Very squirmy at feeding time! Getting frustrated

[nkkritters]

My three grey squirrels ( around 5 1/2 weeks) eyes not opened yet, will drink a little, then let go of the miracle nipple, root around like crazy, and then start again. Sometimes they drink fine if the feedings are a little late. They are being fed 4x a day, approx. 10cc per feeding . Biggest one weighs 199grams and sometimes will take more. I am thinking of cutting them back to 3 feedings a day, but am concerned they will not get enough. They have rodent block in with them and sometimes seem interested but cannot eat it yet. If they are hungry, why do they fight the nipple or let it go??? grrrrrrr:tap

[stepnstone]

My three grey squirrels ( around 5 1/2 weeks) eyes not opened yet, will drink a little, then let go of the miracle nipple, root around like crazy, and then start again. Sometimes they drink fine if the feedings are a little late. They are being fed 4x a day, approx. 10cc per feeding . Biggest one weighs 199grams and sometimes will take more. I am thinking of cutting them back to 3 feedings a day, but am concerned they will not get enough. They have rodent block in with them and sometimes seem interested but cannot eat it yet. If they are hungry, why do they fight the nipple or let it go??? grrrrrrr:tap

A couple suggestions: Do you wrap them (burrito) in fleece when feeding? Just let them pull their little arms out.
I find this helps with the squirmy ones. Is their formula (kept) hot enough?
If they eat better when it's a little later then stretch their feedings out more. Example: If your feeding every 4
hours, try going to every five and see how this works out for you.
For the 99 gram baby 5-7% of body weight is 9.9 -13.9 cc's. I generally hold mine at 5% at least until their eyes
open but as long as their bowels remain stable (no loose/soft poo) you can feed more. Just remember that just
because they will eat more doesn't mean their little systems can digest more.
It's all about the :poop.

[nkkritters]

Thank you. The biggest one is 199 grams. No soft stools. Yes, formula is warmed and no to wrapping them. I used to but not now. I just wonder why they spit out the nipple, then grab it again. Sometimes the feeding is smooth and steady, other times they are " squirrely".

[stepnstone]

Thank you. The biggest one is 199 grams. No soft stools. Yes, formula is warmed and no to wrapping them. I used to but not now. I just wonder why they spit out the nipple, then grab it again. Sometimes the feeding is smooth and steady, other times they are " squirrely".
I have found at times with some of my babies when they do this the formula is a tad too hot to their liking,
bobbing up and down on the nipple and sometimes doing the "guppy mouth" has also been an indication.