Looking for a chart on feeding periods.
Specifically when to go from 4 hour feeds, to 6 hours, to 8 hours, etc...
Would have thought this would be a sticky, like "How often to feed formula"
Looking for a chart on feeding periods.
Specifically when to go from 4 hour feeds, to 6 hours, to 8 hours, etc...
Would have thought this would be a sticky, like "How often to feed formula"
One of the issues is that squirrel babies differ so much sometimes that it is hard to make a feeding chart OR a "recommended weight by age" chart. We've all had the scrawny 4-weekers whose eyes popped open, and then the 200-gram bruisers with eyes still shut at nearly 6 wks old.
Here's what I do: I start with every 3 hrs for pinkies UNLESS they are truly neonates with NO formed eye slits and weighing less than 14g. For those I go every 2.5 hrs round the clock.
Between 3-5 weeks I continue every 3 hrs until they seem to not be hungry for some of the feedings -- at that point I switch to every 4 hrs. I keep that every 4 hrs for a looooong while -- probably until they are 6 wks with eyes open, but I cut out the night feedings after 4 wks old and let them go about 6 hrs overnight. Again, every baby is different. Some dehydrate quickly and need supplementary hydration between feedings; others are good to go 7 hrs overnight with no problem.
Rehabbing squirrels is an equal combination of sound methodology and intuition, IMHO. You gotta go with their flow.
Island Rehabber
NY State Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitator
"Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
Michelangelo
*
If you can't afford the vet,
You can't afford a pet.
NEGLECT IS ABUSE.
"Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."
'...and the greatest of these, is Love. '
aricac (08-14-2018), cava (02-11-2018), Grinderhead (02-11-2018), LR (02-11-2018), lukaslolamaus (02-11-2018), Scooterzmom (02-12-2018)
^^great advice.
island rehabber (02-12-2018)