Baby Toys

[skeebo]

I have a baby, that was probably 6 - 8 weeks old when he found me nine days ago. The first couple of days, he was happy eating formula and sleeping. I took him outside a lot and he enjoyed climbing rocks, trees, and building a nest inside a big oak tree that has a hollow spot at the bottom. He would pick up leaves and carry them inside, presumably to build a nest.

Based on comments, I have limited his outdoor activities to the front porch, where he can't get away. He has been wild inside all day, up until a few minutes ago. He's finally sleeping, but his favorite activity is to crawl under our chest of drawers and literally chase his tail.

Given that he has no mommy or siblings, are there any squirrel "games" that they like to play? Cats and dogs have their "toys", but are there any that solitary squirrel babies like?

[Fireweed]

YES! Get some "stuffies" - stuffed animal toys - he will wrestle with them. Make sure they have no parts that he can chew off, like buttons for eyes, or long strings etc. and make sure they are not stuffed with beans/beads or the like. Stuffies can be small or large - all sizes and he'll pick his faves! :grin
Get something like an oven mitt or a mitt especially made for ferret-play and hand wrestle with him.
Get branches to put in his enclosure that he can climb. Give him rolls of toilet paper and paper towel he can destroy and/or build nests with. Give him small pieces of fleece to build nests with. Give him a box of pet-friendly sand he can dig in. Give him a log he can rip the bark off.
Give him tunnels (pvc pipe), carpets on the walls he can climb (short pile), hanging bird toys, fleece-boas or stuffies on a rope, sisal rope with knots in it, cat scratchers, cat trees.

The list goes on but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Have fun! :grin3

[sdreamcatcher]

Great toy suggestions :thumbsup. I just wanted to add that unless the porch is SECURELY screened, he needs to stay inside. Too easy for him to spook and get away from you, then be too frightened to return.

[skeebo]

YES! Get some "stuffies" - stuffed animal toys - he will wrestle with them. Make sure they have no parts that he can chew off, like buttons for eyes, or long strings etc. and make sure they are not stuffed with beans/beads or the like. Stuffies can be small or large - all sizes and he'll pick his faves! :grin
Get something like an oven mitt or a mitt especially made for ferret-play and hand wrestle with him.
Get branches to put in his enclosure that he can climb. Give him rolls of toilet paper and paper towel he can destroy and/or build nests with. Give him small pieces of fleece to build nests with. Give him a box of pet-friendly sand he can dig in. Give him a log he can rip the bark off.
Give him tunnels (pvc pipe), carpets on the walls he can climb (short pile), hanging bird toys, fleece-boas or stuffies on a rope, sisal rope with knots in it, cat scratchers, cat trees.

The list goes on but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

Have fun! :grin3

Thanks. We play wrestle and he's started nibbling, so a glove is a good idea. He had a LOT of fun outside, but that's off-limits now.

[skeebo]

Great toy suggestions :thumbsup. I just wanted to add that unless the porch is SECURELY screened, he needs to stay inside. Too easy for him to spook and get away from you, then be too frightened to return.

I've been taking him on supervised outdoor visits, so he can get accustomed to leaf blowers, lawn mowers, birds, cars, sirens, roosters, etc.

Front porch is now off-limits, until I can completely block the stairs. I taught him to climb carpeted stairs the first day I found him, but he was afraid of wooden stairs, since his hind legs couldn't grab the step. Today, he went toring down the wooden steps, so he's done with outside. :Cry

[skeebo]

Any hints on teething? He just started nibbling on my finger today. No blood yet, but based on a neighbor's squirrel, it's just a matter of time.

[sdreamcatcher]

I've been taking him on supervised outdoor visits, so he can get accustomed to leaf blowers, lawn mowers, birds, cars, sirens, roosters, etc.

Front porch is now off-limits, until I can completely block the stairs. I taught him to climb carpeted stairs the first day I found him, but he was afraid of wooden stairs, since his hind legs couldn't grab the step. Today, he went toring down the wooden steps, so he's done with outside. :Cry

If you can get him a large secure cage, he can go out in that on nice days, but even with you blocking off areas, he can and will climb or jump his way out. They are quick little buggers!! :eek

[Anne]

When he nibbles just say "Ouch" loudly-maybe wiggle your fingers. Squirrels also show affection by "grooming", little nibbles on finger nails and cuticles-:grin:grouphug

[lennysmom]

It also is a good idea to get him something else to chew on besides your hand - ouch!:eek I'm glad you are getting gloves too!:thumbsup My hands looked like I had been in a war zone for months until I used gloves when playing with Lenny! But he loved to chew on deer antlers (u can buy at the pet store & they are also a good source of calcium) and those wooden kabob things made for pet rodents that have little wooden blocks of different shapes and sizes for them to chew on. The one I got Lenny had a bell at the bottom and he just LOVED it!!:Love_Icon In fact, when he wanted my attention, he would ring the bell!:rotfl

[skeebo]

Yesterday, his favorite "toy" was a 70's Levis denim, non-fleece jacket, whether I was wearing it, or just lying on the floor with it on my chest, he literally spent hours running inside one sleeve, the turning around, running across my chest and into the next sleeve.

Here's his favorite toy, today. He spazzes out running around in circles around it, and it serves as a teething chew toy, as he's nibbling on my hands, feet and arms today.

[lennysmom]

Looks good to me!:):thumbsup Love seeing happy squirrels.:Love_Icon

[skeebo]

Off my original topic, but how long are HHBs good for outside the 'fridge? Today's the first day he showed interest, so I cut them into small pieces, so they wouldn't get "ripe" before he decided to eat them.

[farrelli]

Most people toss them at the end of the day, and they do cut them down in the beginning to not waste.

[skeebo]

If you can get him a large secure cage, he can go out in that on nice days, but even with you blocking off areas, he can and will climb or jump his way out. They are quick little buggers!! :eek

You ain't kidding. 11 days ago, he was afraid to climb down our carpeted stairs. He can now tear up and down them, and has learned to jump really high and far. Yesterday, I could let him run around the bedroom, with me lying or sitting on the floor. When I needed a break, I would hop in bed. He can now jump up to the bed. He's fast and fearless. It's funny watching him discover things he can grip and furniture which is too slick. It's all rock walnut, and over 30 years old, so he ain't gonna hurt it.