Research on squirrel nutrition?

[Jenna]

Hey, guys!

I noticed that the teklad and mizuri blocks are primarily corn, wheat, and soybeans. While I haven't found anything about wheat, I've seen corn and soybeans on multiple sites as very bad (possibly because of the phosphorus to calcium levels, as opposed to general nutrition levels?).

Is there research on squirrel food? Or are we just doing trial by fire and using what seems to be working?

(Don't worry, Rocky is still on Teklad block and will remain on it. I'm too scared of bone problems to mess with that.)

Jenna

[island rehabber]

Unfortunately commercial rat and squirrel blocks are pretty much combinations of the same stuff. This is why Henry's Healthy Blocks were created -- to supplement the free feeding of commercial blocks, like Mazuri and Teklad, with healthy blocks that contain all of the nutrients required, specifically by squirrels. www.henryspets.com

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hey, guys!

I noticed that the teklad and mizuri blocks are primarily corn, wheat, and soybeans. While I haven't found anything about wheat, I've seen corn and soybeans on multiple sites as very bad (possibly because of the phosphorus to calcium levels, as opposed to general nutrition levels?).

Is there research on squirrel food? Or are we just doing trial by fire and using what seems to be working?

(Don't worry, Rocky is still on Teklad block and will remain on it. I'm too scared of bone problems to mess with that.)

Jenna

Hi Jenna:
I'm glad that Rocky is still eating Teklad Blocks and hopefully he is doing well!

Your current thread could also be entitled "What is the difference between a Food and a Feed!" For illustration purposes, a Food can be considered a single substance (a particular vegetable, fruit or nut or mealworms to name just a few examples) that a Squirrel might be given to eat while in captivity. For many people who suddenly become responsible for caring for a Squirrel (and many others even with some experience, as well); this captive Squirrel's diet becomes the diet traditionally assumed to be what is an ideal menu for Squirrels which is based upon their well known love for such foods as nuts, corn, fruits and often tasty human foods! The concerns that are commonly voiced on TSB and elsewhere about the "evils" of corn, nuts or whatever are based upon the problems and issues that can easily result if these FOODS comprise the entirety of the Squirrels diet or even a significant part of a Squirrels diet!

A FEED, on the other paw, is based upon a conscientiously derived recipe for ideal nutrition formulated for a particular species of animals. A Feed has two very different considerations than simple FOODS! A quality FEED is essentially a concoction formulated for the purpose of providing ideal nutritional support for a particular species and an animal's particular circumstances such as growth, lactation, or old age to name some of these factors. A quality Feed must provide ideal percentages of necessary and recommended nutritional components (as examples; protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and more) and in that; they must be ideally BALANCED! They must also be INCLUSIVE in the sense that ALL the known to be necessary and recommended components for ideal nutritional status must be present in the mixture! With a FEED, Jenna, the individual ingredients are not nearly as much of a concern as they might be if they were given by themselves as Foods as they are present in the FEED in precisely calculated proportions!

You don't need to worry about using the Teklad blocks or Mazuri Blocks as these are FEEDS! The fact that they contain corn (which incidentally, in itself has one of the very worst Calcium to Phosphorus Ratios) is not really a concern! These Blocks contain many other constituents in precise balance! To give a more surprising example of this point; let's look at the ingredients of Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHBs) which most all of us have no hesitations in recommending them and note that the first and primary ingredient is Pecans! Nuts are NEVER advised to be given to Squirrels except as rare treats yet here we are with nuts being the primary ingredient of HHBs! Why in the world would Henry's Blocks be considered an ideal nutritional source when it is mostly Pecans? The answer is that HHBs are also Feeds! They are made with ideal nutritional BALANCE and they are ALL-INCLUSIVE by containing all of the necessary and recommended nutritional components! The nuts are only a base for these Blocks!

So, Jenna, don't worry! You are doing well for little Rocky and your are NOT "doing trial by fire and using what SEEMS to be working!" You are using what DOES work and all without fire!

