2 babies already and now a 3rd!

[Nicki1987]

HELP! I already have 2 babies, which are about 8 weeks, I've had them 4 weeks, they are doing great. Although this is my 1st time with baby squirrels, But heres the thing, A friend is on her way right now with a 3rd baby which she just found and is bring to me, what do I do??? can it go with the 2 I already have? Also the 2 I have are brother and sister? Will they mate? If so when to I separate them???

[SammysMom]

Don't put them together right away. How old is the one that is one the way? Be sure no fleas or mites on the newbie and make sure he/she is healthy. No need to worry about breeding. They will be released long before sexual maturity. You will really have to see how it goes with the three of them as far as putting the together. Get the newbie and take a pic to post here then we can help you to figure out about the living arrangements.:thumbsup

[SammysMom]

Remember to start by warming gradually and hydrating before offering any formula.

[farrelli]

As I understand it, eight weeks is kind of the cutoff on putting squirrels together and them getting along, so it might be 50/50.

I think that the very earliest mating can occur is about five months. Moreover, squirrels in captivity, especially siblings, rarely mate even at full maturity, so them mating isn't something that you have to think about right now. Are these squirrels going to be raised and released?

[Nicki1987]

ok she is around 6 weeks old I'm guessing, and she does have fleas, what can I do to get rid of them?

[farrelli]

A bath, or at least sponge down, with a dilute solution of Dawn dish soap works. You have to make sure that they don't all run up to the head though. That or a drop of puppy or kitten Revolution between the shoulders.

[Nancy in New York]

I think that 6 weeks is a little young for revolution. You can do the dawn bath and then take kitten flea powder, put some on a kleenex and rub it on her.

I just found this old post from island rehabber:
:goodpost Dawn is excellent! A few drops in warm water, dip a washcloth in and wipe the squirrel down -- you don't have to immerse him in it.

ALSO: Zodiac brand Flea & Tick spray for cats & kittens is awesome. Works instantly and never hurts the squirrel -- I've used it on even 5-wk old baby squirrels.

[Nicki1987]

Awesome, thanks guys for all the help, my 2 babies were so easy when I got them, this lil girl is infested with bugs and seems like she is a little off, at her age I dont understand so easily being caught, she seems slightly slow. But has no injuries

[Nancy in New York]

Awesome, thanks guys for all the help, my 2 babies were so easy when I got them, this lil girl is infested with bugs and seems like she is a little off, at her age I dont understand so easily being caught, she seems slightly slow. But has no injuries

When they are that young, they are scared and have even been known to approach dogs thinking that they are safe....:shakehead
She has time. AND when she starts feeling better, you will see the real 6 week old. :) :grouphug

[Nicki1987]

she cant seem to stand on his back legs without falling face first, like when she is holding food to eat, she just keeps tipping over on her nose

[SammysMom]

Dehydration is a HUGE cause of unbalance, lethargy and a myriad of other issues. Warm, hydrate feed and then evaluate the real picture. What are you feeding already? Hydration needs to come right after warmth.

[Nicki1987]

she wasnt at all cold when I got her, they had kept her warm until they got here, but she does have a heating pad under her box, I have pedialite when she 1st got here, and put water in her box which I have seen her drink already, I also have her a piece of a carrot and avacodo to chew on, which she is going crazy over. the formula I have is GNC kitten formula, havent given it yet thou

[Nancy in New York]

Can you post a picture of her. Her main diet if she is 6 weeks old should be formula, but it should be Fox Valley.
Can you possibly get goats milk and make the temporary formula.
We have seen too many problems when they are raised on anything other than Fox Valley.
I will get you the links in one minute.
Can you get a picture?

[Nicki1987]

no disrespect intended, I have read ab the fox valley, but I have also done hours apon hours of reading on other thing, I called the wildlife control here and they said puppy of kitten formula would be fine, they use kitten, mine were around 3 weeks when I got them, are 8 weeks now and the kitten formula was what they were on for 3 days from the person who had them before me, so I didnt change then and they are fine, maybe a little fat, but I have had no problems with it

[Nancy in New York]

Here is where you can order the Fox Valley from, I would get the 20/50.
http://henryspets.com
AND
here is the temporary GM formula.
Leave out the heavy cream for the first day.


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

Formula will last 48 hours in refrigerator.

[Nicki1987]

But with my 2 now, even at 8 weeks, they are still getting formula 3 times a day, plus all the veggies and fruit they want, I started them on veggies and fruit around 3 weeks ago

[Nancy in New York]

OK, I am only trying to tell you what we collectively feel is the best nutrition.
Kitten formula is NOT for squirrels. And their first food should be blocks.
You never see them at this age, 6 weeks eating solid food in the wild, it is strictly mama's milk that sustains them.

[SammysMom]

I will not go on and on about this, but would feel remiss if I didn't say it at all. Although a squirrel MAY survive on kitten or puppy formula, it is NOT what is best nutritionally. If you simply think about the fact that dogs and cats are carnivores it stands to reason that their dietary requirements are different. It could be said that a child "could" survive on cookies and candy, but that does NOT mean that they will be healthy and able bodied as their life progresses. Obviously, you are going to make the ultimate decision, but when it comes to a healthy squirrel, kitten formula is not gonna do it. Goats milk is readily available at the grocery store as is full fat yogurt and heavy cream. It is better than kitten/puppy formula if you are not going to get Fox Valley which is made specifically for squirrels and therefore the best option.

[Nicki1987]

I have mixed the formula with heavy cream, and I do have blocks, which is their main staple right now, fruits and viggies are 2nd.

[Nicki1987]

I really didnt mean to offend anyone, I was only stating what I had hurd from others and read about, I did contact my local wildlife control and the kitten milk that was given to me with the babies was what they told me to use, so I continued it and have had good results with my 2, I am once again sorry if I offended anyone, I didnt mean any disrespect

[Nancy in New York]

We are only trying to tell you what is BEST for the squirrels, that's all.
I would say that collectively the people here have easily raised thousands of squirrels.
A lot of times the rehab places like what they find is the cheapest, and something that they can get their hands on quickly.
We have seen too many babies raised on kitten formula, or puppy milk that end up with MBD. The calcium is way off on these formulas and can cause problems down the line.
As far as good results, the fact that they are still alive only means that they are not dead, not that the formula is good. They will pay the price down the line with brittle bones without the right calcium.

[SammysMom]

For me it is not offensive it is just sad. There is no animal control person who could EVER know more about squirrels that the member of TSB. They are not dealing with hundreds of squirrels. Their job is in general domestic pets. If I had a dog question I would definitely go to an ACO. Here at TSB we know squirrels. If you want to know what the best thing to do for them is then ask here and be willing to understand that no matter what you may hear from others we know squirrels.
I am here to help as are so many other members. If you ask us for help we help. If you want to the answers as to why we say the things we say, we have the answers to those questions. If you want to do something different, that is up to you, but we will not just tell you it is okay when we know that it isn't. If you are unwilling to change formulas we will still try to help you with the rest of the diet, but if the squirrels run into trouble it will likely be due to poor nutrition because the formula is made for kittens that are carnivores.