Formula suggestions

[Anderson2017]

Hi, I found two baby squirrels from the same litter about a week ago. I have been caring for them with with help of an expert and member of the squirrel board who lives in my area. Together we have made a great team and my babies are doing great. They are about 6 weeks old now. Currently they are on esbilac puppy powder formula mixed with 35% lactose free whipping cream and vanilla yogurt as recommended by experts. I have found some research that says fox valley formula is better for them. I am wondering if I should order some and switch the formula gradually or continue feeding the esbilac until they no longer need formula? They are also being fed every 5 hours. 2, 7, 12, 17, 22. They were drinking at least 5% of their body weight with each feed but in the last two days they seem to have slowed down eating at the 22 and 7 o'clock feeds. I am wondering if maybe I should start feedings them 4 times a day instead of 5 now that they are older and getting more chubby.

[lucygail]

Hi, I found two baby squirrels from the same litter about a week ago. I have been caring for them with with help of an expert and member of the squirrel board who lives in my area. Together we have made a great team and my babies are doing great. They are about 6 weeks old now. Currently they are on esbilac puppy powder formula mixed with 35% lactose free whipping cream and vanilla yogurt as recommended by experts. I have found some research that says fox valley formula is better for them. I am wondering if I should order some and switch the formula gradually or continue feeding the esbilac until they no longer need formula? They are also being fed every 5 hours. 2, 7, 12, 17, 22. They were drinking at least 5% of their body weight with each feed but in the last two days they seem to have slowed down eating at the 22 and 7 o'clock feeds. I am wondering if maybe I should start feedings them 4 times a day instead of 5 now that they are older and getting more chubby.

I was suggested by other board members to do a 50/50 mix Espilac/FV for my little one and she did VERY well on it until she weaned herself! Loved it.

They also told me that as long as they're eating that 5-7% on a regular basis, and are gaining weight all should be fine. Does she have any Henrys blocks yet? I would maybe introduce that to her and she if she is interested in nibbling on that.

I did end up slowing down my feedings to every six hours around the 8 week mark, and then to 3 times a day around 10 weeks bc she was eating her blocks and "salad" as well as formula.

[Spanky]

If you switch to, or add the Fox Valley be sure to get the 20/50 and NOT the 32/40. I am a fan of the half Esbilac and Half FV 20/50.

Here is a good "guideline" on feeding (see "Chart 2"):
http://www.squirrelrefuge.org/feedingscheduleamount.html

[Jen413]

I only used Esbilac with my last two babies. I know some do mix FV and Esbilac but I never did. I never added anything to the Esbilac either. One was released years ago and the other is now 10 months old and doing great. I think if your babies are doing well then I would probably not change them if you don't have to. Of course I'd listen to the more experienced over me. :)

[Anderson2017]

For some reason today neither of them seem very interested in drinking their formula. Before today they were drinking their 5-7% but today they are hardly drinking any. Every other day they have been excited for their feedings. I don't have past experiences to go off of so I don't know it this is a normal behavior or not. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can encourage them to eat more?

[Anderson2017]

Also I have introduced them to the rodent block. But they seem to be more interested in playing with it then chewing on it.

[Mel1959]

I took over the care of three 6-7 week old squirrels and they weren't very psyched about the straight Fox Valley formula, so someone suggested transitioning them to Esbilac/goats milk formula combo. I did and they started eating much better. I kept them on that for a few weeks and have just recently phased out the goats milk formula and substituted FV with Ultraboost instead. So they are on the FV/Esbilac combo and are doing well.

As for the rodent block, they still shred quite a bit, but are eating more and more of it each day.

[redwuff]

Drop down a feeding and they will be interested. It is time to do that!

[olorin19]

I recently was given a 5-6 week old male Mookie when I went to the vet to get antibiotics for 13 month old Ziggy.

Mookie drinks the F/V 20/50 voraciously. He certainly makes Henry's block disappear, although hard to tell just how much is ingested and how much is merely reduced to tiny bits. I suspect he eats a fair bit, however, as after these were introduced he drinks somewhat less F/V.

Ziggy is a special needs squirrel, and I still give him F/V 20/50 3x daily to help balance his nutrients.