Sleep Pattern Changes/Amonds

[WeHo36]

I'm fairly new to the squirrel world. About four or five months ago, someone gave me a southern flying squirrel that he no longer had time for. I'm learning rapidly but, I have a problem and a question.
1) I read somewhere that raw almonds are toxic. Is this true?
2) I boarded my squirrel for about a week while I was out of town. He was a little freaked out. Now that he's home again, I notice a weird change in his schedule. Normally, he's nocturnal and doesn't wake up until 9 or 10 PM and, if I try to wake him during the day, he's grouchy and bite-y. But, since I returned from the trip, he's often away at 5 or 6 PM and sometimes earlier. In fact, a couple of days last week, he was awake at 10 in the morning!!!! Is this a sign that something might be wrong?
Thanks!

[Mars]

Raw almonds are fine in small quantities. Maybe one per week as a treat. And i'll guess the sleep pattern change has to do with the amount of strange activity he was not use to at the boarding facilty. Once settled back into old routines he should return to being nocturnal.

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I agree, maybe he is just double checking to make sure he's back in his old firmiliar home.:thumbsup He will straighten out soon.
By the way Welcome to The Squirrel Board!

[WeHo36]

Thanks! I was worried there was something terribly wrong!
I feed him a basic parrot seed mix with walnuts, hazelnuts and filberts. I also use a parrot "soak and cook" with beans, veggies and fruit. And I give him flying squirrell pellets (which he doesn't like much) and calcium powder.
NONE of my birds will eat almonds and the squirrell "begs" for them -- but I was always afraid to try. So, an almond or two per week it will be from now on!

[Mars]

There are so many other things you can add to his diet! Try meal worms - they love them. try spinach, kale and chicory and chard. Try small peices of fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries and apple. And banana chips! grapes are good to but need to be peeled or cut small so they don't choke on them. And dried fruit such as raisens and dried cranberries. try bits on sweet potatoes/yams and carrots. mushrooms. hard boiled eggs or scrambled they like the shells too. Mine like pumpkin seeds and corn ( both fresh and dried) And melons (homeydew is a favorite in this house). Not every squirrel likes the same menu and not everrything need be fed daily. But trust me neither you nor they need ever be bored.

[muffinsquirrel]

My flyers get a variety of veggies and fruit - usually 5 to 7 different each night. Apples, oranges, pears...pretty much anything I have on hand. I have NEVER seen a flyer that would eat the pelleted food they package for flyers! For a staple food a lot of flyer owners use Nut 'n Berry, which you can get at Walmart, in the wild bird feed section. Mine get half of a shelled pecan each night, usually hand fed. I use L&M Liquid Vitamins for mammals in their water - one drop per ounce of water, and I give them a choice by providing plain water also. I keep a cuttlebone in the cage - they use it if they need it. I keep fairly large branches in their cages which helps keep their nails trimmed as well as their teeth. And I keep them well supplied with in-shell nuts for their teeth - pecans, hazel nuts, walnuts, even brazil nuts. All of mine enjoy running in a Stealth Wheel, and I try to keep a variety of toys for them, and change them out from time to time.

I'm sure that his schedule will straighten up soon - he just needs to get back into his usual routine.

Enjoy your flyer - they are the most fascinating, beautiful, entertaining creatuers I have ever seen! (Yeah - I'll admit it - I'm 'a little' prejudiced!)

muffinsquirrel