Help hes turning into a picky eater!

[puppetgal]

I need some advice. I think I have spoiled my guy and turned him into a nut hound. Basically he eats the blocks and the goo balls that I make for him but he seems to think hes going to get something better and will drop whatever I give him and run back and forth until I give him something else IE: a nut. I have found he will do just about anything for a walnut. They are his absolute favorite. Im thinking Im giving him too much of them. Hes not overweight by any means I try to control what he eats by not spoiling him with them. Trust me when he looks at me with those brown eyes its hard :(
Hes not really eating too many of the blocks. Im sure he has a stash of them in his little hut and his hiding spot. I think hes bored of the blocks tho. He seems to have lost interest. I know I have read here before to just stop feeding the goodies all together and he will realize that he has to eat since he will be hungry. I was going to get some more of the 20/50 and the picky blocks from Henrys for him. I was actually going to try my hand at making the blocks for him to change it up a little. I need suggestions on how to handle this. With his constant back and forth all the time, hes really got ME trained.
Thanks in advance!

[kastillo]

How old is he?
Going back and forth is usually a sign of restlessness. Maybe needs a bigger cage, or to be moved out to a release cage.
Clean out stashes every couple of days, and only offer the block in the morning, leave the room so he doesn't "beg" you, and don't offer him his veggies till he eats his block. Then offer him a couple healthy veggies, not too much variety in one day, that will make em picky too. Cut out the nuts for sure, henry's blocks already has some nuts in them, he won't starve himself.

But the running back and forth sounds like the start of wilding up and ready for a bigger place to roam.

[puppetgal]

How old is he?
Going back and forth is usually a sign of restlessness. Maybe needs a bigger cage, or to be moved out to a release cage.
Clean out stashes every couple of days, and only offer the block in the morning, leave the room so he doesn't "beg" you, and don't offer him his veggies till he eats his block. Then offer him a couple healthy veggies, not too much variety in one day, that will make em picky too. Cut out the nuts for sure, henry's blocks already has some nuts in them, he won't starve himself.

But the running back and forth sounds like the start of wilding up and ready for a bigger place to roam.

Hes roughly 4-5 months old now? Hes only been in this cage I have him in for a little over a month. I try to take him out as often as I can. He will climb on me and jump from arm to arm and then try to take off and jump on the curtains or whatever is closest. I have tried to take him out to play with him as I have done so many times before but Im scared he will take off and I wont be able to find him. Its always in my room where I close the doors and its just me and him. I dont want to lose him. Hes my guy :(
Im not sure how the whole release thing works. When I clean his cage I put him in his older cage outside on my table. Covered of course to make sure he doesnt take off. I guess I need to build an outside house for him to adjust to? I thought since I had to keep him through the winter he would just stay inside all the time? Forgive me Im really green when it comes to this. I just wants what is best for him but not to lose my sanity in the process. I see now where you say he is restless :(

[farrelli]

You don't have to take him to an outside cage. Most people who overwinter don't. How big is the cage he's in?

As to the running back and forth, is it constant or is it only when you're there and he's begging? I got the impression that it was the latter. If so, that not a bad sign.

[Duckman]

You don't have to take him to an outside cage. Most people who overwinter don't. How big is the cage he's in?

As to the running back and forth, is it constant or is it only when you're there and he's begging? I got the impression that it was the latter. If so, that not a bad sign.

This sounds like he has trained you to give him a nut when he behaves this way. Nothing to worry about, but please make sure he eats his block first, before he gets his treats!

:grin3:thumbsup

[puppetgal]

You don't have to take him to an outside cage. Most people who overwinter don't. How big is the cage he's in?

As to the running back and forth, is it constant or is it only when you're there and he's begging? I got the impression that it was the latter. If so, that not a bad sign.

He only does it when I am around. He runs back and forth continually to see if I will cave to give him a treat. He does eat the blocks but not all of them. He will drop them in mid munch to see if I give him something else. How do you overwinter him? Just basically leave him in the house? I'm not sure what to do at this point.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

Having the same problem.My squirrel is about 4 months old. He's having trouble getting used to the blocks. I've tried them all,Picky,wild bites,regular,ect. soaking them in coconut juice ,you name it iv'e tried it.He'll do the same, nibble awhile then drop them. Iv'e spend a boat load of money on them.they all seem to dry up,then i sweep em up and trash them,.:) . i'm still working on it. however,, i make him a salad each morning and sprinkle this stuff on it. its the same vitamins in the blocks http://www.henryspets.com/vita-mins/ it's cheap and last a month. plus i make a Avacodo sandwich for him. i stuff a little of the vitamin in between and let it set and kinda asborb,he never notices it. he loves it. on the days he eats some of the block i dont give the vitamin.

