Question on Weaning & Biting...

[Buddy]

Buddy is now around 6 weeks. We found him when he was 12 grams; umbilical chord attached and everything on July 27th. He is doing great! He is drinking around 4.5 / 5 cc FV 20/50 every 4-5 hours. I think he is still small for his age; he is 102 grams. I just got my booster formula from Henry's, so the last 2 feedings is a mixture.

He's been also doing well with the blocks from Henry. Here's a video of him: :Love_Icon https://youtu.be/X2SGwPsGoMQ

My question is when should we offer the blocks; just before the formula feeding, so he is hungry and he is more likely try the blocks or after his formula? If he eats before the formula, I'm afraid, he won't drink as much; if we offer after his formula, then he won't try the block... Any thoughts/recommendations?

Also, as you can see from the video; he tries to bite us too... It doesn't hurt or anything at the moment, but I hear that this can be a problem? Is that right? What can we do about it?

Thanks!

[Buddy]

Hi everyone!

I appreciate your help/guidance. Buddy now is around 7 weeks. I just weighed him and he is 134 grams. We found him on July 27th, when he was 12 grams.

He's been eating really well but I noticed that he barely finished his 6 cc formula this morning; when I expected him to be hungry as the first feeding.

There are some Henry's blocks, broccoli, asparagus in his cage, so maybe he snacked at night?

He has also been interested in solid food and trying different things. His favorite so far is avocado. I know he is in the smaller size still, so I've been giving some avocado.

When do they start losing interest in formula and should I leave blocks, solid food etc. in his cage all the time, or only after feeding his formula?

Thank you!

[Buddy]

Hi,

Any comments on when I should give blocks or other solid food? I've been leaving some of Henry's block in Buddy's cage, but they seem to be just sitting there. Recently, I introduced Buddy to some avocado, broccoli (slightly steamed), cauliflowers (slightly steamed), and green beans (slightly steamed), some greens and watermelon. He seemed to have liked the avocado, carrots and watermelon.

My question is, is there a better time to give solid food? I feel like if I leave blocks in his cage, they get really hard within a few hours and get less attractive to Buddy.

Also, a better time so that Buddy is more likely eat more solids? Or should I not push it and keep offering veggies, blocks and let him handle how much and when to eat; meanwhile keep giving his formula?

Thank you!!

[Spanky]

Block and only block until he is eating the block. Otherwise you are choosing the hard path... so no veggies until he is eating... eating! his block.

Yes, never stop formula.

[Buddy]

Okay, thank you! I'll leave blocks in his cage and monitor...

So, he's been growing and gaining weight nicely. He is 7 weeks and around 150 grams. How many blocks a day is he supposed to eat at this age?

Thank you again!

[Buddy]

Question on the Henry's blocks... Can you tell me if how long they last once they are out of the freezer? I noticed that they are softer after a few minutes being out of the freezer, but then they get hard... Buddy seems to be not interested in the blocks... :( He is taking his formula fine and doing fine... Based on the previous recommendations, I'm not giving any veggies or anything else at the moment, but just the blocks; and they seem to be just sitting there. How frequently should I take the old blocks out and put fresh ones out if he doesn't eat them?

[Buddy]

Haven't heard from anyone, so reposting... Question on the Henry's blocks... Can you tell me if how long they last once they are out of the freezer? I noticed that they are softer after a few minutes being out of the freezer, but then they get hard... Buddy seems to be not interested in the blocks... He is taking his formula fine and doing fine... Based on the previous recommendations, I'm not giving any veggies or anything else at the moment, but just the blocks; and they seem to be just sitting there. How frequently should I take the old blocks out and put fresh ones out if he doesn't eat them?

Another question... I have a glass water bottle in Buddy's cage, but he doesn't do anything with it. Would they learn to drink water from that or should I put water into another cup?

Glass bottle is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Water-Bottle-6-Ounce/dp/B003TU3DBQ

[Spanky]

I don't leave the Henry's block in their cage more than 2 days usually, You can probably use 1/2 block at a time for Buddy. Any block not fed should remain in the freezer... if you are taking 2-3 out at a time, store those extras in the fridge.

He will learn to use the water bottle... leave it there. That is usually weeks 7 - 9 depending on the squirrel.

[Buddy]

Thank you Spanky!! :w00t Yes, I usually give 2 halves (one from healthy block and one from picky) and keep the other halves in the fridge and recycle every day or so... he hasn't been eating too much of it, but I'm sure outside squirrels appreciate them, when I toss them out! :grin2 Thank you again!

[Rock Monkey]

Regarding the biting. That can mean many things. When he bites and it hurts you need to give him consistent verbal feedback. He will also read you emotionally. Say "Ouch" or "Ooww" or something. We humans are strange to squirrels. They have a hard time understanding clothing. Initially they don't understand what is you and what is not. You need to give feedback on that and eventually they will figure it out, but you will need to be consistent. A squirrel's skin is much tougher than ours so they need to recalibrate the force of their touch.

As long as Helen is calm she will walk on my bare skin with a minimum of claws. She knows to leap up to the fabric when I am wearing shorts and will jump off when descending rather than climbing down.

Biting can mean: feed me, play with me, watch me or I am a little aggravated with you. Helen has never broken my skin with her teeth though my fingers have been in her mouth on many occasions.

Think of a squirrel as a bio feedback machine. If you are calm and relaxed they will be too. It works in reverse too which usually initiates a downward spiral with them gripping hard and circling around on you quickly with agitation. This is when deep scratches can occur. So it is a challenge to be calm when the claws become talons as they get older but it is a virtuous cycle.

Keep talking to them to convey your emotional state and doing so also helps you to monitor your own emotional state and bring it back if you get into nasty mode. They will try your nerves.

[Rock Monkey]

The better they like you, the more likely they are to mind you when you redirect or tell them "No."

[Buddy]

Regarding the biting. That can mean many things. When he bites and it hurts you need to give him consistent verbal feedback. He will also read you emotionally. Say "Ouch" or "Ooww" or something. We humans are strange to squirrels. They have a hard time understanding clothing. Initially they don't understand what is you and what is not. You need to give feedback on that and eventually they will figure it out, but you will need to be consistent. A squirrel's skin is much tougher than ours so they need to recalibrate the force of their touch.

As long as Helen is calm she will walk on my bare skin with a minimum of claws. She knows to leap up to the fabric when I am wearing shorts and will jump off when descending rather than climbing down.

Biting can mean: feed me, play with me, watch me or I am a little aggravated with you. Helen has never broken my skin with her teeth though my fingers have been in her mouth on many occasions.

Think of a squirrel as a bio feedback machine. If you are calm and relaxed they will be too. It works in reverse too which usually initiates a downward spiral with them gripping hard and circling around on you quickly with agitation. This is when deep scratches can occur. So it is a challenge to be calm when the claws become talons as they get older but it is a virtuous cycle.

Keep talking to them to convey your emotional state and doing so also helps you to monitor your own emotional state and bring it back if you get into nasty mode. They will try your nerves.


Thank you very much! Again! :grin2 Great advice and yes, we definitely talk with him and convey our emotions... He is a very good kid (so far) and the bites are mostly "play with me"; "I'm happy to see you and ready to play" kind of bites. :Love_Icon