10-Wk Grey Won't Eat Blocks - Is That Okay?

[Cordelia]

We're first-timers here. Our squirrel is still completely bottle-fed on Fox Valley following the manufacturer's amounts and frequencies to the letter. For the past several weeks he's had constant access to Oxbow Mouse & Young Rat Garden Select blocks - but is completely uninterested in them. Should we be concerned?

We've never given him treats or anything else specifically to eat, since I read here that he should get accustomed to his rodent blocks before discovering more exciting foods. However, he does occasionally chew the bark on the willow branches we put in his cage for climbing and he also now and then apparently finds something to eat (or at least pick up and gnaw) on the surface of the potting soil in one of my houseplants. But he's never had access to anything else edible.

He weighs 330g and drinks 23 cc four times daily of the Fox Valley. His eyes opened 28 August, so that's why I estimate his age at about 10 weeks.

Thanks for the advice!

[Charley Chuckles]

You can try crushing the blocks into powder ( coffee grinder, food processor or what I do is put in plastic bag use a wooden mallet )add some baby food in a jar , veggies or even fruit add just enough to be able to form the mixture like cookie dough, shape them anyway you like . I usually put mine in the freezer feed them frozen they defrost fast or take them out and let them defrost for a few minutes.
I've been able to get my picky eaters to eat these👍
Hope this works for you plus your not wasting the blocks you've already bought.

[Chirps]

We're first-timers here. Our squirrel is still completely bottle-fed on Fox Valley following the manufacturer's amounts and frequencies to the letter. For the past several weeks he's had constant access to Oxbow Mouse & Young Rat Garden Select blocks - but is completely uninterested in them. Should we be concerned?

We've never given him treats or anything else specifically to eat, since I read here that he should get accustomed to his rodent blocks before discovering more exciting foods. However, he does occasionally chew the bark on the willow branches we put in his cage for climbing and he also now and then apparently finds something to eat (or at least pick up and gnaw) on the surface of the potting soil in one of my houseplants. But he's never had access to anything else edible.

He weighs 330g and drinks 23 cc four times daily of the Fox Valley. His eyes opened 28 August, so that's why I estimate his age at about 10 weeks.

Thanks for the advice!

Hi! I don't have any advice on getting him to eat blocks. I just wanted to express concern about his access to houseplants. It might be lifesaving that so far he has not tried to sample them. Many houseplants are toxic. If you know for sure they aren't, no problem, but I'd err on the side of caution re. houseplants. Bringing in dirt from outside might be good for him to dig around in.

[Cordelia]

Thanks for the advice!

I'll see what he thinks of the rodent-block cookie dough - and also move the houseplant.