Please tell Rocky that I said hello!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Jenna]

Unfortunately commercial rat and squirrel blocks are pretty much combinations of the same stuff. This is why Henry's Healthy Blocks were created -- to supplement the free feeding of commercial blocks, like Mazuri and Teklad, with healthy blocks that contain all of the nutrients required, specifically by squirrels. www.henryspets.com

So we're doing the best we can with what we know and have access to, but at least we know something? *wry smile* Are healthy rat foods also considered healthy squirrel foods? (Or feeds, as Sam points out below!)

Jenna & Rocky

[Jenna]

Okay, I think I see what you're saying. Sort of the whole of feed is stronger than its parts, because each part balances out another.

But who is deciding what whole is good for squirrels? Has anyone studied squirrel nutrition? They aren't a pet, so I doubt any food or feed companies are doing so. I have no idea if squirrels are used for research or if hobbyists have been dedicated enough to figure out what nutrients a squirrel needs exactly. Are they genetically similar enough to rats that, without more information, we're assuming they have the same nutritional needs? I suppose I'm asking if we've started with a solid premise, that we know what a squirrel's nutritional needs are in the first place.

Jenna

Hi Jenna:
I'm glad that Rocky is still eating Teklad Blocks and hopefully he is doing well!

Your current thread could also be entitled "What is the difference between a Food and a Feed!" For illustration purposes, a Food can be considered a single substance (a particular vegetable, fruit or nut or mealworms to name just a few examples) that a Squirrel might be given to eat while in captivity. For many people who suddenly become responsible for caring for a Squirrel (and many others even with some experience, as well); this captive Squirrel's diet becomes the diet traditionally assumed to be what is an ideal menu for Squirrels which is based upon their well known love for such foods as nuts, corn, fruits and often tasty human foods! The concerns that are commonly voiced on TSB and elsewhere about the "evils" of corn, nuts or whatever are based upon the problems and issues that can easily result if these FOODS comprise the entirety of the Squirrels diet or even a significant part of a Squirrels diet!

A FEED, on the other paw, is based upon a conscientiously derived recipe for ideal nutrition formulated for a particular species of animals. A Feed has two very different considerations than simple FOODS! A quality FEED is essentially a concoction formulated for the purpose of providing ideal nutritional support for a particular species and an animal's particular circumstances such as growth, lactation, or old age to name some of these factors. A quality Feed must provide ideal percentages of necessary and recommended nutritional components (as examples; protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and more) and in that; they must be ideally BALANCED! They must also be INCLUSIVE in the sense that ALL the known to be necessary and recommended components for ideal nutritional status must be present in the mixture! With a FEED, Jenna, the individual ingredients are not nearly as much of a concern as they might be if they were given by themselves as Foods as they are present in the FEED in precisely calculated proportions!

You don't need to worry about using the Teklad blocks or Mazuri Blocks as these are FEEDS! The fact that they contain corn (which incidentally, in itself has one of the very worst Calcium to Phosphorus Ratios) is not really a concern! These Blocks contain many other constituents in precise balance! To give a more surprising example of this point; let's look at the ingredients of Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHBs) which most all of us have no hesitations in recommending them and note that the first and primary ingredient is Pecans! Nuts are NEVER advised to be given to Squirrels except as rare treats yet here we are with nuts being the primary ingredient of HHBs! Why in the world would Henry's Blocks be considered an ideal nutritional source when it is mostly Pecans? The answer is that HHBs are also Feeds! They are made with ideal nutritional BALANCE and they are ALL-INCLUSIVE by containing all of the necessary and recommended nutritional components! The nuts are only a base for these Blocks!

So, Jenna, don't worry! You are doing well for little Rocky and your are NOT "doing trial by fire and using what SEEMS to be working!" You are using what DOES work and all without fire!

Please tell Rocky that I said hello!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Fullmoonfarmal]

Is it ok to feed only Henry's blocks? Or are they only a supplement?

Hey, guys!

I noticed that the teklad and mizuri blocks are primarily corn, wheat, and soybeans. While I haven't found anything about wheat, I've seen corn and soybeans on multiple sites as very bad (possibly because of the phosphorus to calcium levels, as opposed to general nutrition levels?).

Is there research on squirrel food? Or are we just doing trial by fire and using what seems to be working?

(Don't worry, Rocky is still on Teklad block and will remain on it. I'm too scared of bone problems to mess with that.)

