Help needed on what to feed a baby squirrel at past 5 weeks!!

[Katielea98]

Please help! This is my first time raising a baby squirrel. The squirrel has its eyes open but it's still small.. I have read about keeping it warm but what do I feed it and is there anything else I need to know about caring for it.

Thank You! (:

[astra]

Hi and welcome,

at 5wks it's primary food should still be formula.
Fox Valley is the formula for squirrels, can be ordered either at www.foxvalleynutrition.com or www.henryspets.com

At this age you can start introducing quality rodent block. Nothing else.
Put a piece or two with the baby.
THe baby won't eat it right away, will nibble, play, crumble, pee on it etc, but eventually, it will start eating it.

It's crucial that babies become rodent block eaters. That's why their first solid food should be block.

It is best to introduce veggies after the baby starts eating rodent block happily and willingly.
Sometimes, people start giving veggies along with the block, but it might be risky, b/c some squirrels come to like veggies easier than block, and you want to establish solid block-eating habits, b/c block takes place of the insurance against MBD once they stop eating formula.
So, once Abby eats block eagerly and with pleasure - start introducing veggies.

Allow him/her to eat formula for as long as s/he will take it.
The longer she eats formula, the better it is for her health.
Formula is their insurance against MBD.
Never wean him/her off formula.
Let him/her wean him/herself when s/he decides/
Some babies continue to eat formula well into release.

ONLY after the baby eats block and veggies with pleasure, you can start giving a piece of fruit or 1 nut per day as a TREAT ONLY.


There is Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels list of recommended foods in Squirrel Nutrition - read it.

[Katielea98]

Thank you. Can the baby squirrel eat similac? It's a baby formula but I don't know if it is safe for the squirrel.

[daniellenc]

No similac Fox Valley only it is squirrel formula and actually cheaper:) They can't properly digest the proteins in baby formula and I am not sure the calcium or fat is adequate either.

[astra]

***While waiting for the Fox Valley to arrive...

Temporary Formula for Infant Squirrels – The Goat’s Milk Formula

Because of recent manufacturing issues, Esbilac and other puppy formulas are no longer being recommended for squirrels or other wildlife. The formula that TSB recommends, Fox Valley Day One, is currently available online at www.foxvalleynutrition.com and www.henryspets.com. But those require shipping and this baby squirrel needs food NOW.

One of our senior members who posts as Jackie in Tampa uses an excellent temporary substitute, and it can be assembled from locally purchased ingredients:

3 parts goat’s milk
1 part heavy whipping cream*
1 part vanilla yogurt

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

Goat’s Milk
This can be purchased at natural food stores such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, and at most health food stores that sell groceries. It is a product for humans. Do not substitute commercial formula made for baby goats or other livestock sold at feed stores.

Goat’s milk is available fresh in a carton; evaporated in a can; and as a powdered milk. If you purchase either the evaporated or powdered versions, please blend them with water according to the package directions before using to make the formula.

Heavy Whipping Cream
This is found in small cartons in the grocery store near the coffee creamers and half and half. Regular heavy cream may be substituted if it is unavailable, but the heavy whipping cream has the highest fat content, and is preferred.

Yogurt
Yogurt has beneficial bacteria in it that soothes and settles digestion. Full fat yogurt is best, and a good choice that is very widely available is Stoneyfield Yobaby yogurt. However if it is unavailable, a low fat vanilla yogurt may be substituted. Avoid those that have artificial sweeteners in them. Vanilla and banana are both popular flavors, and the sweet taste of the yogurt helps to convince the baby to accept it.

It has been recently discovered that very small pinky squirrels may do better digestively if, instead of being given Fox Valley formula straight, mix the Fox Valley 50/50 with the Goat’s Milk Formula assembled WITHOUT the heavy whipping cream.

*It is recommended that when just starting to feed a new baby that the first feedings be made without the heavy whipping cream. This will give their digestive systems a chance to acclimate from mama’s milk to our substitute without the harder-to-digest whipping cream. Once they accept the formula and are eliminating properly, the whipping cream can be gradually added in.

When your Fox Valley formula arrives, please transition your babies to the new formula slowly, by blending the Goat’s Milk Formula with the blended and liquefied Fox Valley formula, increasing the ratio of Fox Valley with each feeding until you are no longer using the goat’s milk.
__________________

[astra]

as for block,
the best block for squirrels is Henry's Healthy Block available at www.henryspets.com. Only 2 per day will be enough.

SOme people buy commercial rodent block, such as Kaytee forte diet for rats and mice (blue bag, not green bag), Mazuri - these should be available at pet stores.
Harlan Teklad - at www.thecraftyrat.com
But you will need to feed more than 2 per day of commercial block.
Somewhere around 5+ minimum, but most rehabbers keep a bowl full of block in the cage at all times.
Also, with commercial block you may have to supplement with extra calcium.