I wouldnt let him play outside,recipe for disaster.Have a outside cage for the spring made if you can. For my squirreli spend time in the morning with him while i drink my coffee,and afternoon time let himout again to stretch and play. i let him bury nuts and acorns to pass the time ,he enjoys that, .

[coco]

I cut my blocks into tiny pieces and sit and give them to her one at a time I do a quarter every morning and after work and sit and watch her eat. It is the first thing I feed her. Then I leave her another half cut up while I am away with veggies. I only give fruit and nuts after she eats all her blocks and most of her veggies (tops 1.5 nuts a day).

I find if I give her whole blocks she just stashes them... when I cut them up she is more likely to eat them.. plus me sitting and watching seems to help. Mine is also 5 months :).

I am no expert though but this has been the best method for me.

:multi :Squirrel :carzy2

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

I cut my blocks into tiny pieces and sit and give them to her one at a time I do a quarter every morning and after work and sit and watch her eat. It is the first thing I feed her. Then I leave her another half cut up while I am away with veggies. I only give fruit and nuts after she eats all her blocks and most of her veggies (tops 1.5 nuts a day).

I find if I give her whole blocks she just stashes them... when I cut them up she is more likely to eat them.. plus me sitting and watching seems to help. Mine is also 5 months :).

I am no expert though but this has been the best method for me.

:multi :Squirrel :carzy2

I agree. My squirrel does better with smaller pieces as well. But i get him off the schedule with a treat before i should, and it's back to square one . :o

[farrelli]

Yes, overwintering them just means keeping them inside with you. Right now it's too cold, they have no stashes or homes, and the trees are bare so they are obvious to predators, which they have no experience avoiding. You should never let a squirrel outside until they have been prepared to go. We see SO many stories of them running off, usually to find a bad end. We had one such story yesterday, but fortunately they got her back. That's usually not the case.

[puppetgal]

Yes, overwintering them just means keeping them inside with you. Right now it's too cold, they have no stashes or homes, and the trees are bare so they are obvious to predators, which they have no experience avoiding. You should never let a squirrel outside until they have been prepared to go. We see SO many stories of them running off, usually to find a bad end. We had one such story yesterday, but fortunately they got her back. That's usually not the case.

Ya he drives me nuts with his back and forth antics but he usually will calm down once he realizes Im not caving. I stick my arm in his cage to "play" with him and it comes out like a scratching post. I need to get some of those long gloves or trim his nails down (done that before, not hard but not easy either) I will sit and play with him and wear him out a little until he tires out. I loathe Spring. Could it be that he just needs a playmate? As a singleton Im sure hes going nuts in that cage with all the toys and what not I put in there. I just cant give him constant attention anymore. Id love to be able to hold him like I did before but the threat of him taking off is too great.

[puppetgal]

I cut my blocks into tiny pieces and sit and give them to her one at a time I do a quarter every morning and after work and sit and watch her eat. It is the first thing I feed her. Then I leave her another half cut up while I am away with veggies. I only give fruit and nuts after she eats all her blocks and most of her veggies (tops 1.5 nuts a day).

I find if I give her whole blocks she just stashes them... when I cut them up she is more likely to eat them.. plus me sitting and watching seems to help. Mine is also 5 months :).

I am no expert though but this has been the best method for me.

:multi :Squirrel :carzy2

thanks I will try it. Those blocks can be costly especially if hes not eating them like he should!

[farrelli]

You keeps saying that you're worried he's get away. Can he get out of the house? Many people take them into a bathroom or other room, close the door, and have play time.

[puppetgal]

You keeps saying that you're worried he's get away. Can he get out of the house? Many people take them into a bathroom or other room, close the door, and have play time.

You know thats why I come here cause you guys are so knowledgeable! I never even thought to take him in the bathroom! its small and theres no place for him to hide! Thanks Farrelli! We are going to play! :):grin3:grin3:grin3:grin3:crazy:crazy:bow

[skeebo]

Ya he drives me nuts with his back and forth antics but he usually will calm down once he realizes Im not caving. I stick my arm in his cage to "play" with him and it comes out like a scratching post. I need to get some of those long gloves or trim his nails down (done that before, not hard but not easy either) I will sit and play with him and wear him out a little until he tires out. I loathe Spring. Could it be that he just needs a playmate? As a singleton Im sure hes going nuts in that cage with all the toys and what not I put in there. I just cant give him constant attention anymore. Id love to be able to hold him like I did before but the threat of him taking off is too great.

