10 week grey female, smelly pee, irregular eating habits.

[Freja]

I have a 10 week old eastern grey that we are overwintering for spring release. She does not like hard rodent block, eats 2 Henry's Healthy blocks (what she doesn't spread around) a day, gets cabbage, a small amount of apple, a baby carrot, and 3 feedings of formula a day, although she frequently refuses a formula feeding per day. We just started giving her a nut every other day.
I haven't been able to get her to stay on the scales for a week so I don't know her current weight. Any advice on that would be great. This morning she peed in her food bowl on her food, and it smelled bad. She did it again this evening.
She seems a bit moody, but still playful. I can't get her to drink water from a bowl or a bottle. How do I get her to eat rodent block and drink water? I hate to take her other foods away, I don't want her to get malnourished.

[Spanky]

The 2 Henry's a day is good. Very good. You may try to cut back to 2X a day formula feedings. I'd give her block separately and before her other food, like she is getting a special treat.

I am including a link to the healthy food pyramid... I would suggest you mix it up some, giver her more variety of veggies.

Does she have a water bottle attached to her cage? I have never had a problem with squirrels using the water bottle, but I keep reminding myself that they might well learn from the squirrels in adjacent cages which is not the case for everyone.

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

[Freja]

Hi, yes, she has a water bottle but never drinks from it. She did the first day we gave it to her but hasn't since. I wondered about the 2 feedings instead of 3, with her not drinking water yet. If you as a a more experienced squirrel person recommend it, I feel better about giving it a try. I have the pyramid, I'll try mixing up the foods a bit more. So maybe block in the morning and give her other foods around lunch?
Any theories on the smelly pee?

[Spanky]

Hi, yes, she has a water bottle but never drinks from it. She did the first day we gave it to her but hasn't since. I wondered about the 2 feedings instead of 3, with her not drinking water yet. If you as a a more experienced squirrel person recommend it, I feel better about giving it a try. I have the pyramid, I'll try mixing up the foods a bit more. So maybe block in the morning and give her other foods around lunch?
Any theories on the smelly pee?

If you are worried about hydration, give her water with a syringe like you do with formula in-between feedings. You can add a little honey to the water if she is reluctant (or dip the nipple / tip of the syringe into the honey to get her enticed).

Peeing in their food bowl is not uncommon. I have an NR that makes it a ritual to pee in his bowl every morning just before I swap it out.

Give her the block and then veggies about 30 - 60 minutes later. I hand out blocks first then then prepare the "buffets" and distribute them. I feed them buffets and block 2X a day (early morning and early evening (always before dark)).