Feeding times and amounts

[Mads]

Hey guys, I've recently started caring for three 3 1/2 - 4 week old squirrels.
Yesterday they had a bit of diarrhea and I'm concerned it was over feeding. I read as much as I could find and have been giving them 4 ml every 4 hours of esbilac (only temporarily feeding them this until my other food gets here. 27th at the latest.) I'm also concerned it's dehydration. So, I've stopped feeding for the past 2 feedings and have been giving them pedialyte.

Should I be giving pedialyte more often than the feedings? Such as 2 ml every 2 hours?
Thanks guys

[Mel1959]

Is the Esbilac canned liquid? We don’t recommend any Esbilac. We recommend homemade goats milk formula. The formula recipe is listed in varying quantities to make by clicking the Esbilac banner at the top of the forum.

What formula did you order?

What do your babies weigh? Babies are fed 5-7% of their weight at each feeding.It’s crucial to have a gram scale so you can weigh them every morning and adjust the amount you feed accordingly.

Pedialyte should be given for no more than 24 hours. They need the nutrition so I’d offer hydration between feedings and not in place of feedings.

[Mads]

Unfortunately, I couldnt find any place with goats milk around. They'll have 4 days max of esbalic. The fox farms (I cant remember the full actual name) stuff will be here between today and the 27th. I do have a gram scale. They're around 100 grams. 5-7% of body weight, how often? Is 4 hours too spaced apart?
Thanks again

[Spanky]

At that age I would feed them every 4 hours around the clock. Once the eyes open you could go to feeding 5X a day and allow them to go overnight 6 - 7 hours.

I am attaching a feeding sheet sheet in case that is helpful

I have never seen a Walmart that did not carry Goat's Milk in the dairy section (I have checked every one I have been in for a while now).

If you cannot find goats milk in the dairy, check with the condensed milk in the baking aisle... they usually have powdered or condensed (both require water to be added before using).

I'd avoid the Esbilac, and if this is the canned liquid (versus powdered) that is why the diarrhea.
This is what I would use until the Fox Valley 20/50 arrives:

Homemade Goat Milk Formula:


3 tablespoons goat milk
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons heavy cream


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[Mads]

Thank you so much! I didnt see any while I was there the other day but will be sure to look again. It's the powdered stuff that I have at the moment, not the premixed. They seem to not have diarrhea today, have been basically running around and now 2 of the 3 have their eyes opened! I can't wait to have the actual formula for them. I know it's like the recommended company throughout this page.