I grew up with cats, and I learned what pissed them off, and did that a lot, as we played. They hate for you to mess with their whiskers, which I did a lot. They generally don't like it when you touch their bellies, again, my favorite thing to do. We did this playfully, as we grew up together, so I learned to be quite bloody at an early age.

Squirrels don't get pissed off if you mess with their whiskers or their belly. In fact, their teeth and claws are quite tame, compared to all the feral cats we took in.

Most squirrel folks probably hate cats, but for every cat we took in and fed, might have been a squirrel meal avoided.

[skeebo]

You know thats why I come here cause you guys are so knowledgeable! I never even thought to take him in the bathroom! its small and theres no place for him to hide! Thanks Farrelli! We are going to play! :):grin3:grin3:grin3:grin3:crazy:crazy:bow

Make sure to "squirrel proof" it first. Remove everything from razors, cosmetics, toothpaste, drugs, etc.

EDIT: Don't underestimate how high/far these guys/gals can climb/jump.

I'm a new "mommy" too, and am trying to stay at least a day above the learning curve, relative to my little guy.

[skeebo]

OUCH! I think he just pierced my ear! :grin

[puppetgal]

220370
OUCH! I think he just pierced my ear! :grin

I tried to trim his nails and he didnt like that too well. I got 3 paws done and gave up on the last one. Maybe another time :)
Here are some pics of our playtime last night.. It was much needed! He certainly had fun being "outside" of his norm now.
I did notice last night while trying to trim his nails he would do this:220367

My husband said he was trying to look bigger or more menacing as if to attack? I let him calm down obviously. And playtime resumed. He was trying to bury his walnut in my hair but ended up finding a more suitable spot :P220368
220369:grin3

[pappy1264]

Pick him up one of those parrot perches that help to keep their nails filed down. I did this for Peanut, as he was getting stuck on everything (and if you knew Peanut, you would know trimming his nails was NOT an option! lol) Well, no more getting stuck. Took maybe a day or two tops. I take it out, give it a soak to get gunk off, let it airdry and put it back. Works like a charm! Get the big one. Btw, he is CUTE!

[Binky4075]

I too have a 4 month old male gray squirrel. He will eat avocado, sweet potato, sugar snap peas, a little aspargus but thats about it (doesn't like leafy greens). Fruit he's okay with. Loves mango, apple, pear, bluberries and others. My problem is that he always seems hungry. For example, I feed him one block in the morning with a 1/2 slice if sweet potato, 1/2 slice avocado, a sugar snap pea and a one inch piece of asparagus, a piece of mango. In the afternoon he gets the rest of the sweet potato, avocado and another piece of fruit and after play two nuts (usually one acorn from the yard and an almond or walnut). After work he gets his 2nd Henry's block and about 8 pm he gets about 20ccs of Esbalic formula. Is this enough? Does he need more? He's not fat and gets about 2-3 hrs of play time a day. Any answers for me?

He also runs back and forthnin his cage when he sees me but I think he just wants to come out and play all the time.

[HappyLittleSquirrely]

I too have a 4 month old male gray squirrel. He will eat avocado, sweet potato, sugar snap peas, a little aspargus but thats about it (doesn't like leafy greens). Fruit he's okay with. Loves mango, apple, pear, bluberries and others. My problem is that he always seems hungry. For example, I feed him one block in the morning with a 1/2 slice if sweet potato, 1/2 slice avocado, a sugar snap pea and a one inch piece of asparagus, a piece of mango. In the afternoon he gets the rest of the sweet potato, avocado and another piece of fruit and after play two nuts (usually one acorn from the yard and an almond or walnut). After work he gets his 2nd Henry's block and about 8 pm he gets about 20ccs of Esbalic formula. Is this enough? Does he need more? He's not fat and gets about 2-3 hrs of play time a day. Any answers for me?

He also runs back and forthnin his cage when he sees me but I think he just wants to come out and play all the time. In my opinion you're doin GREAT!!. variety plus the blocks and calcium from the formula. I would buy this stuff to supplement his diet so you don't get wooried,:eek sprinkle it on his naughty food. http://www.henryspets.com/vita-mins/ it's cheap and well worth it!

[farrelli]

So glad that playtime is working out!

[lennysmom]

You know thats why I come here cause you guys are so knowledgeable! I never even thought to take him in the bathroom! its small and theres no place for him to hide! Thanks Farrelli! We are going to play! :):grin3:grin3:grin3:grin3:crazy:crazy:bow

Oh the bathroom!! I spent many, many hours in the bathroom playing with Lenny and making obstacle courses for him in it!:grin It really was the perfect, easy to squirrel proof place in the house. Hope you and your baby enjoy your play time.:):thumbsup