cnmnnaturalist
06-25-2013, 10:46 AM
They grow up so fast! My three babies are now starting to self-wean. They really aren't thrilled with the formula any more. Usually they shoot right out of their kennel and drink down a good 15-18ml of formula down eagerly, but now they will sip a little then go play a while. Eventually they may get hungry enough to drink it and they'll take about 10 ml. I usually try to resist giving them anything else until they've had at least 12ml of formula first, but now it's to the point where I can barely get them to do 8ml. I can really tell they want new stuff because they drink and will pull back and inspect the rest of the syringe as if something else might come out!
So I'm stepping up their solid foods. Lots of wild greens, the squirrel blocks and some sunflower seeds (maybe a tablespoon each AFTER they eat their blocks and greens and at least some formula). Clovers (White and Red), Plantains (they REALLY like the root base of the plant), Wood Sorrel, Sunflower Seed Sprouts and Dandelion greens. They aren't too thrilled with them, but they don't get any sunflower seeds without eating the greens, then the flowers. Some of the Smooth Wild Roses are starting to bloom and they really like the rose buds. I've seen the wilds (Chipmunks, Reds and Grays) eat them too so I'm pretty sure it's safe. I found some wild Timothy Grass and they were a bit interested in it.
They discovered some caterpillars rolled up in the leaves of a Quaking Aspen branch I brought them and they eagerly ripped the leaves apart and ate them! So I've been giving them more Leafroller-type caterpillars to rip out of leaves and eat. They also get some of the Mayflies that are coming out. I'm sticking to foods they won't likely get parasites from. I've seen the wilds eating these too with a lot of eagerness so I'm pretty pleased with my kids, even if they get gooey caterpillar guts on my clothes.
I've been watching the wilds more closely to see what they are interested in as the season goes on. I think I'm going to make a forum topic here of my observations of the diets of wilds here.
Any tips? Am I doing things right? I'm building their pre-release cage (which I'll be talking about at this post Need advice on building pre-release cage (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41122-Need-advice-on-building-pre-release-cage)).
So I'm stepping up their solid foods. Lots of wild greens, the squirrel blocks and some sunflower seeds (maybe a tablespoon each AFTER they eat their blocks and greens and at least some formula). Clovers (White and Red), Plantains (they REALLY like the root base of the plant), Wood Sorrel, Sunflower Seed Sprouts and Dandelion greens. They aren't too thrilled with them, but they don't get any sunflower seeds without eating the greens, then the flowers. Some of the Smooth Wild Roses are starting to bloom and they really like the rose buds. I've seen the wilds (Chipmunks, Reds and Grays) eat them too so I'm pretty sure it's safe. I found some wild Timothy Grass and they were a bit interested in it.
They discovered some caterpillars rolled up in the leaves of a Quaking Aspen branch I brought them and they eagerly ripped the leaves apart and ate them! So I've been giving them more Leafroller-type caterpillars to rip out of leaves and eat. They also get some of the Mayflies that are coming out. I'm sticking to foods they won't likely get parasites from. I've seen the wilds eating these too with a lot of eagerness so I'm pretty pleased with my kids, even if they get gooey caterpillar guts on my clothes.
I've been watching the wilds more closely to see what they are interested in as the season goes on. I think I'm going to make a forum topic here of my observations of the diets of wilds here.
Any tips? Am I doing things right? I'm building their pre-release cage (which I'll be talking about at this post Need advice on building pre-release cage (http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41122-Need-advice-on-building-pre-release-cage)).