Best Squirrel Nutrition for Squirrels

[MamaBodie5]

What is the best formula for a 4-5 week old squirrel? I've seen two different types for squirrels on the Fox Valley website. Also, what is the best rodent block for them?

[SammysMom]

Personally I use Henry's Healthy blocks for rodent block. Sammy is ultra fussy and he eats the Picky variety daily. You can order them at http://henryspets.com/ You can also order the Fox Valley Formula there. 20/50 is for over 4 weeks of age.

[MamaBodie5]

Thank you!! Does it matter what kind of blocks to use & when is it best to start them on the blocks?

[farrelli]

Most people use Henry's, often mixed in with other blocks if cost is an issue. Harlan Teklad are a brand often used.

As far as when to use them, most people think it's a good idea to give them as their first solid food so that they don't get picky about them later. BUT, you shouldn't wean them. They should take formula for as long as they want it and will mix in eating blocks and veggies on their own if you offer it.

[MamaBodie5]

AWESOME!! Thank you so much for the help. ;-)

[SammysMom]

Yep, Farrelli got that very right! You want to put a block in before they are even really ready to eat them so they are the first thing they learn to eat. They are insurance hat keeps them healthy!
:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

[island rehabber]

Thank you!! Does it matter what kind of blocks to use & when is it best to start them on the blocks?

The general consensus is that for the main staple of their diet they should have one of the high-quality rodent blocks available at all times, such as Harlan Teklad, Mazuri or Zupreem. In addition, I always feed 1-2 Henry's Healthy Blocks to my rehab squirrels per day, for breakfast and dinner, because those give them all the necessary vitamins and nutrients they need so that you don't have to worry so much about the other stuff they are -- or aren't -- eating. I feed the Mazuri blocks, myself, along with the HHB's and high-calcium veggies such as dandelion greens, kale, chickory, escarole. :) My rehab guys get very few nuts -- and only when they are over 8 weeks old, and only 1-2 per day. If you give a baby squirrel an almond when his eyes open, he is NEVER going to forget that taste and now you've got a manic nut-eater on your hands. (As if you gave a baby human chocolate before anything else, and then expect him to eat his broccoli :D.)

[slee]

Where do you find chickory and escarole? Our grocery store do not have that. Do you grow these yourself?:thankyou

[Jackie in Tampa]

Most people use Henry's, often mixed in with other blocks if cost is an issue. Harlan Teklad are a brand often used.

As far as when to use them, most people think it's a good idea to give them as their first solid food so that they don't get picky about them later. BUT, you shouldn't wean them. They should take formula for as long as they want it and will mix in eating blocks and veggies on their own if you offer it.
yep yep yep...
however, if cost is a factor... sqs are not cheap...
and actually HHBs are probably cheaper than buying other blocks as you need to feed a hand full everyday to get enough valuable nutrition... and HHBs are 1-2 a day and THEY ARE TRULY MADE FOR SQUIRRELS.
Feeding the other store bought blocks makes me think lab rat as they are tasteless and boring.. they do not smell like sq food, nor are they appealing to sqs... lab rat food imho.
I have had great results using HHBs daily for years now..
every sq here is gorgeous and happy..I think I have had more sqs on the hEalthy diet for more years than most.. and I am sharing that advise as to be the RIGHT ADVISE!...
and that is THAT!:D
The proof is in the happy fluffy butts I live with!
I cannot imagine the issues I would have without HHBs...
I have too many NRs to NOT feed the proper food... I have clean odorless urine and perfect poops always... good jumpers, fast runners... generally PERFECT sqs!!!! My cages never stink... and sqs should not smell if feed well and cage cleaned weekly...
and you can bank on that!:thumbsup
Variety is always key with fresh veggies...
common sense says to not feed all orange veggies together etc...
I usually give several {7-10} different veggie food items daily,
AFTER the morning HHBs are gone!

here's to many happy healthy sqs for years to come...:beerchug

[Jackie in Tampa]

Where do you find chickory and escarole? Our grocery store do not have that. Do you grow these yourself?:thankyou
honestly, oriental markets are usually wholesale and carry more variety than the grocery stores and better prices...
look under whol;esale produce:) in the yellow pages

[Nuthouse13]

Most people use Henry's, often mixed in with other blocks if cost is an issue. Harlan Teklad are a brand often used.

