Oxbow Blocks: which variety for 6 wk grey squirrel?

[Cordelia]

First-timer here - navigating a steep learning curve and grateful for advice!

Oxbow is the only brand of recommended blocks available to me without killer shipping prices. Should I get him the kind for adult rats or for young rats? And does it matter if it's the "Heath Essentials" line or the "Garden Select"?

Thanks!

[TomahawkFlyers]

Cordelia, you can always bake your own ... Not sure if you have a Costco near you but if you do the pecans and walnuts (they seem to like these two the best) are super inexpensive. Henry's is where to get vitamin packets and whey protein. This is what we feed our entire army of kids:

Squirrel Block Recipe Squirrel Refuge Version
Preheat oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit Prep time 25 Minutes, Bake time 90 Minutes
Ingredients:

• 3 cups nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, filberts, or a mix of these.
  Mixing Pecans and Walnuts with one of the other nuts ensures
  balanced Vitamin E.)
  
• 150 grams or 1/3 bag Henry’s Healthy Protein powder
  
• 3 Large Eggs (50g each, total 150g)
  
• 2/3 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
  
• 2 tsp Vanilla
  
• 2 tsp Aluminum-Free Baking Powder
  
• 1to2Tbswater
  
• 33 grams/1/3 bag Henry’s Vita-mins
  Required Recipe Tools

• Grinder or food processor to finely grind nuts
  
• Electric Mixer (standing mixer works great with the bread hook)
  
• Gram scale and or measuring cup
  
• Rolling Pin
  
• Plastic sheet or pastry cloth (preferred) or oiled surface
  
• Parchment paper (preferred) or lightly greased cooking sheet
  
• Pizza cutter (preferred) or sharp knife
  Preparation
  1. In bowl number 1, measure out whey protein and set aside.
  2. In bowl number 2, break open the three eggs and add vanilla.
  3. In bowl number 3, add the baking powder and Vita-mins.
  4. Grind the nuts as finely as possible (without turning into nut butter). 5. In bowl number 4, add whole wheat flour and ground nuts.
  Mixing
  5. Place the contents of bowl number 2 into the mixer and mix on medium- high speed until eggs and vanilla are thoroughly combined.
  6. Add the contents of bowl number into the mixer.
  7. Mix medium-high speed, scraping the sides as needed, until smooth.

Note: the baking powder will begin to bubble when added to the wet ingredients and tend to clot until fully combined.
8. Add the contents of bowl number 1 to the mixer and mix on medium speed until mixed well and fairly smooth. Mixture should be sticky.
9. Slowly add the contents of bowl number 4 to the mixer, mix on low speed, scraping the sides. The mixture will be dry. If too dry, add a small amount of water.
Rolling
10. Roll out dough to 1/3” to 1/2” inch thick and shape into rectangle with your hands. The dough is very thick and somewhat stiff. You did it right if the dough is difficult to roll and shape!
11. Place the dough on parchment paper or lightly greased baking sheet. Tip: Roll it out on a plastic sheet so it easily transfers to the baking sheet.
Baking
12. Bake in oven at 205 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes. The low baking temperature helps keep the vitamin and mineral chemical structure intact making a healthier block.
13. When done, remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
14. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife cut lengthwise 1/2 to 3/4 in apart.
15. After making all lengthwise cuts, turn and cut crosswise until small cubes are formed.
16. After cutting, let cool for two hours.
17. Place on a paper towel to help absorb additional nut oils, if desired. Storage
18. Once completely cool, place block in bag or closed container in the refrigerator (lasts for two to three weeks) or the freezer for longer storage.

They smell so good - I tried one once. Pretty good - like a Christmas cookie missing the sugar.

Jamie

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

First-timer here - navigating a steep learning curve and grateful for advice!

Oxbow is the only brand of recommended blocks available to me without killer shipping prices. Should I get him the kind for adult rats or for young rats? And does it matter if it's the "Heath Essentials" line or the "Garden Select"?

Thanks!

Hi Cordelia:
What is your Squirrel's name? If I missed it on your other Thread, I apologize!
As TF has pointed out, an alternative is to make your own Blocks and another alternative would be to use a quality Block formulation such as HHBs, Teklad 2018, Mazuri Rat & Mouse Diet OR Oxbow as a base and mix it with other appropriate nutritional supplements and form and bake "new" personalized Blocks. BUT, the simplest and also quite nutritionally sound option may very well be to use an Oxbow Block right out of the bag (so to speak) to start your Little One on solid food. In reality, he is probably 10 weeks from weaning and the Oxbow along with his formula (I assume his formula has now been adjusted and stabilized), you will in a sense be modifying the Oxbow advantageously but instead of mixing and baking, you are letting this happen in your Squirrel's stomach!

As far as the decision as to which Oxbow preparation to use; that is going to be a matter of weighing the differences and just making a decision. Alon with the Formula, I don't believe you can go wrong but I'll make some comments that may help and hopefully won't add to any confusion or frustration that may exist! The original Oxbow Block that I have used in the past was Oxbow Regal Rat diet. From what I now see on Oxbow's site is that this preparation is no longer offered and you have as you noticed, option of adult rat, young Rat, Essentials or Garden Select. To be right up front with you, I have not used any of these because I began using Teklad Blocks long ago and that is what I continue to use but with a Young Squirrel, I would suggest one of the Young Rat formulations because of the Protein content is slightly higher in the Young Rat options but I looked at the ingredients and there really is no definitively prevailing reason to chose one over the other especially in light of the fact that your Squirrel will also have a relatively long period to go with the formula! If I was forced to make a choice, I guess I would opt for the Essential Mouse and Young Rat preparation with 18% Protein and 0.8-1.2% Calcium!

Please let us know what the status is on your Squirrel's formula as far as what your are using, how you are mixing it, and if you are using a mixture of more than one formula. Also, although it may have been mentioned, formula must be thoroughly mixed but hand mixed. The mixture will appear well mixed immediately after a vigorous stirring but it is NOT! It is always best to store the mixed formula in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours and preferably more (6-8 hours) to allow all of the tiny particles to become mixed and then stirred again before using it. ALL mixed formula should be viewed as spoiled at 24 hours and dispose of it (mix only what you anticipate using in the next 24 hours)! The base POWDER for your formula should be stored in the FREEZER until you need to take it out momentarily to mix a new batch!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel