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BigNibbler
06-21-2014, 11:06 AM
I have a slowly developing 3 month old that his mother brought me (!). His lower legs are not full strength yet. She had five to feed and he just never got a full belly. I am giving him high calcium and good nutrition and heat. I have the Martin 4' x5' by 18 inch cage. Using only the top half.

Bolted wood planks to shut off lower levels. Every day I give him opportunity to interact with his siblings and mother, who come into the room to me. He does not want to go out.

My question is that just now, I noticed in a rare attempt to climb the cage, his foot and angle got into the 17/8 x 1 inch hole and for a moment he was a bit stuck and pulled before he could pull out his foot. I have heard about injuries occurring with some cages, but thought that this was safe, as it is used and actually given to me, by one of the most experienced squirrel people.

It frightened me to see his foot stuck - even for two seconds, which is a very long time actually. Wondering if this is safe?

Does anyone have strong evidence one way or the other? He seems to be getting stronger each day. He was near death when his mommy led him to my lap. Want to make sure he cannot get hurt. The one inch dimension seems like it could catch his ankle, and if he forces it... ?

I think this qualifies as an emergency situation. I could switch cages with others in a safe Critter Nation cage, but this is more open and allows him to interact and see all his family coming and going better.

SammysMom
06-21-2014, 11:09 AM
I know that Nancy uses the Martins cage and I believe it to be a safe cage. I think that any cage can have a momentary issue for a little one. As long as he safely extricated himself, he should be fine. IMO
:grouphug

island rehabber
06-21-2014, 12:13 PM
:Love_Iconmy precious girl.....:tilt

BN, my Owena has the same cage as pictured above, except with three levels, and although she's neuro and a bit tilty she has never had an issue with getting stuck. No cage larger than 1/2 x 1/2 will prevent a grey from putting their foot through the spaces sometimes, but the idea is that they can pull it back out. The Casey's (Squirrel Handbook) caution against any cage with 1" x 1" spacing because it is large enough for them to get their whole haunch through, and then they have no leverage needed to pull it back out again. They twist and turn and -- very bad outcomes. The 1/2 by 1" has worked beautifully for me so far.

BigNibbler
06-21-2014, 12:50 PM
OK, Thanks Maura, makes sense, and I will let it be. I feel better knowing you think its OK, since you have a similar situation.
Thanks Nancy and Gayle.
BN