Baby flying squirrel

[Bud1117]

I found a baby flyer Thursday. I’m guessing she/he is about 4-5 weeks old but I’m not sure. Could someone give me a better estimate as to how old she/he is and maybe tell me if it’s a boy or girl? Also any tips for taking care of it. We named it Sammy just incase it’s a boy or a girl. I do plan to keep it. I read your supposed to feed them puppy milk replacements but my sister had already bought Enfamil baby formula. Should I stop feeding it that and get puppy milk replacements immediately? 294488294489294491

[Spanky]

I found a baby flyer Thursday. I’m guessing she/he is about 4-5 weeks old but I’m not sure. Could someone give me a better estimate as to how old she/he is and maybe tell me if it’s a boy or girl? Also any tips for taking care of it. We named it Sammy just incase it’s a boy or a girl. I do plan to keep it. I read your supposed to feed them puppy milk replacements but my sister had already bought Enfamil baby formula. Should I stop feeding it that and get puppy milk replacements immediately?

Yes! Stop the human formula and get Esbilac Puppy formula, the powdered version that looks like this:

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=294490&stc=1

Tractor Supply and big box pet stores usually have it...

If you post some pictures we can help with the age (and sex if appropriate pics are posted).

You also need to weight him and feed 5% - 7% of his body weight each feeding (so a 205 gram squirrel would get 1.25ml - 1.75 ml per feeding. At his age (if you are right) it would be every 3.5 - 4 hours.

[Bud1117]

Yes! Stop the human formula and get Esbilac Puppy formula, the powdered version that looks like this:

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=294490&stc=1

Tractor Supply and big box pet stores usually have it...

If you post some pictures we can help with the age (and sex if appropriate pics are posted).

You also need to weight him and feed 5% - 7% of his body weight each feeding (so a 205 gram squirrel would get 1.25ml - 1.75 ml per feeding. At his age (if you are right) it would be every 3.5 - 4 hours.

Hmmm I thought I posted pictures! It’s shows that’s there’s pictures attached. How do I post pictures to where you can see them? My dad said we will get the Esbilac formula tomorrow when we go get feed for the other animals. It’ll be ok to feed the human formula until tomorrow right?

[Chickenlegs]

NO! Squirrels can't digest lactose. He'll have rageing diarrhea. I'm in Iowa and it's after 8 here. We have no big box pet stores so I couldn't get the appropriate formula if I had to. Don't know about where you live. If you can't get Esbilac tonight, I'd get some full fat vanilla yogurt and let him lick that. You should be able to get yogurt fairly late. Give him some water--maybe with a little honey in it to tide him over. Get up early and get him the appropriate formula. Hopefully flyer folks will weigh in soon.

[Bud1117]

NO! Squirrels can't digest lactose. He'll have rageing diarrhea. I'm in Iowa and it's after 8 here. We have no big box pet stores so I couldn't get the appropriate formula if I had to. Don't know about where you live. If you can't get Esbilac tonight, I'd get some full fat vanilla yogurt and let him lick that. You should be able to get yogurt fairly late. Give him some water--maybe with a little honey in it to tide him over. Get up early and get him the appropriate formula. Hopefully flyer folks will weigh in soon.

OK thank you!! My parents probably won’t take me to go get yogurt so I’ll just give it some water and if we have honey I’ll mix a little in with it. What else could I give it over night and tomorrow morning until we can go get feed for all the animals and formula for the baby flyer

[cava]

She explained that nothing else is appropriate, that includes cow's milk and human infant formula. You'll have to keep him hydrated and his sugar up with honey water or a home made pedialyte:

1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Keep refrigerated between uses and warm it up before feeding baby. Discard after 24 hours.

What are you using to feed this baby? (syringe size, nipple, etc?)

Please take a look at this link, and it's pages, for proper housing, feeding technique and common problems: https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

You can use this until you are able to get him the proper formula tomorrow. Please encourage your parents to go to the store early so you can get this baby on track quickly. :hug

[island rehabber]

Bud1117, I am the LEAST expert person who has a flyer right now on this whole board, because she is my very first flyer, but I can tell you what I've been feeding my girlie and she's doing great on it:

FIRST MIX UP
Esbilac puppy powder, 1 part (larger end of scoop) powder to 2 parts very warm water -- mix thoroughly
Meyenberg Goat Milk powder: 1 part powder to 2 parts very warm water -- same as above
1/2 teaspoon full-fat yogurt (YoBaby or Oui Vanilla, both by Yoplait) Do not use low fat or sugar-free yogurt, as it contains chemicals.

Mix all three together throughly, re-warm if neccessary, and feed with a 1cc syring with nipple attachment. Flyer should eat very eagerly and not want to let go of the syringe when it's time to refill. Careful not to overfeed -- these littles can be piggies!

[Chickenlegs]

Please let us know how your flyer baby is doing. I have a flyer baby too--my first ever teeny one. I am NO expert--tho there are experts here who can and gladly WILL help you with your little guy. Pictures pleeeeeeeze!

