well you would never know she was blind if not told.

2 blocks a day as much FV as he will take for as long as he will take it(then I offer yogurt) and a ever changing variety of veggies and a wee amount of fruit and a healthy happy squirrel you will have. I never offer junk after what I went through with tough love with Ella. So much easier to never let them know what junk food is. I offered a Ritz cracker to one of my NR's a while back to see if he would take it and he looked at me like I was crazy.

Handle the little man LOTS now so if you do keep him he will be much much more handle able as he gets older. Wilding one up is easier than taming one.

[KathleenNYC]

Thanks, but we feel like the lucky ones!!!
I am interested in getting the license, and being legit, because, if he does stay with us and he needs a vet I don’t want there to be any hesitation!!!
I bought apple wood sticks, which he seems to chew the bark off of, however, he has absolutely no interest in the Oak tree branch we brought home, I think he is afraid of it…
I will try the bottle trick; I am not too worried yet, because when we take him out to play he has plenty of water to pass…
I guess I am just not sure if he is because he is young or his eye is confusing him, he sure has a hard time finding things…

[KathleenNYC]

So far, handling is not a problem... he really does still mind-his-manners. It sometimes seems as though he knows what to bite hard and what not too??? a consistent gentle but firm no, has turned bites into nibbles... he started with biting pretty hard for a little guy, now it is just nibbles on the skin and chomping on food. (I know he is still a baby, but it is nice anyway). Although, I have to say all is out the window when he climbs his way down to your feet... it makes him crazy, he loves feet...lol

[KathleenNYC]

Another maybe silly question... is it normal for him to sleep on his back sometimes???
It looks kind of strange...

[island rehabber]

Totally normal to bite feet AND sleep on his back. They sometimes sleep that way when they are too warm -- so mind the temp in his container. As for toes, I think they look like nuts, that's why they go for 'em. :D

[KathleenNYC]

Thank You IR....
Makes sense that he is too warm; after all he does come out from under his snuggly blanket when I see it. And this apartment is warm they really pump the heat in… (Post-war building no thermostat). I am going to put a thermometer in there.

You may have a point about the nuts…

[JLM27]

TRy some maple branches. They love maple bark.

[KathleenNYC]

Thanks Again Everyone!!!

[gs1]

good to see you back:thumbsup funny about the toes/nuts connection...lol.... :D