Haley's fur

[tammiesue]

I've read through archives but I may need help.. Haley's fur looks chewed up. Elijah is doing the " I am alpha " thing I read about, but his fur is beautiful where her's looks bad. What should I do?

[pixiepoo]

Is is actually chewed up as in he pulled it out or does it just look a bit greasy?

[tammiesue]

Pulled out around neck area not lots but I can tell, the rest is oily looking..I don't know what to do:sadness

[pixiepoo]

They should eventually straighten it out, but some just may not get along. If he is only doing it to assert his dominance it should subside in a bit. If he becomes increasingly violent with her, I would consider separating them, but that is just my two cents.

As far as the oily look goes, that is normal. Babies go through a "grunge" stage lol

[tammiesue]

Ok thank you I was thinking of buying some stuffed animals to see if he will stop. They're supposed to be brother sister but he's lots bigger...so I don't know. I know I'm having fun with them but I've become very protective of her

[Skul]

As I recall, they're both in 8-9 week range.
Pixiepoo is most likely correct about the age and greasy fur.
You'll see it go away in a few weeks....depending on diet.
They are getting plenty of protein, right?

[tammiesue]

Yes diet is as follows
Henry blocks they love them
Snap peas
Romaine centers
Cooked chicken with one or two of the bones
Treats vary everyday is different
Apple
Sweet potato
Orange slice Clementine
Grape no seeds or peel
Red cherries again no pit or peel
Formula is fox valley with boost and heavy cream with dollop of yorgut
Mushroom white
That's what I have fed so far
I cooked an acorn squash and roasted seeds today. They also have deer antlers I cut up
Anything else????

[HRT4SQRLS]

Tammie, the diet sounds perfect. :thumbsup

This is something that you can buy to give them when you're not cooking chicken. It's called PureBites dehydrated chicken breast. It's a dog treat. I have only found it at PetSuperMarket. My PetsMart and PetCo don't carry it. The bag will last a while. It's a great protein source.

Some feed their flyers cooked eggs with the shell. None of mine will eat eggs. Have you tried worms yet? Mealworms or WaxWorms. Most flyers love worms but I do have one that refuses to eat a worm of any type. :shakehead

You can also give them a pinch of oatmeal ... the real type ... not the instant or flavored kinds. They really do love plan ole rolled oats. My boys love oatmeal but they just get a pinch.

I agree with the others that the greasy fur is normal for babies and it will be beautiful and silky in a few months. I would watch Elijah and make sure he isn't tormenting Haley. They do that sometimes. Stinkers.


Here's something you should buy. It's called a Critter Cone. It's a calcium mineral chew. They really do love them for some reason. They are very cheap ... maybe a couple bucks for a 3 pack. You can see the tiny teeth marks on it. :grin2
251348

[tammiesue]

Thank you I ordered the chicken bites hopefully be here today. I have packages coming everyday lol. Its Christmas at the house.:grin2
I can't eat red meat so its chicken chicken chicken here....I did roast the acorn squash seeds today how many can I give them?
I have been keeping and eye on Elijah but when I try to separate them he goes super mad and when I put her back in from feeding he's all over her, just like he's reassuring himself I didn't give her something I didn't give him???

[HRT4SQRLS]

One other thing about the sweet potatoes that we learned recently from another member. Apparently sweet potatoes contain a trypsin inhibitor that inhibits the pancreas from producing trypsin. Trypsin is an enzyme which is necessary for protein absorption from the intestines. http://nwseed.com/danger-feeding-raw-peanuts-squirrels/


If they are cooked it destroys this inhibitor. I boil a cup of water in the microwave and drop their chunk of sweet potato in it. By the time I finish getting their plates prepared the sweet potato is cooked. When it is cooked it is sweeter. I found that my boys actually like it better cooked than raw. Who knew! :dono

I betcha never knew that you would need a PhD in nutrition to own a squirrel .. did ya! :poke :grin2

[tammiesue]

I hear ya, PhD in something maybe psychology lol...I read that on one of the diets to cook sweet tater he didn't like so much as Haley... I just ordered critter cone:grin2 yeah more packages..my dads gonna take my debit card away :grin3

[tammiesue]

If I'm feeding the chicken should I order the wax worms too???:klunk

[HRT4SQRLS]

I hear ya, PhD in something maybe psychology lol...I read that on one of the diets to cook sweet tater he didn't like so much as Haley... I just ordered critter cone:grin2 yeah more packages..my dads gonna take my debit card away :grin3

:jump:jumpYeah, he is! :poke

The acorn squash seeds will need to be a treat only. I couldn't find the specific info on acorn squash seeds but in general seeds are very high in Phosphorus and very low in calcium. An example is pumpkin... the pumpkin itself has a ratio of 1:2.1 which is sorta opposite what it should be. Not terrible, but not too great either. Remember the best food ratios should be 2:1 Ca:P. The pumpkin seeds are 1:27 :eek That is terrible. I would assume that acorn squash seeds , in the same family as pumpkin would be similar. I would limit them to a maybe 3 or 4 a week but certainly not in large quantities.

As far as the worms, I really think they do need them. Either the WaxWorms or mealworms, they don't need both. To me it is a more 'normal' food source for flyers than anything we feed them. In nature they are insect and worm eaters. Let's face it they ain't eaten' chicken in nature but it works for us. :grin3

You haven't lived until you've watched a flyer sucking down worm guts. :yuck

[Skul]

Instead of ordering worms in quantity, you might check any local pet shops and buy one container of each type. Wax, and Meal.... no Superworms, and definitely no fishing worms.
Next time you're at the setore, grab a small broccoli, and if they have Belgian Endive, grab two. Ours love both.
One other thing came to mind. Tree branches. Oak, maple, sweet gum, walnut, beech, sycamore, etc. As long as the branches/twigs are green, put some in. Doesn't matter if it's winter. They're still alive.

[tammiesue]

Skul, thank you I don't live near any pet stores and my disability kinda a keeps me home. So ordering on line is easier. I need to get some weight on Haley she is so tiny it scares me. I wish on of you sweet people lived near me:grin2 I'm so afraid I'm gonna mess up:dono

[pixiepoo]

Since your guys are young and new to worms, I would make sure to smash the heads of the worms before giving it to them. I'm a bit paranoid but I always do this for my babies until I feel confident that they can eat a live one. I know they can cause injuries or choking, especially mealworms because of the tougher exterior.

[tammiesue]

Thank you pixiepoo, I had read that in another post lol I forgot whom it was but they had a hard time pinching the heads off..lol it was funny to read cause of the way she typed it...