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Thread: How Old is this Squirrel

  1. #1
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    Default How Old is this Squirrel

    I posted on the forum a few days ago about evicting a squirrel from my soffit. Unfortunately, there is/are baby squirrel(s). I would have had to get them out either way, but perhaps would have approached things differently. Either way, I now have a baby squirrel. We've been feeding her for a few days now and she seems to be doing fine. We have given her some fruits and vegetables with high moisture content. I have placed a shallow saucer for her with water, but as far as I can tell, she has not taken any water from it. I read about rehydrating squirrels in a couple of places online, but I think what I was reading was more applicable to a much younger squirrel. Should this squirrel be drinking on her own from a water source, or does she get most of her water from foods? Again, she seems to be doing well. She eats, then runs around in my office for a little while, then goes back into an enclosure with a soft blanket (she likes to dig down into the creases and snuggle). She sleeps for a while, comes out on her own and eats, then goes back into the blanket. Forgot to mention, I live in Indiana. I believe this is a Red squirrel? The mom is quite small compared to the Gray squirrels we have here.

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  3. #2
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    I have more pictures if needed to help determine her approximate age. I'm more concerned with how to make sure she's hydrated than her age, but thought the age would dictate how she hydrates.

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  5. #3
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Yeah, more pictures would help.
    Here's an excellent link about baby squirrels.
    It's 6 short pages with TONS of information.
    The next arrow is at the top right corner.
    https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

    From the picture, your little one looks way too young to be off
    formula. You will need to get Powdered Puppy Esbilac.

    Do you have syringes to feed?
    You will also need a scale that weighs in grams. We feed according to their weight, and IF
    meds are needed we dose that by weight.
    You will need to hydrate first with pedialyte
    for 24-48 hours. Do NOT give Pedialyte for more than 48 hours, and this is in addition to formula.
    If she needs extra hydration, give a little warmed water with just a touch of honey for taste.
    How long have you had this little one.
    No solids for now, as I think she may be too young.
    When you do give solids the very first thing to give is a good quality rodent block.
    I always use Henry's blocks and have just started introducing Harlan Teklad 2018, though they don't show much interest in them


    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy in New York
    Quote Originally Posted by stepnstone View Post

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  7. #4
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy in New York View Post
    Yeah, more pictures would help.
    Here's an excellent link about baby squirrels.
    It's 6 short pages with TONS of information.
    The next arrow is at the top right corner.
    https://www.henryspets.com/baby-squirrel-care/

    From the picture, your little one looks way too young to be off
    formula. You will need to get Powdered Puppy Esbilac.

    Do you have syringes to feed?
    You will also need a scale that weighs in grams. We feed according to their weight, and IF
    meds are needed we dose that by weight.
    You will need to hydrate first with pedialyte
    for 24-48 hours. Do NOT give Pedialyte for more than 48 hours, and this is in addition to formula.
    If she needs extra hydration, give a little warmed water with just a touch of honey for taste.
    How long have you had this little one.
    No solids for now, as I think she may be too young.
    When you do give solids the very first thing to give is a good quality rodent block.
    I always use Henry's blocks and have just started introducing Harlan Teklad 2018, though they don't show much interest in them


    Thank you for the information. I'll post a couple more pictures. I bought Pedialyte, but she didn't seem to be very interested in taking it from the syringe (4 days ago). My son dumped some bird food on the floor and she went right over and started shelling some of the sunflowers. I thought she was much too young for that, but she went right at it. She has been eating black walnuts we shelled for her last night and is consuming them. I'll take the black walnuts away for now. I'll post some additional pictures next.

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  9. #5
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Here's another picture...
    Attached Images Attached Images  

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  11. #6
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Oh my gosh, she's adorable. Take away the seeds and nuts and give her formula and rodent block instead. Those things will nutritionally deplete her and she will become very sick. They will ALWAYS choose the over anything else, but they aren't what's best for them. It would be like feeding Oreos to a puppy every day instead of dog food. One for a treat here and there, once she is on a proper diet is okay.

    Sounds like she would like some extra warmth. Put a heating pad set on low under half her bin or cage. She'll snuggle down for the warmth and move to the cool side as needed.

    As for the water intake, she'll get her hydration through formula. A scale will determine how much to feed.

    Keep those great photos coming. So darn cute!

