Couple of questions about food and weight gain for babies...

[GardenGirl]

Nature deposited 2 young Eastern grey squirrels at my doorstep 4 days ago. (I tried to reunite them with mom, but no mom appeared. There was an adult in the road that got hit the day before this, so I'm guessing that was her.)

I have been feeding powdered Goat Milk formula Esbilac Puppy Milk as recommended by every rehabber I spoke to, but I'm not sure if I am measuring it correctly. I read that it's 2 parts water to 1 part formula powder, but is it by weight or volume? If I make it by volume, it always seems too thin, but if I measure by weight it seems too thick. (I'm judging thickness based on what regular goat and rabbit milk should look like...I'm guessing squirrel milk would be thicker than goat, thinner than rabbit. I used to have rabbits and dairy goats.) The rescuers I talked to near me (no one had space for babies, unfortunately) also gave me conflicting information about what solid foods would be safe to give them. One rehabber told me not to give ANY solid food yet, one said that small bits of fruit were safe, and another told me to only offer them cheerios because fruit would "give them diarrhea". One of the babies did have diarrhea the second day, but it was resolved after re-hydration. I've offered tiny bits of banana and apple (which they seem to love), cheerios, and button mushroom (which they don't seem to care for). I also have a pine cone and some pine bark with a little lichen on it in there for them to nibble.

I'm judging them to be about 6 weeks old, but according to the tables I've seen they are underweight at just about 90 grams. They've been eating 3-4 times a day, usually between 5-7% of their body weight at a time, but they haven't gained any more than an ounce in 3 days. Is there a specific target of weight gain I should be expecting them to hit, considering they seem too small?

They eyes are open, top and bottom teeth, ears are up, have -almost- bushy tails, and they sometimes do the "squirrel pose" when they are cleaning their paws. They still seem to need heat, though, at least at night. They aren't often active - they sleep most of the time - and that worries me a little.

Thanks if you read all that. LOL. To recap - I'm wondering if powdered milk replacer and water should be measured by volume or weight, and what the normal weight gain is per day of 6 week old grey squirrels. It would also be great to know what "first foods" are best - especially interested in what NATURAL first foods their mother would have taught them to eat if anyone knows.

I do not intend to keep them as pets, because my cat looks at them the way I look at cheesecake. I hope to help them grow a bit more and then release them back into the tree they came from. Thanks for any help/advice! I've had lots of different animals before, but never squirrels.

[Spanky]

The formula is prepared by volume but the large consensus here on TSB is to use the powdered Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer and not the Goat's Milk version. There is also a formula called Fox Valley 20/50 (20% Protein, 50% Fat)... the Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer (as well as the Goat's Milk version) is 33% Protein and 40% Fat... which we use after about 4 weeks of age (or use a mix of half-n-half, which is my personal preference). The Esbilac can be used, and is often used, through to weaning though...

We also recommend that the first and only food is a high quality rodent block. Release of squirrels requires what is known as a "soft release" where they are outdoors in a cage for a couple weeks before a small portal is opened and they start exploring the world. They'll continue to return to the release cage for days or even weeks afterwards. Release starts around 14 weeks and we know the rodent block has the proper nutrition to make them healthy for release time giving them best success option. Feeding natural foods and only fruits and vegetables is a difficult if not impossible needle to thread as squirrels are very prone to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) which is a combination of low calcium and / or high phosphorous foods. MBD is not seen in the wild... and least it has never documented in the wild... but occurs all the time in squirrels being cared for by humans that are not fed rodent block. MBD is the #1 killer of adolescent and adult squirrels in captivity / human care. Squirrels that do not self wean until close to, or even at release time have an advantage since the formula is the best thing they can eat hands down as we prepare them for release. For whatever combination of reasons, humans have not cracked the magic code to a natural, balanced squirrel diet when it comes to captive squirrels.

Most of use prefer Henry's Healthy Blocks (AKA HHB) as that is a supplement wherein they need only eat 2 blocks a day... leaving lots of room to feed healthy fruits, veggies and "natural" foods. Fruits are a small part of the diet (15 - 20%) which veggies and natural foods make up the bulk of the diet. I only order the Picky and Wild Bite varieties of Henry's FWIW.

[GardenGirl]

the large consensus here on TSB is to use the powdered Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer and not the Goat's Milk version.

Thanks - I will pick up the regular version while I am out today. Should I mix them half and half for a day or two so they get used to the "new" formula?

We also recommend that the first and only food is a high quality rodent block.

I've seen recommendations for Henry's before, I will order some.

Release of squirrels requires what is known as a "soft release" where they are outdoors in a cage for a couple weeks before a small portal is opened and they start exploring the world. They'll continue to return to the release cage for days or even weeks afterwards. Release starts around 14 weeks

I didn't know release was at 14 weeks, I thought it was sooner, so thank you. I only had read that one of the standards was if they could crack a nut on their own. I did know about the soft release, though, and I'm fine with that. I have some rabbit hutches that are outside but sheltered from the elements that I will use for that purpose.

Feeding natural foods and only fruits and vegetables is a difficult if not impossible needle to thread as squirrels are very prone to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) which is a combination of low calcium and / or high phosphorous foods.

I've never heard of MBD so I will look that up. I don't expect to make their entire diet natural, but I want to do the very best I can to prepare them for living wild. I read that their parents usually teach them what to forage, so I want to emulate that as best I can.

Fruits are a small part of the diet (15 - 20%) which veggies and natural foods make up the bulk of the diet. I only order the Picky and Wild Bite varieties of Henry's FWIW.

Thanks so much!

[Spanky]

Yes, a day or two transition would be good.. the older the baby, the shorter the transition needs to be (usually).

Living a few weeks in the release cage allows them to observe the wild squirrels and learn as best they can from the locals without mom around. They have very strong instincts as well...

Cracking a walnut (English, not black) on their own is a good test to know they don't have issues. Some issues like misaligned teeth, TBI and the like will make them unable to crack into a walnut and a prime indicator that their chances of survival after release are extremely low...

[Spanky]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

[GardenGirl]

https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...-Pet-Squirrels

Thank you, that's incredibly helpful!

Just a little update, they are both doing well and gaining weight now! I think they just needed a bit of time to adjust from mom's milk to formula (and then new formula). Salami has gone from 85g on the morning of the 23rd to 107g tonight and Cheese has gone from 99g to 115g. They both have been very active the past 2 days, which makes me happy!

Photo of Cheese for reference -