Are they good on weight?

[chyna_thompson123]

Hi I was wondering about my two babies Dexter & Dazey. As some as you may know they are about 4 weeks old and I have had slight trouble with feeding and them getting diarrhea. Now I have them both switching over to the goat milk recipe, without the heavy cream for now, they started wanting to eat 3-3 1/2 ml today but I feel like their weights are a little off. Dexter, the boy, has been weighing 51.02 grams and Dazey, the girl, has been weighing 53.86-56.69 grams. Is this the ideal weight for these two babies?? :dono

[Fireweed]

Geez, I really don't know. I've been trying to find some links for you to no avail. Hopefully someone with experience in 4 week old greys (or foxers? :thinking) will pop in. Meanwhile, I'll keep trying to find you some info on weights.
:)

Are you feeding 5-7% of their body weight?
Read this thread while you wait: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?41680-feeding-schedule-for-4-weekers&highlight=weight+for+4+week+olds

It might give you some ideas.

[chyna_thompson123]

Thank you for the help. They are grey squirrels. And yes I am feeding them 5% of their weight.

[island rehabber]

chyna, squirrels differ in size so much that it's pretty much impossible to declare 'ideal weights'. I have two 3.5 wk olds right now who weigh 63 & 57 grams. I also have a 2.5 wk old who weighs 37g -- far behind those two and way smaller, for only 1 week apart in age. The best way for us to give you a valid opinion is to see a pic of your fuzzers. :thumbsup

[Shewhosweptforest]

My greys weighed in at 50 g at 5 wks :dono they were tiny but they're fine:thumbsup and they were from a tree cutter so they weren't away from mom for long:grin2

[Shewhosweptforest]

Here's a few pics to give you an idea...I'm sure they were five weeks because one still had its eyes closed...and opened the next day:Love_Icon

[chyna_thompson123]

This was just after their feeding an hour ago. Dazey is the one on the towel, she is a little bigger than her brother. Dexter is the one sleeping in my hand (:
210853210854

[SammysMom]

They look beautiful! I have to warn you though that they really should not be on towels. Many squirrels have been injured by nails catching in the loops of towels. Please switch to fleece, flannel or tee shirts. :grouphug:Love_Icon:grouphug

[Fireweed]

Sweet little bubs. :Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[island rehabber]

Foxers! sooo cute. They look good, chyna. I'd like to see a rounder tummy on Dexter but that's just me. Keep doing what you're doing, and remember the 5% rule is a MINIMUM, not a MAXIMUM. 5-7% is the range for a good feeding for a particular weight. IF the baby wants more, and if poops stay normal, formed and golden-colored, by all means give him more. If poops go pale and mushy you're overfeeding. I find this is a far better guage to use than strictly adhering to "5-7%". :)

[Jackie in Tampa]

Dexter & Dazey:Love_Icon:Love_Icon

[HazelEyes]

I am so glad I found this! I am new to the squirrel world, but welcome it with open arms. I rescued a baby fox squirrel 4 nights ago. Although I did everything my licensed help told me to do, mommy never came back. He and I don't talk about it... it's a sensitive subject :). I sent pictures, and was told that he is 3 almost 4 weeks old. He eats like a pig, pees regularly and poops just about every other feeding. He seems healthy, but only weighs 55g. He seems long and lean, but not boney. I am feeding him 3.5-4cc every 4 hours. Maybe a runt? He yells at me when the food is gone, trying to convince me that he is still starving. Just wondered if he may need more food, or if this is within a healthy weight? He is on Esbilac puppy formula. Squirrel Mom in training :grin3

[swimmergirl]

I am so glad I found this! I am new to the squirrel world, but welcome it with open arms. I rescued a baby fox squirrel 4 nights ago. Although I did everything my licensed help told me to do, mommy never came back. He and I don't talk about it... it's a sensitive subject :). I sent pictures, and was told that he is 3 almost 4 weeks old. He eats like a pig, pees regularly and poops just about every other feeding. He seems healthy, but only weighs 55g. He seems long and lean, but not boney. I am feeding him 3.5-4cc every 4 hours. Maybe a runt? He yells at me when the food is gone, trying to convince me that he is still starving. Just wondered if he may need more food, or if this is within a healthy weight? He is on Esbilac puppy formula. Squirrel Mom in training :grin3


I don't know much about squirrel rehabbing- as I just started this past week myself (triplets!)- but I do know that Esbilac should NOT be given to squirrel babies, despite what it says everywhere else online.

There is a goat's milk recipe that you can use until you buy Fox Valley Formula, which is recommended by seems like everyone on this board!....
1 part goat's milk
1 part whole milk yogurt
and, after a few days of this formula and good poops, add in 1 part whole whipping cream.

[SugarBugFerret]

Here is a link to the Goat Milk Formula sticky page. Just adding it here in case someone else winds up here. :thumbsup It says:

3 parts goat's milk
1 part vanilla yogurt
1 part heavy whipping cream (to be added after baby is doing well on the milk/yogurt combo)

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?29904-TEMPORARY-Goat-s-Milk-Formula***