Acting "off" ???

[chadfromphilly]

Hello all, I have a question concerning the way SP! has been acting... As of late she seems.... different. She is active at sunrise and will go through her normal routine but then around 8am she seems to "slow down". Now I know this is normal but I am deffinetly noticing a change in her activity level. She has recently changed her nesting area back into our bedroom. It's just that she really doesn't seem to want to play as much. She still will come up to us and loves to be pet and groomed. She will lick us and is eating normal. I can not seem to keep the UV on her. She absoutly hates it! As matter of fact I believe this is the reason why she changed her nest area. I set the light up above her nest and tried to keep it on her at many different times and lenghts. I adjusted the height to all different levels. Bottom line... Wherever the light is, she is not. I even tried putting it on her in the middle of the night for a few moments but it just wakes her up and upsets her. She has had a line of hair running across her back by her bottom that never fell out when she went through her coat change. I can only assume that by the change of tempature it has confused her so she never shed the rest of the winter coat. You can see in the pic what I am talking about. Look at her hind area about inch or so up. Basically her coat doesn't look right. Would it be a good idea to construct a sort of box that I could place her into for 20 minutes a day just to get some UV on her. Of course I would make it so she wouldnt get hot. So I guess my question is... What is going on? Is she getting old? She is about 2 years old now. Her diet is what you all have suggested and I have severly cut down the amount of nuts I give her to basically one a day. The prime isn't working. I can't get her to eat anything with the powder dusted on it. I just tried putting some of it in her water so I will let you know what happens with that. Also, I have a window box air conditioner that she licks the condensation off of the pipes. I know it's just water and shouldn't be any freeon or chemacials. I am just trying to think of everything I can so you all may be better able to help her. Could she just be going thru a "mood" or change of season. I guess we are just so use to her running back and forth playing and nipping that when she stoped we became concerned. Once again, she still will run to her other favorite spots in the house. She climbs and jumps with no problem. She just doesn't seem to want to play for the last week. She does still love getting pet. PLEASE HELP! Maybe you can see something I can not. Thank you! Chad



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[squirrelfriend]

I have put my Squirrelie in his "tanning bed" from time to time. It is just a hamster cage with the lamp over it. He is upset at first but as soon as he figures out that I stuffed it with nuts he is content as can be. after a while he goes to sleep.

[TexanSquirrel]

:dono

[chadfromphilly]

Just to make sure I am using the right light....
It's a 26W 10.0 UVB light. It's called Repti Glo made by EXO TERRA. I will build her a light box tonight and make sue she gets the hour you reccomend...


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[chadfromphilly]

Yeah, I am careful about the heat but it doesn't put off much because it is flouresent in design. It's not a heat lamp, just for the UV. Now in reguards to "full spectrum" you mention. Are you using the flouresent ones used in aquariums? You aren't talking about incandesent bulbs are you? For excample, in the supermarket they sell a "daylight" bulb that mimics the natural color of the sun. It doesn't put out that "yellow" light that most bulbs do. BUT, this is just the color they are refering to and has no rays comming off of them like what comes off of specialized bulbs like the aquarium ones I mentioned. Which ones are you refering to? I know for excample I paid $25 for this bulb and the long flouresent ones are upwards of $60...

Let me just clarify something.... her activity level has not changed that much. She is still playing (albiet not as much) just not with us. She still likes to hop on and off the bed and likes climbing basically everything. She just seems to want "love" from us if you can follow me. She just seems to be more or less on a mission, no time for play... with us anyway.

:thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

[muffinsquirrel]

Chad, I bought Full Spectrum bulbs at Lowes and put them in the ceiling fixtures in the squirrel room and the kitchen. I just leave them on all day, so the squirrels have no choice about getting the light. (I find that we like the light from them better, too.) As far as calcium, have you tried yogurt? Mine all like it, in most any flavor.(Just make sure it has the live cultures in it.) I stir some Esbilac powder in it - you might could do the same thing with the Prime.
I also make mine 'Squirrel Cookies'. I mix peanut butter, raw oatmeal, applesauce, honey or molassas, wheat germ, Esbilac powder, the little pieces of pecans that are too small to give them as treats, maybe a little birdseed, and anything else I think of that they might like. I used to bake them, but got in a hurry one day and gave them raw, and they seem to like them better raw! I just kinda roll it into small balls - marble size. I make up a big batch of it and just keep it in the refrigerator. You could try putting the prime in that, too.
Good luck. Although they can be hard-headed little animals, they find it hard to resist peanut butter! If he doesn't like yogurt, try mixing some peanut butter in it! Could be a new taste sensation!

muffinsquirrel

[muffinsquirrel]

:D Well, I am definately not a 'by-the-book' type person! For my flyers, they each get one 'cookie' as part of their supper, whenever I think about it! And the greys and foxer get about 2 each. Since the cookies are rather fattening, I don't feed them on a full time basis. I take a look at what they are getting to eat that day, if I feel like it might need a boost in vitamins or calcium, I add a cookie. I usually make sure they get them at least once or twice a week. When they don't get them, they get yogurt. All my squirrels have a cuttlebone available in their cage, but I don't use any other calcium supplements - they get it in their yogurt and/or cookies. If I feel like they might need more than the usual amount of calcium, I scrape some cuttlebone into the cookie mix.

