Weaning Squirrel?

[Littlebit]

I have a 7/8 week old squirrel. At what point do we stop feeding them goats milk? Once we stop feeding them milk how do they get water...? I can't seem to find a post anywhere. I did see something about bird feeder, but no description of what I do with the bird feeder.

[Milo's Mom]

YOU don't wean the squirrel, the SQUIRREL weans itself.

At 7/8 weeks old they should be eating their blocks fairly regularly. When this occurs is when the veggies from Group 1 of the Healthy Diet are introduced. This is also when I introduce the water bottle.

As more and more veggies are introduced and more are consumed the less formula they will take and slowly you'll reduce the number of feedings per day. When my guys start refusing formula at a feeding I continue to offer it at that feeding for about a week if they continue to refuse, I cut out that feeding.

[mandibair]

I didn't wean my gray squirrel she weaned herself, I started to offer water as soon as she started nibbling squirrel block. They must eat block, do not offer any other solid food until they eat block first!

[Mommaluvy]

Some people wean, some dont. My 12 weekers still drink 12 cc once a day. I see No evidence of them ever giving it up. I joke that they will be released and still one formula.

I offer a water bottle when their eyes open. Some figure it out real fast - some never did. Once they are in the pre release cage i give them fresh water a few times a day in a crock.

[Littlebit]

Thank you for the response, one question? What is the Group 1 diet?

Actually I will make a long story short. I wasn't planning on keeping him until release.(We have had him two weeks) I had an appointment with a rehabber today to turn him over to her. Well, my 7-year-old daughter decided that she wanted to release him. So 30-minutes before we were to meet the rehabber she let him go in one of the trees in our front yard. I really didn't know I could get that upset at my own off-spring.

I was completely freaked out because he is so young. My husband and I watched him all day long. He never went out on any of the branches the just went and hid in the crooks of the tree. We pulled out our really big ladder and I left some pecans on top of the lowest branch, hoping this would lure him there.

Well all day long we watched, worried. He is so young and it was obvious that he really doesn't know how to be a squirrel.

When my daughter came home she started calling him and he started down the tree towards her, but stopped where the branches ended. He seemed scared to come down any more. But he did find the pecans I left for him. So I decided this may be my only time to rescue him—again! So I quietly went up the ladder and caught him. He was a little scared but was fine when I put him on my shirt. He scurried up into my hair.

Once inside I heated up his formula and I have never seen him eat so fast and furious. He was so hungry and scared. Well, long story short we have decided to keep him and do the release ourselves — since the entire clan was so devastated about possibly losing him, and I didn't realize how upset I got over him.

He is now happy and fed and back into his bin. He gorged himself and fell fast asleep. And we are all so happy that he is back home.

All that being said, I realize we are making a true commitment and want to make sure that we do everything correctly as for a healthy squirrel and a happy release.

Candy

[Milo's Mom]

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

This is a link to the Healthy Diet. Group 1 veggies are the best veggies and probably the ones that are liked the least so they need to learn to love them first.

Are you currently feeding blocks (of any sort)? If not, you need to and blocks need to be fed before any of the veggies cause they need to love the blocks.

[Nancy in New York]

I have a 7/8 week old squirrel. At what point do we stop feeding them goats milk? Once we stop feeding them milk how do they get water...? I can't seem to find a post anywhere. I did see something about bird feeder, but no description of what I do with the bird feeder.

MM is right they will wean themselves, eventually.
I have four that went to a dear rehabber's for release. She
is still serving them warmed formula from a bowl, though they are now
free. They come every morning for it. :rolf
Oh, they are going on 6 months.

[MollyBear361]

You are VERY lucky you caught him....
Other stories haven't turned out so well. Let him wean himself. You will have to show him the water bottle......some prefer bowls. Good luck!