Squirrel Bedding

[Dawnnm]

I have an 8 year old NR female squirrel. She has been on paper bedding all her life but I was wondering if there is something else I could use that would be easier to make a bed with. It is time for me to empty her bed so she can start over. Thanks for your opinions.

[Nancy in New York]

I have an 8 year old NR female squirrel. She has been on paper bedding all her life but I was wondering if there is something else I could use that would be easier to make a bed with. It is time for me to empty her bed so she can start over. Thanks for your opinions.

Does she have a cage? Can you post a photo of her bed now.
Lots of people use fleece along with cage gear. That will mean doing
lots of laundry unless she is trained to go potty in a specific area.

By the way, we LOVE pictures. :)

[farrelli]

We also always ask about diet. What does she eat?

[Dawnnm]

She does have a cage and her bed is in a wooden box. She is very clean and does not potty in her bed. I am worried about fuzz on fleece since she does chew her bedding. I am mostly concerned that she will digest the fibers and that might cause her problems. She is getting up there in age. Her diet consists of fortified rat block, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, green beans, apple, meal worms and in the spring and summer an assortment of dandelions, grasses, weeds, grubs, etc. That isn't a complete list of veggies and fruits, but this is usually the base we start with for her meals.:thankyou

[farrelli]

Thanks for the info. What brand of rodent blocks? Sorry for the questions, but we very often find that people are providing a bad diet, or bad blocks, and not even realize it. Lots of blocks are utter garbage, made from corn and seeds.

[Anne]

Buy the non-pilling fleece, it can't be beat for comfort and dries in an instant. Have you tried any of the small animal nesting materials available in the pet stores for her bedding? IMHO fleece just can't be beat and really doesn't have any issues with stringing like flannel or other materials. You could always try some felt too.

[Dawnnm]

Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. Penny's block is Kaytee forti-diet. She does real well maintaining a good weight. Occasionally I have to cut back in winter as she gets a little pudgy.

[Rhapsody]

Here is a picture of one of my cages...... I also have fleece pieces in the comfy cube

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e116/Rhapsody_1/DSCN1672_zps567bebed.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rhapsody_1/media/DSCN1672_zps567bebed.jpg.html)

[lovesmice]

As Nancy in New York said many folks use Fleece. I do not have squirrels, but I have used it with other rodents. I agree with Anne that Fleece is very comfortable, and does a great job of keeping wetness away from the skin. (You will need to prepare it before use so that it wicks properly.) She is spot on that it does not have the same issues many other materials have such as strings that can get caught around little toes/limbs, cutting off circulation. Also, materials such as Cotton pose a choking hazard if ingested and can expand when wet which can cause obstructions in the tummy/digestive tract and result in death.

[lovesmice]

I just wanted to add if you opt for Fleece, do not use liquid fabric softener with it because it interferes with wicking. You can use an unscented dryer sheet in the dryer, though, if static is a problem. Also, best to use unscented laundry soap. If you have trouble getting the Fleece to wick, sometimes adding vinegar to the wash can help.

[farrelli]

Kaytee blocks are OK, but not the greatest. And apparently they have some preservative that's a carcinogen. Harlan Teklad and Oxbow are better, and the gold standard are Henry's, which most people here use. A bag will last an adult a month. Some people on a budget just give one a day instead of two and couple it with a cheaper block.

http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

If you haven;t seen the adult healthy diet thread, here it is:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?44440-Healthy-Diet-for-Pet-Squirrels