Jenna

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Okay, I think I see what you're saying. Sort of the whole of feed is stronger than its parts, because each part balances out another.

But who is deciding what whole is good for squirrels? Has anyone studied squirrel nutrition? They aren't a pet, so I doubt any food or feed companies are doing so. I have no idea if squirrels are used for research or if hobbyists have been dedicated enough to figure out what nutrients a squirrel needs exactly. Are they genetically similar enough to rats that, without more information, we're assuming they have the same nutritional needs? I suppose I'm asking if we've started with a solid premise, that we know what a squirrel's nutritional needs are in the first place.

Jenna

Hello again Jenna:

Thank you for your caring so intently in behalf of your fortunate little Squirrel, Rocky! All foods contain nutrients or they wouldn't be used as foods or even called foods for that matter! A particular food is considered "bad" or let's say not "good" for an animal based upon less than desirable nutritional issues or problems commonly associated with its use alone or as a predominant component of an animal's diet. A "Feed" simply uses multiple nutritional sources when it is formulated, some when used by themselves or as predominant components of an animal's diet may indeed be bad choices but when used in a Feed that has been conscientiously and scientifically formulated; they just provide some of what ultimately has become a well BALANCED, SAFE and INCLUSIVE diet!

You are absolutely correct about the lack of formal research being directed toward Squirrel nutrition because they are wild animals and feed themselves and are not ordinarily used as laboratory animals (fortunately!) and while they are considered game animals most everywhere; there is no real market for for "farm raised" Squirrels (again; fortunately!) so there is little incentive for research to be conducted on Squirrel nutrition! That being said, there are decades worth of experiential data from rehabbers and those who have captive Squirrels and while this is not in the form of formal randomized research studies; it is still very pertinent and very useful as well!

There is more available though! As you noted in your post, Rats are rodents that are very similar to Squirrels and extensive research has been performed with these poor creatures, including nutritional studies. At one time I made Blocks from scratch and I found a very good source that I used in formulating what I considered an optimal recipe for Rodent (Squirrel) Blocks! This source is the Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals,: Fourth Revised Edition, 1995. I know that is relatively ancient but it still summarizes most all of what is available in regard to defining ideal nutrition for Rats. There is no chapter for Squirrels. This same article is used by Henry's for their formulation of HHBs and they state so on each package! While Teklad does not state specifically that they have made decisions based upon the NROLA; but reviewing their very detailed nutritional datasheets pertaining to each of their Blocks, in my opinion, strongly suggests that they too, use the NROLA as a guide!

So, to try to answer your question or maybe more to ease your worry, all this has all worked out well for ensuring many thousands baby Squirrels raised for release are successfully released with the decided advantage of being in a nutritional prime state and this nutritional optimization works as well for many other Squirrels that have been kept in captivity as NRs or pets over many years!

I have always maintained (and recommended) that a captive Squirrel should have at least 80% of their diet comprised of quality Blocks and this recommendation also extends to any Squirrel being raised for release up to the time they are placed in the Release Cage!

I hope this has been somewhat helpful for you Jenna! Thanks again for the concern, care and love you bestow upon Rocky-Squirrel!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Fullmoonfarmal]

Is it ok to feed only Henry's blocks? Or are they only a supplement?

Hey, guys!

I noticed that the teklad and mizuri blocks are primarily corn, wheat, and soybeans. While I haven't found anything about wheat, I've seen corn and soybeans on multiple sites as very bad (possibly because of the phosphorus to calcium levels, as opposed to general nutrition levels?).

Is there research on squirrel food? Or are we just doing trial by fire and using what seems to be working?

(Don't worry, Rocky is still on Teklad block and will remain on it. I'm too scared of bone problems to mess with that.)

Jenna

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Is it ok to feed only Henry's blocks? Or are they only a supplement?