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  13. #7
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Oh you definitely have a little red.
    They are my absolute favorite, though I LOVE them all.
    Yes a scale with her weight will help immensely. They are
    considerably smaller than greys and tend to wean earlier than greys.
    Try warm water with a touch of honey for taste. See if she'll take that.
    Last edited by Nancy in New York; 10-13-2017 at 02:01 PM.

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  15. #8
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Thanks for the responses. Glad I found this forum as I was in the dark. I'll post more pictures as she progresses.

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  17. #9
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Had rodent blocks overnighted and she's nibbling on some now. She still won't take water from a syringe, but she getting liquid from somewhere. She climbed up my pant leg and peed on my lap yesterday, LOL. Probably no more than a teaspoon. I still have some fruit and tomato out she nibbles on. She appears to be doing fine. How much water do they typically consume? The fruit and tomato are sitting in a saucer with a little water. is she possibly taking a quick drink from there on occasion?

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  19. #10
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    If you could get a scale and get her weight AND post some photos of her
    head on, we may be able to better tell you her age.
    I have raised many reds, and to be honest, greys are SO much easier
    to "guesstimate" their ages.
    I just wonder if she should still be on formula.
    Did you try giving her any?

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Try water in a dish.
    If she is leery of a syringe try an eye dropper.
    She may not be drinking if she is eating lots of grapes or fruit.

    She definitely looks like she should still be eating formula.
    But reds are so small it's hard to guess her age.
    One serving of warm milk would not be harmful.. just to see if she shows interest.
    (You just don't want to feed her an extended diet of milk)
    Milk with a touch of plain yogurt may also tempt her to eat.
    If she goes for it, get some powdered Esbilac puppy formula for her.

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  23. #12
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    I apologize for the delayed response. I'll weigh her this evening. Here's another picture (eating pineapple). Before I got to this forum, I saw somewhere online different things squirrels may do at a specific week. Emma (we named her) fits in to some of what this person describes...

    "At 6 to 7 weeks old, the squirrel will begin to sit up, with his tail curling over his back in a classic squirrel pose. He is fully covered with fur, and his tail starts to appear quite fluffy. At this age the baby will be much more active and spend less time sleeping."

    "At 8 weeks old, a baby squirrel actually looks like a squirrel, albeit a small one. He becomes very active and jumpy, and uses his sharp claws for climbing and hanging upside down. By 10 weeks old his tail is full and bushy, and his sharp teeth are fully grown in."

    Emma stills sleeps quite a bit, but she if VERY active when she's awake. She runs all around my office climbing anything she can. I've covered a few things in the office allowing her to grip easier as most things are too slick. I'll try the warm milk as well to see if she takes to that.

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    She weighs 47 grams.

  26. #14
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    I'm doing this from my phone instead of my PC. Can't see squat without my glasses (if there are errors). I meant to say she is doing all described above in those weeks, except she still sleeps quite a lot.

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Formula offers complete nutrition and protects against MBD. Squirrels older than 12 weeks still take formula and some take it for months after that. While she may enjoy the fruit and it may offer some hydration, offering formula would guarantee that her needs are met. This baby would still be nursing on mom. Get this adorable baby on a diet that you'll know is going to help her grow big and strong. You obviously love her, how could you not.

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  30. #16
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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Quote Originally Posted by cava View Post
    Formula offers complete nutrition and protects against MBD. Squirrels older than 12 weeks still take formula and some take it for months after that. While she may enjoy the fruit and it may offer some hydration, offering formula would guarantee that her needs are met. This baby would still be nursing on mom. Get this adorable baby on a diet that you'll know is going to help her grow big and strong. You obviously love her, how could you not.
    I'm not sure how anyone could not fall in love with such a beautiful, sweet little thing. We'll pick up some formula first AM.

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    You understand that you need to get the powdered Esbilac puppy formula with pre and pro biotics?Just checking...

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Quote Originally Posted by LynnRobbins View Post
    You understand that you need to get the powdered Esbilac puppy formula with pre and pro biotics?Just checking...
    I was going to look through the posts again, but you have clarified. Thank you.

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    Emma is so adorable. Can't wait to see her progress in the days to come.

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    Default Re: How Old is this Squirrel

    She at least expressed interest in the formula with a dropper, but she didn't sit very still. She stopped VERY briefly and appeared to taste the formula, but after that, we couldn't get her to calm down enough to try it again. I put the little I mixed in a shallow dish. Perhaps she'll take some from there. I'll try and give her some again with the dropper later. How long is the formula good for if I leave it in the dish? I can't imagine much more than a couple of hours.

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