[Bud1117]

She explained that nothing else is appropriate, that includes cow's milk and human infant formula. You'll have to keep him hydrated and his sugar up with honey water or a home made pedialyte:

1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Keep refrigerated between uses and warm it up before feeding baby. Discard after 24 hours.

What are you using to feed this baby? (syringe size, nipple, etc?)

Please take a look at this link, and it's pages, for proper housing, feeding technique and common problems: https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

You can use this until you are able to get him the proper formula tomorrow. Please encourage your parents to go to the store early so you can get this baby on track quickly. :hug
I am using a little 3cc syringe. I will make the pedialyte and give that to her until we get the puppy formula. My dad is picking some up at Tractor Supply today when he goes and gets feed for the horses and other animals. I tried to post pics of her but they won’t show up. Why is that? Should I try it from my computer?

[Chickenlegs]

I use an iPad almost exclusively but bet a computer will upload just fine. Your little guy will be soooooo happy to have food. Just take it slow. Small amounts frequently will be much easier on her tummy. Her eyes are open so she's old enough to nibble on blocks. Read the healthy foods section here. You can order blocks specially for flyers. A good diet will guarantee she stays healthy.

[Bud1117]

Is it ok to get the esbilac without the blue banner at the top? I checked the Tractor Supply website and it says it’s only sold online. But the TSC stores have the Esbilac without the blue banner in store. Also it’s a 12oz can, will that last me long enough?

[BCChins]

No you need the blue banner can and not the premixed liquid either.
Petsmart and Petco have the right one.

[Chickenlegs]

That baby is going to need food soon. How about goatsmilk? You can get that canned or concentrated in most stores. Dilute and mix with full fat vanilla yogurt until you can get the right formula. Your baby looks about the same age as mine. He will lap yogurt from a bottle cap. It has to be FULL FAT! Also give him some kale, snap peas, or just dandilion greens. Get some rat food if you can't find anything else right away.

[Bud1117]

294587
That baby is going to need food soon. How about goatsmilk? You can get that canned or concentrated in most stores. Dilute and mix with full fat vanilla yogurt until you can get the right formula. Your baby looks about the same age as mine. He will lap yogurt from a bottle cap. It has to be FULL FAT! Also give him some kale, snap peas, or just dandilion greens. Get some rat food if you can't find anything else right away.

This is what I just got. I read somewhere else that you can feed them the Esbilac goats milk. It says to mix 1 part powder with 2 parts water. 294587

[cava]

Bud1117, you posted two days ago that you were getting the correct formula first thing in the morning and the plan was that you'd give hydration fluid overnight until you did. Today you bought the wrong formula even though you were instructed numerous times on what exactly to get.

What have you been feeding this baby for the past two days? Teeny tiny animals can't go this long without food. You are switching from one wrong thing (human formula) to another. You will find that this will not support him and you'll need to buy the correct formula anyway. Or if your parents will take you to the store you can buy these three ingredients and make a temporary formula: actual goat's milk, full fat vanilla yogurt, heavy whipping cream. The recipe is exactly as follows:

Temporary Goat Milk Formula
3 parts goat milk
1 part full fat vanilla yogurt
1 part heavy whipping cream

We've had a number of babies die in the past week because they feed the liquid form of esbilac or the wrong type of esbilac. I would hate to see the same thing happen to you and Sammy. Would you like us to see if there is a rehabber in your area who could help you?

[niapet]

Be super careful to keep him upright while feeding. This is especially important with the flyer because he is so small.

We rehabed a baby flyer like this successfully but he more lapped up the milk in drops than drank it. It was different than with a gray squirrel. Just be mindful and he should be okay.

If you are going to release him, he needs a colony. These guys are social and can't live on their own. Don't just toss him outside when his gets big enough. Listen fore the sounds of other flyers (you will be familiar with it by then).

[Chickenlegs]

How is Sammy doing?

[Bud1117]

Sammy is doing great!! She is very entergetic and has figured out how to scare the crap out of me!! She likes to climb on the side of her cage and hide from me. I have a thin blanket covering the cage to help keep some heat in so I can’t see her very well lol and it turns out the Tractor Supply had the correct Esbilac formula and my dad got it. I was just so worried they wouldn’t have it that my mom and I went ahead and got the Esbilac goat’s milk anyways. But I did read on another site that had info on what to feed them that you can feed them the Esbilac goats milk.

[cava]

so, how is this baby doing? Based on your last post, did you feed the Esbilac Goat's milk? We'd love an update and some photos of this cutie! I'm glad she likes her new cage!

[Bud1117]

Sammy is doing amazing!! She is super super active and never turns down food! She chews on nuts and celery leaves now. She loves to hang out in shirt pockets and sleep! She was in my friend's shirt pocket and she peed on her!! My dogs don't seem to mind her and neither do my horses! I bet she has grown at least half an inch in the past couple weeks I've had her!!! She is such a character and everyone loves her. I've started feeding her 2cc's now. if she was about 4-5 weeks when I got her shes probably about 6ish weeks old now! She also loves to hide in my jackets and shirts 294969294970