PJ200133
05-22-2020, 01:14 PM
Hi!
I currently have 10 juvenile squirrels and one adult I am rehabbing and was rolling through those Henry's Picky Blocks at such a pace I decided to attempt to make my own. I used the recipe on this site with Henry's Healthy Pets Vitamins and my results were not so great.
They blocks turned out more like chips to my dismay! Does anyone have any tips to make them more square like the ones in the pack from Henry's? (Please know I am a huge supporter of Henry's and am not trying to make counterfeit blocks! It's just that I go through so many!)
Thanks!
314945
Homemade Squirrel Block Recipe
Makes approximately a 4-week supply for a 1-pound squirrel.
Preheat oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit
Dry ingredients:
80 g Pure Whey Protein Isolate for adult formula (for growth formula, use 160 g).
130 g finely ground nuts (any kind; peanuts, pecans, or almonds work well)
1/3 cup wheat flour (optional)
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1 package (45 g) Henry's Healthy Vita-Mins*
Wet ingredients:
1 whole egg
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
1/2 cup water, or a little more, as needed (this is for growth formula only; do not add water to the adult formula unless the dough is too dry when mixed)
Instructions:
Place dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until dough sticks together. It will be fairly dry, like pie crust dough. Wearing gloves or with your bare hands (oiled), press the dough down and then start to knead it. Once the dough forms a ball, place it onto a lightly greased surface and knead a few more times until smooth and uniform in color. Roll dough out into a roll or flatten into a square, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. While still warm, cut into 60 pieces with a sharp knife
Allow the blocks to cool for at least 2 hours. Then place in zip-lock bags and store them in the fridge or freezer. They will keep in the fridge for several weeks. They will keep in the freezer for several months (unopened and with as much air as possible removed from the bag before sealing). Some squirrels enjoy eating them cold or frozen, but you can also put a cold block into the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to warm it up.
Feed 2-3 per day for a 1-pound (453 g) squirrel. Different squirrels will have different energy requirements.
*If you want to make your own vitamin/mineral premix, please consult the Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals-Rats, or one of the standard nutrient profiles for rats, such as those used in commercial rodent blocks.
Copyright 2009 Henry's Healthy Pet Foods, Inc.
I currently have 10 juvenile squirrels and one adult I am rehabbing and was rolling through those Henry's Picky Blocks at such a pace I decided to attempt to make my own. I used the recipe on this site with Henry's Healthy Pets Vitamins and my results were not so great.
They blocks turned out more like chips to my dismay! Does anyone have any tips to make them more square like the ones in the pack from Henry's? (Please know I am a huge supporter of Henry's and am not trying to make counterfeit blocks! It's just that I go through so many!)
Thanks!
314945
Homemade Squirrel Block Recipe
Makes approximately a 4-week supply for a 1-pound squirrel.
Preheat oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit
Dry ingredients:
80 g Pure Whey Protein Isolate for adult formula (for growth formula, use 160 g).
130 g finely ground nuts (any kind; peanuts, pecans, or almonds work well)
1/3 cup wheat flour (optional)
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1 package (45 g) Henry's Healthy Vita-Mins*
Wet ingredients:
1 whole egg
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
1/2 cup water, or a little more, as needed (this is for growth formula only; do not add water to the adult formula unless the dough is too dry when mixed)
Instructions:
Place dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until dough sticks together. It will be fairly dry, like pie crust dough. Wearing gloves or with your bare hands (oiled), press the dough down and then start to knead it. Once the dough forms a ball, place it onto a lightly greased surface and knead a few more times until smooth and uniform in color. Roll dough out into a roll or flatten into a square, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. While still warm, cut into 60 pieces with a sharp knife
Allow the blocks to cool for at least 2 hours. Then place in zip-lock bags and store them in the fridge or freezer. They will keep in the fridge for several weeks. They will keep in the freezer for several months (unopened and with as much air as possible removed from the bag before sealing). Some squirrels enjoy eating them cold or frozen, but you can also put a cold block into the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to warm it up.
Feed 2-3 per day for a 1-pound (453 g) squirrel. Different squirrels will have different energy requirements.
*If you want to make your own vitamin/mineral premix, please consult the Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals-Rats, or one of the standard nutrient profiles for rats, such as those used in commercial rodent blocks.
Copyright 2009 Henry's Healthy Pet Foods, Inc.