Avocado ok for young fox squirrels?

[sdreamcatcher]

I make a boo ball type treat using fox valley and calcium carbonate, and sometimes for the wet part I use avocado. Is it ok to give these to my newest little ones (8 week range)? I just want to double make sure before I offer them any. If so I may start making something similar for some of my outside buddies. Avocados tend to be much better priced then nuts....

[SammysMom]

They should be eating blocks as the mainstay of their diet as the first thing after formula. I assume they still get formula? If block is being eaten avocado is a good treat.:thumbsup

[Milo's Mom]

Personally at 8 weeks old I would offer FV and HHB's ONLY.

Adding all this other stuff in is going to make them junk food junkies. They have to LOVE HHB's (blocks) and the veggies on list 1 of the Healthy Diet.....then, the treats, nut balls, avocado, etc. can start.

[sdreamcatcher]

I make a mix using fv because I can't get hhb. They do eat and like greens, veggies, and the few wild foods I can find right now. Our trees have not leafed out here, so I am still trying to feed the wilds as well.

[Milo's Mom]

That's what I am not understanding....at 8 weeks old the primary diet is formula...like 90-95% of it.

Is there a reason you are pushing solid foods? If you cannot feed them a quality block I feel it is imperative that you keep them on the FV for as long as possible. If you are feeding them a quality block (HHB, HT, etc) they should be on the FV and block. Mixing some FV into some sort of a mix/ball is not going to provide them with everything they need at this age. In the past my 8 week olds have been taking 30-40cc's of FV twice a day. PLUS their HHB's and some of the group 1 veggies.

Have you read/referenced the Healthy Diet? The first veggies they should get and the ones they should love first are the ones in group 1. Avocado is NOT in group 1. Avocado is like crack for squirrels...yes it does contain many good things for them, but it's VERY high in fat and should be fed in moderation.

I think the biggest "hang up" I'm having is the fact that they are only 8 weeks old and you're pushing the veggies. Are you trying to wean them? If so, why?

To put it bluntly, unless there were some sort of extenuating circumstances I would NOT feed an 8 week old avocado, period.

[sdreamcatcher]

I have the healthy diet pinned to my wall. Yes they get formula; they all fight the syringes. I am just doing the best I can with the limited resources I have because I am not near a rehabber. I see a cat grab a baby or find them half frozen in the snow, and I try.

[Milo's Mom]

I have the healthy diet pinned to my wall. Yes they get formula; they all fight the syringes. I am just doing the best I can with the limited resources I have because I am not near a rehabber. I see a cat grab a baby or find them half frozen in the snow, and I try.
OK...I am sensing hostility here. Before I can answer your question or attempt too, I sort of need to understand why you're doing what your doing.

I am NOT near a rehabber either and my resources are less than minimal, so we are in the same boat in those aspects.

Veggies cost A LOT more than FV and HHB's....just sayin...

The question you are asking cannot be answered honestly or truthfully unless you are more forthcoming with information.

"a boo ball type treat using fox valley and calcium carbonate" What is in the treat? What is the base ingredient? It seems that adding avocado would be acting as the "wetting" agent.....why not wet the FV instead?

Not sure if anything I say, recommend, suggest or otherwise will help. So, I am going to leave it at, no, do not feed an 8 week old squirrel avocado.

[sdreamcatcher]

OK...I am sensing hostility here. Before I can answer your question or attempt too, I sort of need to understand why you're doing what your doing.

I am NOT near a rehabber either and my resources are less than minimal, so we are in the same boat in those aspects.

Veggies cost A LOT more than FV and HHB's....just sayin...

The question you are asking cannot be answered honestly or truthfully unless you are more forthcoming with information.

"a boo ball type treat using fox valley and calcium carbonate" What is in the treat? What is the base ingredient? It seems that adding avocado would be acting as the "wetting" agent.....why not wet the FV instead?

Not sure if anything I say, recommend, suggest or otherwise will help. So, I am going to leave it at, no, do not feed an 8 week old squirrel avocado.

No hostility. I have money to get veggies and fox valley but not the hhbs. I love using them, but they are very cost prohibitive for me, as I am still out of work and have other squirrels I am trying to get ready for release. Personally veggies are cheaper then fox valley too (I get the bucket whenever I can), especially if I use what is growing (organically) out in our yard. (We are vegetarian and always have a garden in summer). All three of these babies are terrified of being handled :shakehead. I like to vary the ingredients and had a question before I proceeded. I wasn't planning on using avocado exclusively; I just happened to have one on hand and wanted to treat them.

[Rhapsody]

Yes, as a treat the avocado would be fine...... but at 8 weeks old we try not to give any thing else thing else to our baby squirrels except for FV & HHB so they do not wean themselves off of the good stuff to soon..... then after they accepted these two food items as their main staple foods then we can slowly add other foods to the group..... with avocado still being given only as treat or to fatten up a skinny squirrels.