Feeding questions

[schrislip00]

My baby squirrels are up to 240 and 252 grams. I am attempting to feed them 4 times a day with the FV 20/50 and UltraBoost formula. I say attempting because sometimes they do not seem as interested in the formula as other times. The smaller squirrel is much more skittish than her sister and if the fridge makes a weird noise, it's all over. The larger squirrel is braver and seems hungrier. She will grab my hand as I'm filling the syringe to get to the nipple!

They are getting 15 to 18 mls per feeding, 2 homemade squirrel blocks (they don't seem to be doing much eating, just shredding them) and I added in some maple branches/leaves/keys for amusement a couple times a week.

So my question is basically, are they getting enough nutrition if they aren't eating their full serving of formula each feeding? They are gaining every day and are very active. I have been giving them their blocks (I used the recipe from TSB and I bought the vitamins and whey protein directly from Henry's) but I don't really see them eating it, just nibbling. I put in some thawed frozen broccoli last night but I didn't notice any interest in it.

[Rhapsody]

First off you have to remember that squirrels are to be feed at 5-7% of their body weight at each feeding and no more.
This way they will eat what is given to them and get all the nutrition and vitamins they need at each meal time... how
often they are feed (every 3, 4 or 6 hours) will depend on how old they are --how many weeks.

I would always feed them their FV in the morning, then give them 1 of their 2 blocks at that point and then give them their
2nd block for the day after their next FV feeding. Then you can follow up rest of the day with wild plants and vegetables
once they have pass the eight week mark.

[Rhapsody]

Link to Daily Squirrel Diet List:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?39275-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels-(Revised-2-13)

[schrislip00]

I found them on July 25th, so tomorrow I will have had them for 8 weeks exactly. Since they didn't have an umbilical stump I'm guessing they were about a week to 10 days old when I found them. I would have to say they are 9 weeks to almost 10 weeks old. I have been feeding them every 5 hours, is this correct?

[schrislip00]

Link to Daily Squirrel Diet List:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?39275-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels-(Revised-2-13)

This is printed out on my fridge! I love this chart, it's so simple and handy.

[schrislip00]

I have a chart I refer to from time to time, I think I might have gotten it from TSB. I have it bookmarked on my computer now. Is it pretty accurate?

http://www.squirrelrehabilitation.com/feeding%20schedule.htm

[Rhapsody]

At 10 weeks old they can go 6 hours between feedings (no night feeding) - 12 to 15 cc is plenty for them.
Try adding some vanilla yogurt to the mix if you need them to continue drinking it.

At this age you can feed them on a schedule of Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

[Rhapsody]

If they are drinking their FV well and have accepted their HHB good...... then I would start to add vegetables & wild plants,
with limited nuts and fruits to their lunch and dinner bowls...... they need to be eating it all by 12 weeks old.

Leave the HHB (and fv) for Breakfast --when they are at their hungriest. :)

You can stop the Ultra Boost at this stage --and feed the FV morning and night if they will not take it at all 3 feedings.

[schrislip00]

Thank you! I will definitely take your advice, one less feeding sounds okay to me. Maybe they will eat their block more if they are not so full with formula? They are pooping okay, no mushy poop or diarrhea.

Thanks again!

[schrislip00]

If they are drinking their FV well and have accepted their HHB good...... then I would start to add vegetables & wild plants,
with limited nuts and fruits to their lunch and dinner bowls...... they need to be eating it all by 12 weeks old.

Leave the HHB (and fv) for Breakfast --when they are at their hungriest. :)

You can stop the Ultra Boost at this stage --and feed the FV morning and night if they will not take it at all 3 feedings.

Do I need to transition out the Ultra Boost or can I just not add it the next time I make formula?

[Rhapsody]

Just not add it at the next feeding....... :thumbsup

[schrislip00]

The girls really love their spring mix, but they seem to just be tearing up the blocks and not eating them. Any advice on doctoring them up to make them more tasty?

[farrelli]

At first they usually just shred and move onto eating later. You can try warming them, chilling them, or freezing them. Most like the warmed ones, but the other two options have found fans as well. You could also try brushing them with a bit of oil.

[astra]

The girls really love their spring mix, but they seem to just be tearing up the blocks and not eating them. Any advice on doctoring them up to make them more tasty?

as Rhapsody mentioned, veggies and greens are best to be introduced after sqs start eating block willingly and with pleasure.
Block hsould be the first solid food.

try removing veggies and start the day with block only.
and nothing else but the block and formula (if they are still taking it).

they won't eat block right away, but if it is always there - evetntually they will

[schrislip00]

The days that I gave them the spring mix they had eaten their blocks pretty decent. I give them the blocks first thing in the morning, then FV. Then midday I give more blocks (if they've eaten the morning ones) and more FV. They also get FV before bedtime. I only give the veggies if they've eaten their blocks, which the past couple days they have not done very well. I've found half eaten ones and shredded ones. So today they did not eat their blocks, they did not get veggies.

What kind of oil? I have regular vegetable oil, olive oil, vegetable cooking spray, and canola cooking spray.

[astra]

coconut oil, almond butter (you can melt some butter so that it is runnier than normal), hazelnut butter- that's what works for me.

[farrelli]

Regular veg oil and olive oil are also often used.

[schrislip00]

Thanks guys! I'll try it tomorrow.

[schrislip00]

The oil seems to help. I still find them shredded though. They pick them up and look like they're eating them, but then I find them scattered all over the cage. I can't watch them because when I'm in the room they cling to the cage wanting attention, so I leave after I drop off the blocks. They are still loving FV so they are getting nutrition. If I see they eat their blocks, they get the spring mix. If not, no spring mix. Does this work in teaching them to eat the blocks? Rewarding good behavior or should I withhold the spring mix completely?

[schrislip00]

Eating blocks REALLY well now. I hardly find any pieces left. They have quit drinking formula and are drinking water from their bottle (it goes down every day). They really like romaine lettuce and spring mix. Tried some cabbage today but it didn't go over as well. They even got a special treat of an acorn apiece due to eating their healthy things really well that day. Naturally they loved that!

[farrelli]

Great. Sounds like they're doing well. Pics?