Oh, as far as the ingredients go, it's a very flexible recipe. My (crazy) husband fixes toast and cuts it up into little squares for the geese - probably the only geese in the world that are handfed croutons! Anyhow, the toast cutting results in a LOT of crumbs, so I put them in the cookies. I also throw in any babyfood I happen to have around. (Sometimes I try them on some babyfood and they don't like it. So I put it in the cookies, figuring the peanutbutter will cover the taste of the unliked food. So far, it's worked!)

Just mix in a whole lot of dry stuff - oatmeal or whatever - so that it is very stiff. And keeping it in the refrigerator makes it even stiffer - makes it easy to form into little balls.

Hope you and Baby enjoy it!

muffinsquirrel

[Pam]

Chad, I use Prime for extra calcium for Roxy. I dust her pecan halves with it. She seems to like it. You can get Prime at Petsmart. You'll find it with the bird supplies.

Roxy's activity level decreased around the age of two. She was still active when she was awake, but began to nap more during the day. That was also the age she started building different nests around the house...on high shelves, on top of the drapes, on top of the refrigerator, you name it and there was a nest there. :D

[Gabe]

Chad, you say she is still active, just not as active with you. Is it possible she is simply becoming sexually mature and has other things on her mind? It may be something as simple as that.

[susanw]

Is it possible for you to take her outside for a few hours durring the day? I carry the hole cage outside and put it on a picnic table under an umbrella.

[chadfromphilly]

Chad, I bought Full Spectrum bulbs at Lowes and put them in the ceiling fixtures in the squirrel room and the kitchen. I just leave them on all day, so the squirrels have no choice about getting the light. (I find that we like the light from them better, too.) As far as calcium, have you tried yogurt? Mine all like it, in most any flavor.(Just make sure it has the live cultures in it.) I stir some Esbilac powder in it - you might could do the same thing with the Prime.
I also make mine 'Squirrel Cookies'. I mix peanut butter, raw oatmeal, applesauce, honey or molassas, wheat germ, Esbilac powder, the little pieces of pecans that are too small to give them as treats, maybe a little birdseed, and anything else I think of that they might like. I used to bake them, but got in a hurry one day and gave them raw, and they seem to like them better raw! I just kinda roll it into small balls - marble size. I make up a big batch of it and just keep it in the refrigerator. You could try putting the prime in that, too.
Good luck. Although they can be hard-headed little animals, they find it hard to resist peanut butter! If he doesn't like yogurt, try mixing some peanut butter in it! Could be a new taste sensation!

muffinsquirrelWow! That sounds great! I will try the yogurt in the A.M. (any flavor?)... Thanx!:flash3

[chadfromphilly]

Chad, I use Prime for extra calcium for Roxy. I dust her pecan halves with it. She seems to like it. You can get Prime at Petsmart. You'll find it with the bird supplies.

Roxy's activity level decreased around the age of two. She was still active when she was awake, but began to nap more during the day. That was also the age she started building different nests around the house...on high shelves, on top of the drapes, on top of the refrigerator, you name it and there was a nest there. :D


How old is ROXY now? Do you think the age has something to do with them building their "nests" higher up than usual?

[chadfromphilly]

Chad, you say she is still active, just not as active with you. Is it possible she is simply becoming sexually mature and has other things on her mind? It may be something as simple as that.

Hey Gabe! You know we thought of that... All she seems to want to do during the day is either gaze out the window or give us "lovin'". At what age do grey squirrels come into maturity? Do they go into "heat" like cats? We have noticed over the summer that she was sitting "funny"... She would sit or I should say lay on her belly with her hind quaters up a little higher then normal. She did seem "swollen" but that has passed pretty much. Maybe that's why she licks us all the time now??? Maybe she is trying to mate with us? I just thought she was returning the favor as I groomed and pet her? :dono

[Pam]

Chad, Roxy is 5 years old now. :) I would guess SP's behavior is probably age related. Isn't she two years old? If so she is probably reaching sexual maturity. :D Your baby is growing up!

Good luck with the yogurt...Roxy won't touch it. She is a very picky eater! :shakehead

[Pam]

Do you think the age has something to do with them building their "nests" higher up than usual?

:thinking I'm not sure, but I'll take a guess :dono Probably instinct makes them build their nest higher...for their babies' protection. That's probably also why they build several nests...so if one fails they have back up nest.

