View Full Version : What do YOU nurse on? Max would like to know...
acorniv
09-02-2013, 01:03 PM
Hi. I'm Max, and I'm new at this rehabbing business, having just lost my family yesterday. Hey, that formula sure is tasty! But I gobble it down fast, and then feel an urge to suckle something. I tried all my fingers, but my claws are really long, and even if my funny looking new mom were to clip them, they would not feel very nice. I've tried people fingers ( too big, plus not available enough) and maybe I used to suckle on my sibling's tail, but mine is getting fluffy.
What do you guys use?
PS, I'm a lonely guy - it's just me here and some pretty strange looking pinkies who wear clothes. Do you think they might have mange? :eek
Your :frustratedx friend,
Max
SammysMom
09-02-2013, 01:06 PM
Oh Max...you poor guy...:Love_Icon Maybe if you ate a bit more at each feeding you would feel better?
Rhapsody
09-02-2013, 01:34 PM
Squirrels are to eat 5-7 % of their body weight at each feeding....... every 4-5 hours once they have past the 4 week mark.
acorniv
09-02-2013, 02:29 PM
I'm eating all I can and staying hydrated and plump, and I eat every 4 hours, but Mom says I'm the fastest eater she's had :nono:rolleyes:. Once I'm full I refuse more formula, but I want some sort of pacifier. Mom says that this helps babies develop good mouth muscles, but I think I just get hit by homesickness after I eat. Plus, looking at these giant pinkies in clothes makes me feel a little anxious, even though they make yummy meals and don't seem to want to make a yummy meal of me.
Rhapsody
09-02-2013, 05:11 PM
Basically and its true of all squirrels....... they act hungry 24/7 (even after just eating) --and they like to suckle, hence why it is always
a good ideal to feed them with a nipple on the end of their syringe. I like to use the "Four Paw Cone Nipple" that is sold at one of our
well known squirrel websites http://www.squirrelsandmore.com/ :)
Plus once a squirrel is pass 7 weeks old you can introduce them to squirrel blocks --TSB recommends HHB
@ http://www.henryspets.com/ - 2 blocks per day.
Never over feed as it can cause diarrhea and always talk to the squirrels when approaching them, to let the squirrels
know you are near before you pick them up..... this stops a lot unwanted bites. :grin2
Nancy in New York
09-02-2013, 05:17 PM
OK Max since you asked I am forced to show.
I am currently babysitting a self sucker, and a "sister"
sucker.
I was forced to either separate, and I did NOT want to do that,
or come up with something like a pacifier.
I took a sock and made a rice buddy warmed it,
and put a tiny hole in it and inside that place a miracle
nibble. Now since doing so, he has used this, however, it was
suggested that perhaps a nipple without a hole would be better.
Seriously this would be a really cute concept if it were a stuffed animal.
I was desperate so this worked for the time being. :grin3
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/A%20tsb%20images/2013-08-29057.jpg (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/nancym518/media/A%20tsb%20images/2013-08-29057.jpg.html)
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv95/nancym518/nancym518003/2013-08-29063.jpg (http://s673.photobucket.com/user/nancym518/media/nancym518003/2013-08-29063.jpg.html)
Rhapsody
09-02-2013, 05:50 PM
too CUTE!! Nancy........... LoVe IT!! LoVe IT!!
:rotfl:rotfl:rotfl:rotfl
IT'S OFFICIAL...I HAVE NOW SEEN EVERYTHING!!! :grin3 :eek :thumbsup
Nancy in New York
09-02-2013, 06:00 PM
IT'S OFFICIAL...I HAVE NOW SEEN EVERYTHING!!! :grin3 :eek :thumbsup
You should see what I don't post.......:shakehead:grin
Anything to keep these little ones happy.
You should know....:poke:grin2:poke
acorniv
09-02-2013, 06:00 PM
[QUOTE=Nancy in New York;924712][I][B]OK Max since you asked I am forced to show.
Yes! Just the sort of genius I was wishing for :banana. Last feeding. my pinkie giant rubbed my shoulders and behind the ears until I was sound asleep, and that was great. Just a few hours ago I got more restless when she touched me much ( especially that rude :poop:carzy2 stuff she calls 'stimulating' Ha - maybe for her. Personally I find it embarrassing). But I'm starting to think she's okay.
Pinkie Giant wants to know if you've ever had a squirrel chew the tip of the nipple off? I have some teeth on the bottom, and I might like to chew on it.
Thankyou, nice lady.
Max.
PS, last feeding I ate 25% more than before. Hey! do you guys have a speed eating contest? Cause if you do, I'm in!
acorniv
09-02-2013, 09:22 PM
Basically and its true of all squirrels....... they act hungry 24/7 (even after just eating) --and they like to suckle, hence why it is always
a good ideal to feed them with a nipple on the end of their syringe.
Thanks Rhapsody,
Max is my 5th squirrel, but I don't do it often - only when someone seeks me out. Max came from a family friend after he followed some children down the street.
I've not found that they're hungry 24/7 and never had the experience where they're still hungry after a feeding. I wonder if we've got different techniques? I don't weigh them - I rely on whether they're well hydrated, how rounded their tummies are after feeding, and (to a lesser degree) and their appetite. My first had chronic digestive problems, probably due to having been fed 3 different bad diets before I got her. She finally thrived after I weaned her early. My last got huge - but was never overweight. (that's him in my profile photo, sucking his toes).
I use the long silicone squirrel nipples from - hmmm, can't remember if I get them from Henry or squirrels&more, but those are the two places I order from. I use a larger syringe than most recommend because that is what I learned on and I've never aspirated anyone. I like the control and the fact that they hold heat better.
[QUOTE] Plus once a squirrel is pass 7 weeks old you can introduce them to squirrel blocks --TSB recommends HHB
@ http://www.henryspets.com/ - 2 blocks per day. [QUOTE]
Yes - he's got a week or two yet, so I plan to order them tomorrow, this being a holiday. I've also made them, as my last guy went off them after the first bag. I think it was the texture - mine are crunchier. If anyone else encounters this, here's my secret ingredient - Henry's blocks, LOL. I chop them as finelyas possible and added to the other ingredients, which are taken off the package. I roll them like refrigerator cookies and kep them frozen in 5-6 inch logs, which I slice and bake as needed. I also mix the H-block (chopped finely) with tiny bit of almond butter once in a while, but on those days they don''t get their daily nut. I've been outsmarted by squirrels ( who hasn't?) but this mom can pull a few things over on the kiddies at meal time.
[QUOTE] Never over feed as it can cause diarrhea and always talk to the squirrels when approaching them, to let the squirrelsknow you are near before you pick them up..... this stops a lot unwanted bites. :grin2
I've luckily never had to deal with over feeding or diarhea, and I think the fact that I don't weigh them factors in there. I would be more inclined if they were pinkies, but even so I'd use it as just one element of assessment. Here's why I don't weigh: Humans can have different size stomachs and variations in digestion regardless of their weight, so surely other species can too. My first had such serious digestion problems that there was no point in weighing her - I fed her a cc or two at a time ( whatever she'd accept) and for several weeks, did so every hour or two around the clock.
Yes - I'm very sensitive to the need to calm my newlings ( not just verbally, but soothing movements). Your suggestion that I talk to him kind of cracked me up, because I not only talk to my babies, I've learned Squirrel - a language with a remarkably large vocabulary. I know that is a serious problem even for people with their own babies though. in my state new moms have to sign a paper saying they know babies need to be talked to :eek
I also give my new charges Rescue Remedy as soon as I get them, and if they're the keyed up type, each time I handle them until they trust me. Max has not shown any fear of me though. :Love_Icon
Thanks!
Max's mom
acorniv
09-04-2013, 04:25 PM
Thought I'd give an update on Max's oral frustration. Turns out he was teething. I gave him some block, which inspected but didn't gnaw on and then he discovered rolled hems, which don't yelp like fingers do.
He continues to eat like it's his last meal, so I've stepped up his feedings to every three hours, and that's made no difference. The first two days, he could only hold 3 - 4 cc's, but he's now taking 4.5 - 5.5. From his first feeding, he fills his tank as fast as he can, and then, if I try to offer more - either then or after he gets a chance to catch his breath, this is his response: :eek. I think he was terribly tired the first couple days, and now he scampers around looking for interesting things and people to pee and poop on tinfoil.
SammysMom
09-04-2013, 04:35 PM
Excellent update! :grouphug:Love_IconMax:Love_Icon:grouphug
MommaLove
09-04-2013, 04:48 PM
Oh HOW CUTE! Where is the darn LIKE LOVE buttons at???
I am going to make these up tonight. I have a self sucker and a sister sucker. I hate splitting as they love cuddling and playing.
Im headed out to get yet another cage! This one is 51/2 foot high by 4 1/2 foot around! YEAH for my NR. Then babies will move up to the old cage and out of the baby pen once big enough.
Nancy would love to see all your nifty ideas!:thumbsup
acorniv
09-04-2013, 09:20 PM
Oh HOW CUTE! Where is the darn LIKE LOVE buttons at???
I am going to make these up tonight. I have a self sucker and a sister sucker. I hate splitting as they love cuddling and playing.
Im headed out to get yet another cage! This one is 51/2 foot high by 4 1/2 foot around! YEAH for my NR. Then babies will move up to the old cage and out of the baby pen once big enough.
Nancy would love to see all your nifty ideas!:thumbsup
I think the pacifier cuddler is great too, but you'll want to inspect for teeth before giving it to your babies, because they can chew the tip off the nipple and choke on it. I've twice had squirrels suck the entire nipple off the syringe and choke - fortunately I could pull it out, because it was long, but if they were to chew part off, that would be a different story :eek
acorniv
09-04-2013, 09:27 PM
Forgot to add that I brought in a branch from an oak sapling in my yard ( no spray, and not toxic) for Max to chew on, It also gives him something save to begin climbing on. :Love_Icon
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