Hi Fullmoonfarmal and welcome to The Squirrel Board! Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHBs) are often called "supplements" but this is not actually the case but there are certain considerations that must be understood when using HHBs! For one, HHBs are a CONCENTRATED and COMPLETE nutritional source! Because of these two factors, it is recommended that for an "average" adult Squirrel, give only 2 to a maximum of 3 HHBs each day. This, however, would amount to only 10 to 15 Grams of food (each HHBs weigh approximately 5 grams) and while this amount of HHBs would indeed provide for full and complete nutrition; this relatively small amount of food will in no way provide for satiety (feeling full)! There is nothing wrong with using HHBs and they really are a great source of nutrition but more is needed as unlike other quality Blocks; HHBs must NOT be free-fed (this is where the Squirrel can eat as much as desired) and again, the limit should be 2 to a maximum of 3 HHBs per day. Teklad Blocks and Mazuri Blocks can be free-fed and should be! A good strategy to using HHBs is to feed two or three of these blocks early in the day and then provide some Teklad Blocks later on and/or some other healthy foods utilizing the Healthy Foods Pyramid from Henry's website. Please stick with the lower levels of the Pyramid and give treats (these are at the tip of the pyramid) such as nuts and fruits (yes, for as captive Squirrel, nuts and fruits are treats!) only very rarely (maybe once or twice a week) or not at all! Here is a link to Henry's Healthy Food Pyramid; https://henryspets.com/healthy-diet-for-pet-squirrels/

I hope this provides some help for you and please ask any further questions that you might have or ask for clarification for things I may have been less than clear about! Please tell us about your Squirrel and post some photos!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Jenna]

This has been super helpful; thank you, Sam! I didn't realize people had been keeping/raising/releasing squirrels for quite so long, and therefore had a wealth of experiential knowledge to work from. I want Rocky to live a long, full life, whether he's NR or releasable!

My husband realizes he's now second fiddle to Rocky (as I'm second fiddle to BunBun, my husband's dwarf bunny). So we're pretty devoted to doing what's best, and I'm pretty good at diving down the rabbit hole... LOL!

Jenna

Hello again Jenna:

Thank you for your caring so intently in behalf of your fortunate little Squirrel, Rocky! All foods contain nutrients or they wouldn't be used as foods or even called foods for that matter! A particular food is considered "bad" or let's say not "good" for an animal based upon less than desirable nutritional issues or problems commonly associated with its use alone or as a predominant component of an animal's diet. A "Feed" simply uses multiple nutritional sources when it is formulated, some when used by themselves or as predominant components of an animal's diet may indeed be bad choices but when used in a Feed that has been conscientiously and scientifically formulated; they just provide some of what ultimately has become a well BALANCED, SAFE and INCLUSIVE diet!

You are absolutely correct about the lack of formal research being directed toward Squirrel nutrition because they are wild animals and feed themselves and are not ordinarily used as laboratory animals (fortunately!) and while they are considered game animals most everywhere; there is no real market for for "farm raised" Squirrels (again; fortunately!) so there is little incentive for research to be conducted on Squirrel nutrition! That being said, there are decades worth of experiential data from rehabbers and those who have captive Squirrels and while this is not in the form of formal randomized research studies; it is still very pertinent and very useful as well!

There is more available though! As you noted in your post, Rats are rodents that are very similar to Squirrels and extensive research has been performed with these poor creatures, including nutritional studies. At one time I made Blocks from scratch and I found a very good source that I used in formulating what I considered an optimal recipe for Rodent (Squirrel) Blocks! This source is the Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals,: Fourth Revised Edition, 1995. I know that is relatively ancient but it still summarizes most all of what is available in regard to defining ideal nutrition for Rats. There is no chapter for Squirrels. This same article is used by Henry's for their formulation of HHBs and they state so on each package! While Teklad does not state specifically that they have made decisions based upon the NROLA; but reviewing their very detailed nutritional datasheets pertaining to each of their Blocks, in my opinion, strongly suggests that they too, use the NROLA as a guide!

So, to try to answer your question or maybe more to ease your worry, all this has all worked out well for ensuring many thousands baby Squirrels raised for release are successfully released with the decided advantage of being in a nutritional prime state and this nutritional optimization works as well for many other Squirrels that have been kept in captivity as NRs or pets over many years!

I have always maintained (and recommended) that a captive Squirrel should have at least 80% of their diet comprised of quality Blocks and this recommendation also extends to any Squirrel being raised for release up to the time they are placed in the Release Cage!

I hope this has been somewhat helpful for you Jenna! Thanks again for the concern, care and love you bestow upon Rocky-Squirrel!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel