Anything I need to do?

[Rerejo]

Hello, I am new here! Sorta, i have been reading and finding info on raising my orphaned squirrel here for a few weeks, and thank you all for the information!

So i have ordered the fox valley food for squirrels up to 4 weeks old, and i had assumed that he was about 4 weeks old, until his eyes opened last night. So he is about 5 weeks old then, i think. i have also been feeding him about 3.5 cc's every 4 hours, skipping a feeding at night to sleep.

So I have a few questions.

1. can i continue to feed him the same formula until it runs out, or do i need to buy the formula for older squirrels?

2. how much should i feed him, and is it okay to skip a feeding at night?

3. now that his eyes are open, is there anything special i need to do?

4. How and when should i begin introducing solid foods, and what should they be?

Those are all of the questions i can think of as of now... I'm sorry for all the questions!!! Sincerely, thank you all! :thankyou

[Milo's Mom]

Welcome to TSB!!

Welcome to squirrel love!

Great job on the FV!

How many times a day are you feeding the little one currently?
Depending on how many times a day you are feeding now, and depending on how the little one is doing, you MIGHT be okay with skipping the night feeding. (MIGHT...this is my opinion and from my experience, but I do tend to be a little overprotective and worry a little too much about the little ones)

Do you know how much you little one weighs? How about the weight when you found him/her?

When eyes open, I always place part of an HHB (Henry's Healthy Block) in the cage...this gets them used to the smell, something to play with and pee on, and maybe even a nibble or two. They quickly learn to love them and will eat them first, which is precisely what we want.

Do you have a boy or a girl? What is his/her name?

Got pics? WE LOVE PICS!!!!!!

Again, Welcome to TSB!!!

[Milo's Mom]

1. can i continue to feed him the same formula until it runs out, or do i need to buy the formula for older squirrels?
Yes, you'll be fine. You may need to feed a little more often or a little more at each feeding, but you'll be fine.

2. how much should i feed him, and is it okay to skip a feeding at night?
Standard feeding amount per feeding is 5-7% of body weight...that is a GUIDELINE...some take a little less some take a little more.

3. now that his eyes are open, is there anything special i need to do?
Introduce HHB's, Growth Formula. Play with him/her and cherish every moment...they grow up fast.

4. How and when should i begin introducing solid foods, and what should they be?
The only thing I would introduce right now is the HHB's. Formula is GREAT for them and the longer they are on it the better. If only HHB's and formula grew on trees! Others may have some other advice for you, but me personally, at 5 weeks old...the only thing in the cage other than them and a few toys is an HHB (fresh piece every day).

[Rerejo]

Thank you for the fast replies! I will look into the HHB's! I don't know where i would put it that i would find it, though... You see, I have put him in a hamster cage, with a heating blanket on low at the bottom, with a shirt over it, as to not put him in direct contact with the heat. And over that, i have a big soft shirt that i swaddled him with since i found him, and he sleeps under that. I figure since its my shirt, it would get him used to the smell of daddy ;D There is also an upper platform he rarely goes on, but i put in so he can climb away from the heat if he wishes.

Do the blocks smell enough that he would find it in his cage if i put it in there? Or should i rearrange his house soon? Ideas?

[Milo's Mom]

Thank you for the fast replies! I will look into the HHB's! I don't know where i would put it that i would find it, though... You see, I have put him in a hamster cage, with a heating blanket on low at the bottom, with a shirt over it, as to not put him in direct contact with the heat. And over that, i have a big soft shirt that i swaddled him with since i found him, and he sleeps under that. I figure since its my shirt, it would get him used to the smell of daddy ;D There is also an upper platform he rarely goes on, but i put in so he can climb away from the heat if he wishes.

Do the blocks smell enough that he would find it in his cage if i put it in there? Or should i rearrange his house soon? Ideas?
He's gonna be getting teeth soon if not already...just make sure he does not start chewing on the heating pad.

As for the HHB's...you can get them from Henry's Healthy Pets. Here's the link to the Growth Blocks http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-blocks-growth-formula/

When they are just learning about the blocks, I cut the blocks in half and place 1/2 in the cage (anywhere will do right now). Each morning I take out the old block and put in a new piece...one day there will be no old block for you to take out...it got eaten!

The blocks have NO preservatives so make sure you keep them in the fridge. Actually since you little one is just learning about them, you may want to freeze half of the blocks and keep the other half in the fridge for daily use. Freezing them helps them keep longer.

His sense of smell will lead him to the block...he'll find it, trust me...they always do. :-)