Adding calcium and vitamins for baby Flyers?

[Kimberly E]

Reading mixed info.

Do they need added calcium and vitamins? If so what kind and how often?

[IrishHarps]

You need to make sure they get plenty of calcium - so you need to feed foods that are high in calcium (like yogurt) every day. It has been recommended that you mix Fox Valley powdered formula into their yogurt so give them an extra calcium boost.

Every day they need:
-Veggies
-Mushrooms (yes, a mushroom piece a day. They have the proper nutrients)
-Yogurt (mixed with Fox Valley)
-Protein (bugs, chicken, eggs are all good protein sources)
-One Henry's Healthy Block for flyers

If you follow this diet, there is no need to supplement with anything else. However it is a good idea to keep a few calcium chews in the cage at all times (bones, cuttlebone, calcium chews for rodents that you find at Petco - that sort of thing) so that they have access to extra calcium if they feel they need it.

[IrishHarps]

You can get the Fox Valley formula and rodent blocks here:
http://henryspets.com/

[Kimberly E]

Thanks you for the reply.

What kind of mushrooms? Store bought buttons? The female grey that was hand raised and lives in our oak is always picking them out of the yard... I just wouldn't want to the wrong kind.

Also their eyes have been open a little over a week. They don't seem to want much other than the formula aside of licking the oranges. Should I just add these items and let it roll?

[IrishHarps]

I don't know much about weaning (I got mine when she was already weaned) but I *think* if their eyes have only been open one week, they need to still be on formula for their main nutrition.

You mentioned oranges - are you feeding oranges? If so, it is too early to have them on fruits. Don't start fruits until they've been eating all the other stuff (blocks, yogurt, greens) first. If you feed fruit too early it will make them picky and it will be difficult to get them to eat the 'good stuff.'

The first thing they should get when they are weaning are the healthy blocks. After they are eating those regularly, begin to add in veggies/shrooms and proteins.

Regarding mushrooms, the white button ones from the store and portabellas are good :) I haven't tried any other kinds yet, but maybe someone else has and they can tell you what works for them :)