Baby will not eat Henry's blocks

[JoanP]

The little boy squirrel is most likely 8 weeks old now, and after more than a week of giving him fresh blocks 2x a day, he still won't eat them. I have seen him tear a few apart, and pick out a tiny piece of nut. He is still happily nursing on the proper formula, playing out of the cage 4 x a day and now weighs 215 -220Kgs. He seems healthy, and though I would like to give him some of the other recommended foods, both TSB and the very helpful folks at Henry's, have advised against that until he is eating the 2 HH blocks a day.
Would you suggest that I prepare another type of block for him? He refused the Kaytee brand, the only one found locally.
Do some squirrels just refuse these blocks? Shall I try the monkey blocks? How do squirrels in the wild get their calcium?
He chews sparingly on branches, but has nearly destroyed an antique wooden spool that I was happy to give him. He LOVES it, and even drags it into his bed.
Thanks for any help.

[Spanky]

The advice not to give other solids until he is eating blocks is "spot on". Do not give in to the temptation to offer other solids until he eats his block. And even then he had to eat the block first before getting any other solids... trust me this is a battle better fought now than later. A squirrel has never starved themselves to death rather than eating block!

He is eight weeks now but how old was he when you started giving block? I think he simply needs more time...

Are you providing the blocks before or after his formula feeding?

[JoanP]

He gets a block before his formula feedings, when I think he's hungry.
He refuses.
When I give them after, he would take it so long as I held it, and bite it apart but not eat more than a speck. He started to hold the block himself, but mainly bit it apart and dropped the pieces.
Now, he doesn't seem to be interested in the block.
I am going to persist and hope that this is just a phase and that he will suddenly realize how yummy the HH blocks are. I got him the blocks for baby squirrels.
Baby is very active now, enjoys playing with simple toys, climbing, jumping, and gently nibbling my fingers.

[redwuff]

What does he weigh? How often are you feeding him? How much are you feeding him?

[JoanP]

Forgot to answer question of when he started getting the HH blocks.
Baby boy has been with me for 2 weeks and 2 days. He has been getting the blocks for about 9 days. I am assuming that he was between 5 and 6 weeks old when he "asked for help". I think he is 7-8 weeks old now. (Compared him to many photos at different ages, found online).

[redwuff]

We posted at same time. Hope you will answer those 3 question.

[JoanP]

Baby boy is getting 4 feedings a day of formula, and he takes as much as he wants. Sometimes this is 15 ml., and at times, as much as 24ml. He weights between 215 and 220 kg. When he's had enough, he closes his mouth and runs off to play, in his safe environment and always with me thereto make sure that all stays safe.

[redwuff]

He is not touching his block cos he is not hungry. Drop him down to 3 feedings and at each feeding give him 7% of his wt. this is the age when you want to get him thinking about block as a food source. Cut the block in half so you don't waste as much. Don't fret too much about him not eating block yet. He is just getting his molars in.

I do not feed the way you are feeding. So others that do free feeding might have better hints for you

[JoanP]

He is not touching his block cos he is not hungry. Drop him down to 3 feedings and at each feeding give him 7% of his wt. this is the age when you want to get him thinking about block as a food source. Cut the block in half so you don't waste as much. Don't fret too much about him not eating block yet. He is just getting his molars in.

I do not feed the way you are feeding. So others that do free feeding might have better hints for you

Could you give me info on how you feed baby squirrels? This is how I have fed newborns kittens and puppies who are without their mothers. I appreciate all advice.
I can certainly cut him down to 3 feedings a day.

[Spanky]

Here is a good "guideline" for feeding amounts (by weight), frequency (age); scroll down to "Chart 2":
http://www.squirrelrefuge.org/feedingscheduleamount.html

First thing in the morning give him 1/2 of a HHB and nothing else until he eats his block. Single's are a bit more challenging, sometimes a bit more spoiled, since with a group of squirrels if one shows interest in something they all want it (and want to take "it" (whatever it is) from their cage-mates). Repeat this in the evening.

It is as much about "training" as anything else... imagine if we tried to provide our (human) children with desert before they eat their (nutritious) meals? We'd never be able to "train" them to eat (and like) their broccoli, peas and asparagus if we started every meal with ice cream and cake. :thumbsup

[ScrappyDo]

I had the same problem with my 3. I made boo balls with Hhb, coconut yogurt, powdered formula and pecans. I reduced the pecans over time until the boo balls were/are just HHB, formula and yogurt. Now, they pick what they want to eat. Some days it's boo balls and sometimes it's just plain block. Mostly they choose block in the morning and boo balls just before bed. They get veggies in the middle of the day (all they can eat) and I throw in other kinds of blocks during the day which they mostly ignore unless they are extra hungry. I hope this helps and good luck with your little one!

[lucygail]

Which HHB are you giving? If the $ isnt a huge issue, maybe you could try the other varieties? I know they have a picky eaters and a wild version.

[JoanP]

Which HHB are you giving? If the $ isnt a huge issue, maybe you could try the other varieties? I know they have a picky eaters and a wild version.

I give him the blocks for baby squirrels, since he is only about 9 weeks old. He gives them back to me!!! He should be quite hungry now at about 3 p.m., and much running/ jumping time out of his large parrot cage and he's still not interested. He does not even want to shred them now.
He is alert, active and seems in wonderful health at 300-320 kg. Fur is fine now, no fleas, scabs, hair loss, peeing and pooping just fine.

[JoanP]

I give him the blocks for baby squirrels, since he is only about 9 weeks old. He gives them back to me!!! He should be quite hungry now at about 3 p.m., and much running/ jumping time out of his large parrot cage and he's still not interested. He does not even want to shred them now.
He is alert, active and seems in wonderful health at 300-320 kg. Fur is fine now, no fleas, scabs, hair loss, peeing and pooping just fine.

Are the other blocks okay for a baby? What about ZUPREEM ? Or monkey blocks?