baby rice cereal

[smurfangel182]

I thought i saw someone say on a thread that its ok to add a little baby rice cereal to the formula but i cant find the thread. I have 3 groups... youngest about 4 weeks and oldest about 6. My oldest group is eatting ALOT 7% is right around 12cc and they always want more. I always give it to them but i keep an eye on their bellys when i do go over that 7% mark. Even my youngest go up to the 7% mark. Thiught i saw someone say you add a little baby rice cereal to help fill them up more. Is this true?

Also the Henrys Blocks for babies... my oldest are nippling on them a little. I cut them in half and give each one half of one in the morning but thats it because those even get thrown out because they never finish them. I put them in the cage first thing then start to feed mt younger guys working my way to the oldest. Anything i can do to get them to eat more of those or will that happen on its own? And if i soak them in formula how long should i let them soak?

[smurfangel182]

It didnt add these for some reason.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Yes you can give rice cereal....it's usually given to help firm up loose stools....I'm not sure I'd give it as a filler....just because it's not as nutritionally good for them....I'd feed extra formula....as long as their stools stay firm...if it starts to lighten up...as in white I'd stop....some babies eat more than others:great I always leave blocks in with the bebees :grin3 I think it's great to have them nibbling on them from the start....I've never had to soak them so I'm not sure how long you'd need to :dono

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh they're adorable :klunk :Love_Icon

[smurfangel182]

Theyve been doing good with going over the 7%. Theyre going to be some big squirrels lol. How long can i leave the blocks in there? Just one day right? They go over night without food so would it be better to leave them in there over night or keep putting them in there in the morning?

[island rehabber]

I agree with sweeper, above. "Old school" rehabbing (pre 2001, say) told us to add baby rice cereal to the formula as a way of transitioning to solids. This has been debunked many times over by wildlife veterinarians who now say that replacing good formula with basically empty carbohydrates is a dumb idea. I would only add rice of any kind if I was trying to firm up the poops, because in the wild a squirrel would never eat rice -- now would he? :grin2

[smurfangel182]

They also got some new toys today. Theyve been very active the past few days. So i went and got then some different things to play with and chew on.

[Shewhosweptforest]

Oh wow...they are going to have some fun in there....and you'll have some fun watching them :serene

As far as keeping the blocks....personally, I leave them in there...I take mine right out of the freezer and put them in....and if they aren't eaten the first day...I will leave them overnight :dono I've checked them and they are dried out...they don't look moldy....now I wouldn't leave them much longer....but I have found blocks as hard as rocks buried in my NR squirrel's cages. :dono it's really a personal choice...but I see no reason why you can't leave them in there two days :great

[SammysMom]

Every one of mine eat way more formula than 7%...:rofl4 ibuy mazuri or oxbow blocks when they arent really eating much of them yet. Less expensive and they are so dry to start with you would never notice them getting stale. Once they start eating, it is HHBs all the way!