Our precious big guy looses fur !

[WeLoveSquirrels]

Dear Squirrel Lovers !

We have 2 Western Grays, male and female.
The male looses fur on his back every spring into summer.
It does come back however in the fall.
The females coat never changes.
Is this normal ???
Both were rescued as newborns and are 6 years old now...

Sincerely !!!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Dear Squirrel Lovers !

We have 2 Western Grays, male and female.
The male looses fur on his back every spring into summer.
It does come back however in the fall.
The females coat never changes.
Is this normal ???
Both were rescued as newborns and are 6 years old now...

Sincerely !!!


Guess what ... WeLoveSquirrelsToo!:grin2

:Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

It varies from squirrel to squirrel. Some squirrels molt... others don't.
The fact that they are 6 years old shows that you're doing something right.
What do you feed them? That's our primary question as diet is critical for squirrels.

I'll include the link for the Heathy Diet for Pet Squirrels.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224695&d=1391033425

Welcome again!

[Diggie's Friend]

It could be a zinc deficiency; hair loss can be caused by this. A study I read relates that a deficiency after weaning can happen, but can be corrected. The rehabber in our area has seen wild raised squirrels chewing on the connector wire of chain-link fencing which is coated with zinc oxide. Power wires used to be coated with it here, but now they have changed to copper as the squirrels aren't interested in it as they were the zinc.

Zinc Balance by Jarrow (15 mg.) capsules) https://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Supports-Antioxidant-Protection/dp/B0001VKDDM

This source of zinc is far more bioavailable form of zinc than zinc oxide is, a safer from to use for supplementation.

(DO NOT USE the entire powdered capsule contents, as that would way too high and cause a serious imbalance in the diet.

Do not sprinkle the dry powdered contents onto nuts, for as like most vitamin and mineral sources, this one has some taste issues. Also, you don't want the squirrel to inhale any powdered nutrient. Instead, add the measured dose of powder into a wet or oil base to support a safe and measured dose related delivery.

To divide the powdered contents of the capsule, place the powder on a sheet of computer paper. Then using a one-sided safety utility razor blade, then divide the total powder in half, then one half in half, and then that half of a half again in half, to get one eighth portion.

Divide the paper with the portion to use on one half, by cutting the paper in half. Then crimp one the end to use as a funnel to move the powder into a small receptacle. To this add crushed nut, and a small measure of Coconut oil, approx. 1/8 Tsp. to make into a small dough ball. That should cover up the taste of the zinc sufficiently to get him to eat it.

[WeLoveSquirrels]

Guess what ... WeLoveSquirrelsToo!:grin2

:Welcome to TheSquirrelBoard

It varies from squirrel to squirrel. Some squirrels molt... others don't.
The fact that they are 6 years old shows that you're doing something right.
What do you feed them? That's our primary question as diet is critical for squirrels.

I'll include the link for the Heathy Diet for Pet Squirrels.

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=224695&d=1391033425

Welcome again!

Thank You for responding :)
We feed them each (2) Henrys Healthy Squirrel Blocks every morning ! "and have been for years"...
And a careful diet guide with the "Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels" chart that my wife found several years back.

Sincerely !!!

[HRT4SQRLS]

Perfect. :thumbsup Thanks for doing your homework. :)

We would love to see your babies. We don't get to see Western Grays too often so it would be a real treat to see pics of them. Considering they are 6 yo, I would bet that you have a few pics. :grin2

[Diggie's Friend]

I found this study sometime back on the diet of the Western gray squirrel, and the Eastern Fox squirrel, that share territory in southern California. Though some food sources vary from north to south in the State, some are found in both northern and southern Calif. Two of these in particular include the California Myrtlewood aka: (Calif. laurel) tree (Flower, bud & fruit), and the Manzanita ssp. (fruit and buds). These wild foods, and others that the Western Gray were observed eating, can add diversity to their diet of over the changing seasons. (see table in study file for details)

[WeLoveSquirrels]

Perfect. :thumbsup Thanks for doing your homework. :)

We would love to see your babies. We don't get to see Western Grays too often so it would be a real treat to see pics of them. Considering they are 6 yo, I would bet that you have a few pics. :grin2

How do I post a picture on my profile, and how do i post pictures ??

Thanx...

[WeLoveSquirrels]

How do I post a picture on my profile, and how do i post pictures ??

Thanx...

I completed my profile picture :)

[HRT4SQRLS]

I completed my profile picture :)

I saw it. :grin2
If you want a pic next to your user name, go to Settings at the top next to My Profile.
On the left you will see My Settings.
Go to Edit Avatar and select a pic from your files to download.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Posting pics differs depending on the device you use.

I use an iPad. When in a post box scroll down and you will see Manage Attachments.
Click this and it will bring up options to select a pic or take a pic. I go to my Photo file and select the pic. I then see a download tab. When I select that, the pic automatically attaches to the post.

I have seen different explainations for different devices.