As far as when to use them, most people think it's a good idea to give them as their first solid food so that they don't get picky about them later. BUT, you shouldn't wean them. They should take formula for as long as they want it and will mix in eating blocks and veggies on their own if you offer it.

:wave123 Our two babies, Boris and Natasha, are now 11wks old and wonderfully healthy. They take Fox Valley formula, enjoy their HHBs, and like carrots. (We are working our way through the veggie list...they don't like broccoli) You say not to wean them. What kind of schedule should we start following between formula, HHBs, and veggies?

[Dalek Nation]

Nuthouse:
My guys are that same age and I feed them pretty much the same as you are, except I also give them fresh elm branches in the morning and maple seeds (keys, the little propellor things) as well. My little boy still pigs out on the formula, and I usually give him 18ccs three times a day. Little girl sometimes eats formula, sometimes she could care less. I worry some days they don't get enough, other days I worry they get too much. Still no scale...

I give them fresh branches at sunrise so they have something to flip-out on, along with the blocks and the keys. Then they get the blocks (2 each feeding), keys (just stuck in the top oif the cage, a dozen or so), carrots (2 each feeding) and the occasional peanut stick.

[island rehabber]

I give them fresh branches at sunrise so they have something to flip-out on, along with the blocks and the keys. Then they get the blocks (2 each feeding), keys (just stuck in the top oif the cage, a dozen or so), carrots (2 each feeding) and the occasional peanut stick.

DAlek, my schedule is similar to yours: blocks first thing, along with fresh branches (I keep a whole bunch in a pail of water by their cage so they last a few days). In the afternoon I make everyone a salad, using 2-3 dark green veggies plus some broccoli or cauliflower, radicchio, maybe ONE sugar snap pea pod each, and another round of HHB's. There are always Mazuri blocks in their bowls. I learned my lesson with the pea pods, aka Squirrel Crack: if they get bunches of them they will ONLY want the pea pods and no other green veg, and then you will run yourself silly all over town looking for the dam things and spending $50+ in gas :shakehead . They are now a treat, only, in my house. :D

[Dalek Nation]

DAlek, my schedule is similar to yours: blocks first thing, along with fresh branches (I keep a whole bunch in a pail of water by their cage so they last a few days). In the afternoon I make everyone a salad, using 2-3 dark green veggies plus some broccoli or cauliflower, radicchio, maybe ONE sugar snap pea pod each, and another round of HHB's. There are always Mazuri blocks in their bowls. I learned my lesson with the pea pods, aka Squirrel Crack: if they get bunches of them they will ONLY want the pea pods and no other green veg, and then you will run yourself silly all over town looking for the dam things and spending $50+ in gas :shakehead . They are now a treat, only, in my house. :D
Lol, doesn't help that they are one of the pricier veggies as well... glad my guys love carrots.
My little boy threw-up once after chewing at broccoli so I've been hesitant on putting it back in... now I think I just overfed him that one time. I need to start giving them more dark green leafies. Anyone know if the greens from plantain are good (they resemble dandelion greens).

[Nuthouse13]

So much useful information...everyone is so helpful. I know this is why my 13wk old guys are so beautiful and healthy.

A couple of questions though:
1) ya'll mentioned elm branches in the mornings. Do you mean just small broken off branches? and is there any other type I can use. We don't have any elm around us.

2) The maple seed keys...are there any substitutes? I had never heard of and had to look up, LOL! We're from Texas so our immediate area has more oak, pecan, and fruit trees.

Right now they have a large "V" shaped pecan branch in their cage. They love it...we love that it has slowly worn down their needle sharp nails to now just sharp! :tilt

http://i42.tinypic.com/erhjxt.jpg

[cnmnnaturalist]

I'm getting conflicting answers from a few sources. How long can the Fox Valley 20/50 be kept after mixing? Some are saying 24 hours, some are saying 48 hours.

[Unikorngrrl]

We're from Texas so our immediate area has more oak, pecan, and fruit trees.

Nuthouse you can use all of those. You can just pull of smaller branches so they can eat the leaves, budding leaves, chew on them and eat the green under the bark and the bark...

I asked Skul about trees. He said the trees are safe, it's house plants you have to worry about. They eat on all of the trees in the wild! Jax loved the pecan limbs! I put bamboo with new shoots in his cage too.