Acorn?

[Rhapsody]

Which color is best for your squirrel to eat? Green or Brown

And... Can they eat both?


"I know that an acorn is ripe and fully mature when it turns brown and that their meat can taste bitter when they are still green in color"

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

When they turn dark Brown...
I used to give Bean...them..but I stopped..iving them to him..I noticed he became a wee bit agressive..when he ate ACORNS...I did this test off and on..and noticed a big difference in his play..He was..very wild..squirrely..
then when he didnt have them..he was a more gentle playing...bouncing flea...squirrel....
They..will eat green one's..but they could get a belly ache..
SO..if your going to feed..DARK BROWN..is the color..
This is just my personal observation..about the acorn..thing..he's almost 5 months old...and Ive had him since he was 31/2 weeks old...
So..you decide..whats best..for you and your little fuzzer...:alright.gif :jump

[Rhapsody]

Hmm - Thanks for the INFO...... I will have to test out the theory you gave, for I did noticed that Max has been very Squirrelly today after eating his first acorn - and he has been nibbling the heck out of my skin - ouchie.

[pamela lee]

Acorns don't have anything in them that makes squirrels wild. They get very excited and happy with anything new they love. This is normal behavior and keeping it from them because YOU don't like the way they behave is mean. As they get older they will become very possessive of their food. So let them have their acorns, it's what they would be eating in the wild.

[Rhapsody]

I have to agree that some foods can effect humans and animals in negative ways / negative behavior..... one has to observe and see if it is true for them or their pets before they will know (and) I do not necessarily find it mean (or cruel) to not give that particular food to an animal if it has an negative effect on them or their natural behavior.

Every person and animal is different, therefore, we can should NEVER say NEVER to any thing just because it is not true for us...... ex: I am allergic to Nickel, therefore, I have to watch the foods I eat that are to high in it or I will have adverse reactions to the food I so enjoyed eating.
* Most people do not have this problem with Nickel in their food or jewelry they wear - but sadly I do.

[scoobysnack]

Acorns... the catnip of squirrel foods:rotfl

I'm giving them to Scooby, I don't see much of a difference, but she sure does love them. I won't be depriving her of acorns for sure.

Soooo did we decide which color is best? If I collect the green ones will they turn brown? I've got tons out here and I was wanting to collect and freeze them for her.

What else would they eat in the wild? The magnolias no longer have seed pods. I noticed the wilds out here LOVE those. I should check out my Pindo Palm. All the wild squirrels here keep their cache in those. See what they're hiding for the winter <LOL>.

[Rhapsody]

Yes we decided that BROWN is the best to feed them for they are mature and ripe acorns.... green acorns are bitter and give tummy aches.

And - YES, if you collect green acorns they will ripen for you and turn BROWN.

[Buddy'sMom]

I do not believe that green acorns will ripen and turn brown after they fall (just observation, I could be wrong on this). The brown ones are the best and if you are going to collect acorns for an inside squirrel, try to get the brown ones. However, I've seen the wild squirrels and chipmunks munching on the green ones, too. Maybe because we have so few this year? Last year they didn't seem to touch the green ones, but there were piles of brown ones available.

For inside squirrels, I would suggest making the acorns a dessert -- because once you put an acorn in front of them, there is no way anything else will get eaten!! And count them toward their nut quota -- alternating with other nuts.

Acorns freeze very nicely in a zip top bag. If you have an abundance, you can gather some now to dole out over time. (but this seems to be a skimpy acorn year in many places, so make sure to leave some out there for the wild squirrels :) )

:grouphug :grouphug

[Rhapsody]

I do not believe that green acorns will ripen and turn brown after they fall (just observation, I could be wrong on this).

All I know is that I have a cup full of green ones and all of them turned BROWN for me with in two weeks...... I live in Florida, IDK if that makes a difference or not.

[scoobysnack]

Maybe because we have so few this year? Last year they didn't seem to touch the green ones, but there were piles of brown ones available.

If you have an abundance, you can gather some now to dole out over time. (but this seems to be a skimpy acorn year in many places, so make sure to leave some out there for the wild squirrels :) )

:grouphug :grouphug

Down here on my place we have a HUGE abundance. I was noticing the green ones were bitten but not eaten by the outside squirrels, but the brown ones are eaten all up. I'll collect the brown ones and freeze them. As you said... they will be a treat. I gave her two this morning and she just scarfed em right up!!

[sparky]

It's only my observation, but I have seen a young squirrel get very sick from eating a bunch of green acorns, but who knows what he may have had to eat before that. I have never witnessed many squirrels eating green acorns unless there's nothing else and they are starving. Some of the squirrels in the past that I have raised turned a bit agressive after eating acorns. Of course if the squirrel is going to be released that's fine.
Another thing to consider if you collect acorns for squirrels is to try to make sure that you know the area. For instance a lot of parking lots have oak trees growing in the medians, and the acorns fall into the parking spaces. Those acorns could be contaminated by gasoline etc. Ditches are another bad place, as they carry run off from factories et, and who knows what kind of chemicals could have leached into those acorns. These are my own observations, and nothing more. I wish that we knew more about their diets, but dietitians can't agree on what's best for us to eat, or how it affects us.

Sparky

[FLUFFYTAILNUT]

It's only my observation, but I have seen a young squirrel get very sick from eating a bunch of green acorns, but who knows what he may have had to eat before that. I have never witnessed many squirrels eating green acorns unless there's nothing else and they are starving. Some of the squirrels in the past that I have raised turned a bit agressive after eating acorns. Of course if the squirrel is going to be released that's fine.
Another thing to consider if you collect acorns for squirrels is to try to make sure that you know the area. For instance a lot of parking lots have oak trees growing in the medians, and the acorns fall into the parking spaces. Those acorns could be contaminated by gasoline etc. Ditches are another bad place, as they carry run off from factories et, and who knows what kind of chemicals could have leached into those acorns. These are my own observations, and nothing more. I wish that we knew more about their diets, but dietitians can't agree on what's best for us to eat, or how it affects us.

Sparky
THANK you..SPARKY..Im on..your wagon....I think they are a mind altering thing...like p.c.p....lol..or pot..(which Ive done,,neither..just seen studies..on t.v..):flash3 :flash3

I just think its a personal choice..what you as their parents..(lol) decide what to give your child..fuzzer..:alright.gif
Everyone here I know loves their BABY..and will do..the best..be it a nut..or NOT...:wahoo :multi
RAchel.........................

[sparky]

Please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that acorns are bad for squirrels. It is part of their natural diet. As a kid, I used to eat chinkapin acorns. They are safe for human consumption. Like I said, these are just my own observations and definitely not scientically sound. Acorns are normally one of the first hard foods young squirrels eat, and maybe this triggers something inside of them.

Sparky

[pamela lee]

Acorns are normally one of the first hard foods young squirrels eat, and maybe this triggers something inside of them.
Sparky
If they start showing signs of wanting to be a wild squirrel not letting them have acorns isn't gonna change that.

[scoobysnack]

I did my own acorn test with Scooby. I gave her two, let her hang out awhile then went in to play with her. Same old Scooby, in fact, I dare say she was more cuddley than earlier today. I'm sure it's just coincidence :thumbsup

I listen to what others say about their squirrels and realize what a silly baby Scooby is. All she seems to want to do is hang out and play with me. She has never growled, swatted or bitten me agressively. I can put food in and take food out of her mouth. She doesn't get upset about her formula. She may get distracted and wander off but she has never gotten overexcited about the whole thing. :dono

Now she plays with me. She'll mouth and lick my fingers, roll on her back and cat kick, jump on my hand, but she has NEVER applied pressure and I've almost dared her to do so just to see how far she'll go.

I don't know if she'll stay this way or not, but so far I've not suffered any Scooby related injuries other than claw tracks where she runs up and down my arms.

[Buddy'sMom]

It's good to know that acorns will ripen after they fall -- makes gathering them a whole lot easier!! :crazy

In Maryland, last year was a super abundant year (called a mast year). THis year, not so much, which is normal fluctuation. Plus we are having a bad drought now, so it's even less, and many of the ones falling are only pea sized. But I believe the big-harvest years varies from place to place. Someone reported earlier that they don't have any at all this year (Arkansas, maybe?? don't recall).

:grouphug

[Buddy'sMom]

...I don't know if she'll stay this way or not, but so far I've not suffered any Scooby related injuries other than claw tracks where she runs up and down my arms.

Hard to say how she will turn out. Enjoy her!! :Love_Icon :Love_Icon There certainly are a few squirrels here that have stayed just as sweet and cuddly as babies. :Love_Icon :Love_Icon

[sparky]

Pamela,

For the most part I agree. I'm not even going as far to say that I'm for sure that acorns cause a mean streak in a squirrel, or have an affect at all, just that in my own experiences it appeared to. Also consider that they might affect different squirrels differently. You know some people get jolly from a few drinks, and some turn mean. Oaks don't poduce acorns every year either. In the area that I live in, the oaks failed to poduce acorns for a couple of years. For two years you couldn't find an acorn any where. This year most that I have seen are rather small.

Best wishes all,

Sparky