weaning

[TaylorWhitley]

I need to start weaning my 2 squirrels. Ive tried recommended foods to no avail. They will eat nuts but not fruits or veggies. Theyre about 10 weeks old and i need to get them ready for release so they can adapt before it gets too cold. So first thing first is i need them eating on their own and so far its been a fail.

[Sara in NW MS]

They will wean themselves when they are ready. If they are 10 weeks old they are too young to be weaned. Did you introduce a rodent block or HHB's as their first solids?

No nuts or seeds or anything like that. You might as well be offering them candy and then expecting them to eat veggies.

These guys are too young to be released. You should consider keeping them until spring :)

[LaurelLynn]

They will never eat healthy food as long as they get nuts, even a few. I don't let mine have even onenut bbefore they are eating pellets and veggies first on a consistent basis

[TaylorWhitley]

They wont eat hhb i tried. I tried fruits and veggies first and they wanted nothing to do with it. I tried nuts to see if they would even hold anything to eat it. They have had nuts twice. I need tips on how to get them to eat fruits and veggies.

[stepnstone]

They wont eat hhb i tried. I tried fruits and veggies first and they wanted nothing to do with it. I tried nuts to see if they would even hold anything to eat it. They have had nuts twice. I need tips on how to get them to eat fruits and veggies.

What kind/type block did you try?
Without eating a decent quality block, formula is the only real protection a captive has against mbd.
They will not get that benefit from just eating vegetables even if they did eat them well. There is no
real nutritional value gained from fruit.
Once weaned without the benefit of eating block the risk of mbd is forefront.

For many when one thinks squirrel and food they think nuts, in truth a diet of nuts will rob their body
of calcium. This is what causes mbd.

On the outside wilds eat a large verity of things to balance their nutritional requirements. They know
what to eat and how to eat to balance that need.
For those "captive" it is up to us to balance that requirement and that's where block comes in and why
it's so vital to them.

[LaurelLynn]

I've had one really picky baby who I had to play mean mom with. I kept a dish of pellets in her cage and that was her only option. She begged and acted like I was starving her. For days she refused to eat (she was still getting formula once at night) and when she begged,I handed her a pellet, shed throw it down and on and on

She finally gave in and ate her pellets. I knew she was being stubborn but wouldn't actually starve herself. After that veggies were like a treat and she was excited for them. She's now a wonderful healthy eater

[MArehabber]

Have you tried primate biscuits by Zupreem? I believe they have the same nutritional content as rodent block (Mazuri). I use both to wean my baby squirrels. As far as fruits and veggies, have you tried avocado. Not the skin, just the inside soft part. Most squirrels love that. I agree with the others though, the rodent block/primate biscuits are the most important. Chris' Squirrels sells both. Good luck!

[TaylorWhitley]

Ive tried the rodent blocks from Henry's healthy pets they wont touch them. Ive forced them to eat grapes gonna try avocado again. Where can i buy primate bisquits?

[pixiepoo]

How much formula are you feeding and how often? My greys always seem to wean with much more difficulty than my flyers. When they are eating, do they do the thing where they hear a noise and freeze? If so, I would assume it is time to wean. When my guys do the freeze thing, I push solids a little more. Do they drink out of water bottle?

Have you tried Gerber Graduates Puffs (the star shaped puffs that come in flavors like strawberry, peach and sweet potato)? I use them along with rodent blocks as a first food. Mine love them and it is nice with adults to put meds on them (thanks for the tip FlyerGirl!:blowkiss). They have all different flavors but mine all love them. It isn't a long-term solution but may help you get them away from the formula a bit.

This isn't the BEST option but if you can get Zupreem Veggie Blend or Zupreem Natural bird pellets. Even my reluctant weaning babies will at least nibble on those.

[TaylorWhitley]

I feed them formula twice a day. I forced them to eat grapes and what not by only feeding them twice. When i wake up before i put them outside and before they go to bed when i bring them back inside. I feed them until they stop basically about 24-30ml each time depending on them solely. I was feeding 5-7% and 1 was attacking the others winkie and now the swelling has finally gone away since i just let them eat. Yes they do the freeze thing and even the freeze then run and hide thing lol

[MArehabber]

Ive tried the rodent blocks from Henry's healthy pets they wont touch them. Ive forced them to eat grapes gonna try avocado again. Where can i buy primate bisquits?

I'd recommend Chris' Squirrels. I think the website is "squirrels and more" or something like that. Chris sells food and rehab supplies out of her home in Connecticut. She sells small bags of primate biscuits so you won't have to buy a 20 lb bag from the manufacturer. I've compared the ingredients of primate biscuit to rodent block and the ingredients are almost identical. Other rehabbers use both as well. The primate biscuits don't crumble as easily as the rodent block so they may be easier to eat. My squirrels love them and I've weaned many healthy squirrels on the primate biscuits.

I do agree with the others that at 10 weeks your squirrels should still be getting formula 2-3 times a day. How much do they weigh?

[MArehabber]

Ive tried the rodent blocks from Henry's healthy pets they wont touch them. Ive forced them to eat grapes gonna try avocado again. Where can i buy primate bisquits?

Be careful with grapes or any fruit that has skin. I've heard of several rehabbers have young squirrels who choke to death on the skin of grapes or blueberries. Have you tried sweet potatoes without the skin? Most of my babies love sweet potatoes. Broccoli is another good veggies to try.