I also started using the SquirrelRefuge recipe and so far all the flyers eat that, too. I had to adjust the calcium down a little to make it 2:1 CA:P with my specific ingrediants.
I also started using the SquirrelRefuge recipe and so far all the flyers eat that, too. I had to adjust the calcium down a little to make it 2:1 CA:P with my specific ingrediants.
SamtheSquirrel2018 (10-31-2023)
For some annoying reason, they don't make the CA:P ratio easy to find but you can get an answer by writing to Mazuri. I would hope all of the rodent blocks are 2:1ish but I checked to confirm recently for Mazuri Rat & Mouse Diet
Nutrient % As Fed % DM
Calcium 0.95 1.08
Phosphorus 0.65 0.74
Hi Lovesquirrels:
Mazuri is definitely a good choice! Harlan Teklad or Teklad Blocks, either 2018 for Squirrels who are relatively young or 2014 for those well into the adult phase are other excellent choices. For some reason, The Squirrel Refuge lists a brand of Block called "Native Earth’s 18% Protein 4018 Rodent Diet (Fomerly Harlan Teklad)" as one of the options for Blocks that they recommend. The implication when reading this or when trying to order this is that this is the same as the original Harlan Teklad Rodent Blocks and this is simply not the case!
The quality Blocks that most of us on TSB use are one of the varieties of the REAL Harlan Teklad Rodent Blocks, Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet and Oxbow. My concern was that you may have ordered the Native Earth Blocks but that thankfully is not an issue and the Mazuri Blocks will be just fine! Of the quality Blocks just listed, all have an adequate concentration of Calcium and a very acceptable Ca:Phosphorus ratio. These Blocks can be free-fed (give the Squirrels as much as they are willing to eat) and they can be the Squirrel's sole food. Nothing else is needed although Squirrels usually like some dietary variation as do most of us using the Henry's Dietary Pyramid is very useful for deciding what else to offer: ( https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/ )! If you feed one of these quality Blocks, and give rare treats (among other items, nuts are treats!) or none at all; MBD will be prevented! MBD results from inadequate Elemental Calcium, excessive phosphorus or both!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel
I'm not having tremendous luck with the mazurri by itself. I have one squirrel that eats quite a bit, one that definitely eats some, and three that I'm not sure if eat any or not. I have a little better luck with zupreme monkey biscuits. The henrys and squirrel refuge baked blocks are nearly always eaten by all.
Diggie's Friend (11-16-2023), SamtheSquirrel2018 (11-16-2023)