How much & how often?

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

How do I figure how much & how often to feed baby fliers about 11 days old? The scale says they weigh 5 grams each, this seems kinda high to me but I have a learning disability when it comes to numbers. Anyhow, my daughter & I used a formula i found on NFSA and it was just really jacked up when we got our calculations done, lol! I figured it would be easier just to ask here.

Thanks,
Lace

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

Also just fox Valley 20/50 instead of 32/40!!! Other than switching to the correct formula is there anything I need to do to correct this?

[Milo's Mom]

Hi Lace! :wave123

I am not positive if flyers are the same as grey squirrels, but for greys we use a guideline of 5%-7% of their body weight per feeding.

So, if a baby is 5 grams, 5% of that would be 0.25cc's, 6% would be 0.30cc's and 7% would be 0.35cc's per feeding.

Hopefully our flyer experts will be here soon and will be able to tell you EXACTLY what to do for baby flyers.

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

The formula to figure it that I got said 25% of the weight... not sure if thats correct, but what we got was that the poor things should be eating 5cc every 4 hours!!:sanp3
We both knew that was wrong!

[Anne]

The 5 cc information was wrong. Way too much for flyers, 1/2 cc or .05 is what they were probably getting-the is way closer to what they need. One of the very tin syringes. Also Flyers will need either Fox Valley's Boost added or heavy whipping cream. Flyers do need way more fat the grey squirrels. week old flyers should have no problems drinking one of the 1?2 cc syringes full. You will do better also with the grey rubber tubes that fit over a white plastic adapter-the mothering silicone nibbles can to too large for some tiny mouths!

[Anne]

Easy way to figure formula amount by weight: Squirrel weights 11 grams. Drop the one at the end. This gives you 10 grams. Divide 10 by 2. That equals 5 grams.
That's how the number 5 showed up!
I will get math figures together for you and post them so you can easily do the math from now on.
Be back in a few minutes.

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

Thank you so much Anne!! I'm just worried I'm feeding them too much. I have been feeding every 4 hours or so, and they usually eat between 0.3cc and 0.5cc. Their stool is kinda green tho, so I just want to be super sure i'm not overfeeding!

[Anne]

OK, worked it off the computer!
11 gram squirrel.
drop last number
now have 1
add decimal point behind 1
Now 1. or 1.0
Divide 1.0 by 2
equals 0.05

25 gram squirrel
drop last and add decimal point
2. or 2.0
Divide by 2
equals 0.1

I find it hard to explain, but after doing it for years it comes easy in my mind. As you can see math is not on of my better skills.
For any future help you can PM me here on the board.

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

So they should just be getting 0.1cc every 4 hours? Holy crap!! I was way overfeeding.

[Anne]

Green stool is not good. May have something else going on.
Gold formed stool is wonderful.
White formed stool feeding to much.
Diarrhea feeding way to much or too often.
Green could need an anti-biotic- most often for green stool SMZ-TMP (also called Sulfatrim) used to treat coccidia. SMZ-TMP is given twice a day for at least 14 days.
Hard to dose ones this small by it can be done, more math!

[Anne]

Yep, you were feeding double what they should have. Needed just one half a cc! :grouphug :grouphug :Love_Icon :Love_Icon :grouphug :grouphug

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

Hmmm, its greenish yellowish but its solid. I hope feeding less and changing the formula will improve that. They seem healthy other than that.

[IrishHarps]

Hi Lace! Glad to see you over here. I saw your post on NFSA, but I know nothing about feeding babies (I don't know nothing about no babies, Miss Scarlett!) so I didn't say anything. I'm happy you are getting the help you need.

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

Thanks! I began doubting myself and everything has gone to crap. I lost one baby today so that just made it worse. My fingers are crossed that these will be the only ones I have to pull this early!

[CrazySquirrelLady]

Thanks! I began doubting myself and everything has gone to crap. I lost one baby today so that just made it worse. My fingers are crossed that these will be the only ones I have to pull this early!

i am so sorry the baby died today.

Hugs
CSL

[MuffinSquirrelJR]

How much heavy cream should I add?

[Mrs Skul]

:morning Lace
I know I am Late on Posting. I just hope it will help you next time.
Pinky Flyers Bloat very easy on straight FoxVally! :shakehead
With Pinky Flyers start them out on 50%FoxVally 32/40. 50% Goatmilk. You need to feed every 30 min to 1 hr round clock for the first 2 to 3 days. (You will be trying to teach them a new schedule for feeding.)
Remember The Heavy Cream and The Full Fat Yogurt. :thumbsup3
("Constantly Watching for Bloat, White Poops, & Dehydration.")
They usually eat 0.5 to .10 Which is the little marks on the 1cc syringes. (Just count each mark.) I feed all my Pinky every 30min to 1 hr. When I get them use to the formula and the different feeding schedule.
That is when you start stretching the time out longer. By that time you will have them on full strength FV 32/40. About every 3 to 4hr. They are usually 3 weeks old at that time.
You need some Black tip Neonate Mini Nipples When feeding pinkies.
http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/rehab-supplies/nipples-and-feeding-bottles.html
Lace I Sorry you lost the Babies. :Cry :grouphug
Call me if you need any help. Christal

Flying Squirrels FoxVally Formula
Flyers need The Heavy Whipping Cream.
2 TBS Water
1 TBS FoxVally 32/40 Powder
1 tsp Full Fat Yogurt
1 TBS Heavy whipping cream
Mix 50% Strait GoatMilk & 50% FoxVally 32/40 Formula.
Be sure to add the Cream in after you have the FV mixed up well. If adding the Cream at the same time you will make butter. The babies get the wrong amount of fat.