Many questions

[jfarrar]

Hi, I have so many questions. Teeney is my baby and she is about 5-6 weeks old. She is eating anywhere from 3-4 cc's. She goes to the bathroom on her own. I just bought her a hamster cage yesterday with a hiding hut and fur sac and rodent cubes. Do I need to put a bowl of water in her cage? How do I ween her from her formula? I have been putting apples in her with her but she sniffs them and that is it. I give her daily bathes in warm water. She is very active. Can you litter train squirrels? Do you take your squirrels outside in their cages at this age? I will end my questions here. I am sure I will be coming up with a whole lot more.

Thank you so much for everything. I have posted maybe 1 or 2 other comments and wow has everybody been helpful. This website is wonderful!!!!!

[Mars]

:wave123

I guess my first question is what kind of squirrel do you have?? Knowing that will help me answer your questions. :D The first one is easy. Yes, a source of water is needed. Either a shallow bowl with marbles (to big to be put in the mouth or swallowed) on the bottom or a water bottle. Baby will discover them and start using them in teir own time. :)

[thundersquirrel]

hi jennifer, :Welcome

i remember blaze. that was so unfortunate. at least now we can help you with little teeney!

when you say 3-4 ccs, do you mean per feeding? how many times a day do you feed her?

you could start offering water, BUT it needs marbles, as mars said. also, make sure you watch her the first time she drinks- some babies can't handle it, and they aspirate themselves trying to drink. if this happens, take out the water and try again in one week.

weaning incorporates other foods. at first, you would want to offer her fun baby solids such as cheerios, walnuts (big pieces so she doesn't choke), peeled grapes, apple, and sunflower seeds.

when you respond with how many times you feed her daily, we can talk about how much to decrease. :)

that's interesting that you bathe her. i guess it doesn't hurt, but i rarely need to bathe the squirrels i raise. just make sure she's always completely dry afterwards- a wet squirrel is a cold squirrel. ;)

squirrels usually start to litter train themselves. around this age, mine pick a corner of the cage to do their duty in. they also push the food they don't like into that corner. :shakehead try making a space in a corner with nothing but bedding, see if she develops the habit.

this age is a little young to be outside, even in a cage. you could put her near a window and open it during the day, however, to get her used to the sounds and smells of the outdoors. once your baby is weaned, you can start the outdoor (but in-cage) exposure.

ahh i talk to much. information overload! :D thanks for tolerating.

[jfarrar]

Ok here are the answers.

I think she is a gray squirrel. I feed her 4-5 times a day. She does not have her top teeth in yet. I give her bathes because her poop tends to stick to her legs and her rear. I do dry her off and cuddle her until she is completely dry. I am in no hurry to ween her because in my eyes she is my 3rd child. I consider her my baby. I am just trying to learn the different stages. She seems to be very healthy and active. She loves crawling all over my 4 year old. It is funny because when we take her out of her cage to let her run around she tends to find him and crawls on him. I am giving her, her formula through a syringe with a nipple. Do I need to change that??? It is that she drinks so fast sometimes that I don't want her to aspirate so that is why I haven't put in a bottle. Tried a bottle and it just scared me. Her tail is so fluffy and her hair color has changed to a beautiful gray color.

Again thank you guys for all of your help. I am up for any suggestions.

[jfarrar]

Also what should I use as her bedding? Right now I have newspaper in there. Not shredded. And as for potty training do I need to use a little box with cat litter or just shredded newspaper?

[jfarrar]

Wow I would say Teeney is about 6 weeks old. She is holding the apple and knawing on it but not eating it. Her eyes are big and fully opened. Her tail curls over her body. When I feed her she likes to sit on her back legs. I use a small syringe and have to fill it 3 times. Which gives her a break in between eatings. She eats so fast.