Go to post #17 in this thread:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...sphorus-Ratios
Ideally, the total daily food intake should be approximately 2:1 calcium
hosphorus. Most foods have both minerals in them. That means you CAN feed higher phosphorus foods as long as they are fed in conjunction with higher calcium foods - you are going for a balance.
The HHBs are fortified higher than the 2:1 ration for the express purpose of balancing some of the higher phosphorus foods we feed. Many have vital nutrients in them that are GOOD for squirrels, so you don't want to never feed them; you just don't want to ONLY feed them. They allow you to not obsess quite as much about the whole 2:1 ratio. I feed sugar snaps every day - Mister P would kill me in my sleep if I didn't.
You don't have to be quite as crazed a Food Nazi when they are eating the HHBs. You don't want to also feed gobs and gobs of super high phosphorus food like corn and pine nuts but as long as you use a little common sense, you will be fine. When you see people that come on the board with MBD squirrels, they have normally been weaned off their formula (which is properly balanced) onto a diet devoid of blocks. Worse, if you walk into a pet store or even purchase from an exotics food site and buy "squirrel food" it is frequently made from corn and sunflower seeds which are two of the really bad high phosphorus foods. Squirrels may LIKE them - like a child may LIKE ice cream, but that doesn't mean it is all they should eat!