[Pam]

If SP is in heat, you will see her running from window to window, and trying to get out. You will also notice 'dribbles'.

I was told a female squirrel will go into heat at the age of one year. Is this wrong?

That's the signs I see with Roxy. :D Not sure about the age.

[chadfromphilly]

:wave123Hello everyone! I am so glad to come home to so much helpfull advice...

UPDATE.... First let me just say that I am insanely obsessive about Squirrely Pop!'s health and happiness. I probably over react 70% of the time. Most of you know what we went thru some time back so basically I swore to her that I would forever protect her and keep her healthy. She just blows me off but I still love her. Anyway, tonight, when I came home from work, she was ready to play. She did her normal "bite the soft spots" of my body game that she oh so loves. I was happy to see her playing! She didn't "play" long but she did play long enough for me not to worry. The good news is that I think nothing is wrong. I still need to get the light set up on her daily ( yes I am working on it Gbaby! I promise!) and need to get some vitamins in her. From the past replys I got some real good idea's on how to deal with her "stuberness". I will put the lights in my lamps all throught the house and I am going to build her a light box. I will put her in it for an hour a day with that special bulb on her. It doesn't get too hot but I will keep it up enough to keep her cool, maybe run a small fan over it just to be sure. If she complains then I will just have to have a long talk with her and tell her its for her own good. I had a reason to worry this morning as that "play" lapse lasted for a few days. I think she is returning to normal however but I will keep an eye on her. You see, she is getting older (2 years) and I am so afraid of ever loosing her. Thats exactly why I have always avoided asking how long greys live for...PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME! Also it was pointed out to me by my wife that for the past few days there has been construction outside with loud jackhammers. My wife says when the sound starts, SP! runs to the window and then scampers away after she see's what's going on. I also trimmed her nails a few days ago. Did this make a difference? I know that when I had my parrots that trimming nails kind of acted like an attitude adjustment that calmed them down for a few days. Maybe this happened to Sp!??? Who knows? I just want to know that I am doing everything possible to help her. I thank all of you so very much for not taking me as some kind of nut. All of your replys mean so much to all of us here. Thank you all and I will keep you posted.... Chad mjs


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[chadfromphilly]

Chad, Roxy is 5 years old now. :) I would guess SP's behavior is probably age related. Isn't she two years old? If so she is probably reaching sexual maturity. :D Your baby is growing up!

Good luck with the yogurt...Roxy won't touch it. She is a very picky eater! :shakehead

:wahoo :multi :rotfl :jump
You have no idea how happy hearing that Roxy is five years old has just made me! LONG LIVE SQUIRRELS!

[Pam]

That's a beautiful picture of SP! She is a doll! :Love_Icon

[Pam]

:wahoo :multi :rotfl :jump
You have no idea how happy hearing that Roxy is five years old has just made me! LONG LIVE SQUIRRELS!

I'm glad Roxy and I made you happy!! :) See...SP! is still young...enjoy her!!
Give her a big kiss for me and Roxy!

[Buddy'sMom]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]......... I thank all of you so very much for not taking me as some kind of nut. ......

Nope! We love Squirrely Pop! too!!! :crazy Glad she's acting more like herself now. Not too long ago, Preacher was worried because BH was out of sorts, not wanting to come out and play. She got over it in a few days too. Hopefully just a passing mood (OR the jackhammers! :D that would do me in)

:grouphug :Love_Icon :grouphug

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

hey i wanted to know..as long as the bulb says full spectrum..does it matter what the watts are ?? I went to go put the bulb in the lamp i had and my hubby had thrown it away last year....so now i have to go to lows to get another lamp..I have a 100 watt bulb..is it okay??:dono

[LynninIN]

Chad, you really do want to hear how long squirrels can live in captivity because it is 15 or more years. SP is still a baby!

My 1 year old squirrel Sammy seems to be preparing for winter. He is hiding his food blocks and insulating his nest with paper towels and cloth. He even build a nest for his toy chipmunks. Maybe SP is doing the same thing?

SP pictures are wonderful. She is very photogenic.

[chadfromphilly]

Chad, you really do want to hear how long squirrels can live in captivity because it is 15 or more years. SP is still a baby!

My 1 year old squirrel Sammy seems to be preparing for winter. He is hiding his food blocks and insulating his nest with paper towels and cloth. He even build a nest for his toy chipmunks. Maybe SP is doing the same thing?

SP pictures are wonderful. She is very photogenic.


:jump :jump :jump :jump :jump :jump 15 plus years! That's awesome! Do you have any pics of Sammy with his toys? I would love to see them... Thanx for the good news about the life span... I didn't want to hear that it was 3 or 4 years... That's why I never asked. I am now glad to know it's much longer then I expected! Chad