To wean or not to wean? that is the question

[Starfish]

Hi,

Has anyone force-weaned their squirrels before?

Before anyone drives to Canada to burn me on a stake, hear me out. :-)

My little guys are 12 weeks old (approximately) and are chewing the syringes to the point of being no good (brand new ones!!). As much as I want them to wean themselves, I'm thinking this may be a sign they're ready. I can't imagine their mother would stand for this (ouch!).

Has anyone foxed this? How do you go about it?


Thanks!!!

[farrelli]

I don't have time right now but I think I remember reading a thread where someone dealt with this by buying some kind of blunt metal needle around which you could put a bit of tubing. Anyone remember this? Is there another solution?

[SammysMom]

Personally, I would offer a shallow bowl. Have you tried that?
You have done an absolutely amazing job! You have come a long way from that first post!

[Starfish]

Personally, I would offer a shallow bowl. Have you tried that?
You have done an absolutely amazing job! You have come a long way from that first post!

Thank you

Starting to look into certification options.

[Starfish]

Ok so shallow bowls... I gave two (matching)....

BlueStreak (the one who chews the most) was all over that.

Jacko (messy one who chews aliitle enjoying dipping his laws in it and making a huge mess.

Blacky (my sweet little guy) still wanted syringes. But he's a clean drinker who does't chew. It's progress.

[MJS]

WHEN VENUS AND SERENA STARTED BITING OFF THE NIPPLES, I GAVE THEM THE BOWL...IT WAS A LITTLE SLOPPY AT FIRST, BUT THEY TOOK RIGHT TO IT. IT WAS A VERY HAPPY DAY FOR ALL OF US.

[Jackie in Tampa]

nothing cuter or stinkier than three monkeys lap'in FV from a shallow bowl..
yes progress!
put up barriers as the stuff willfly far...it will harden and reconstitute when you clean... suddenly big white blobs appear...wtheck!!!
I always laugh thinking what CSI would think if they entered SqC... my DNA is everywhere as is the FV! Holy Smokes... what would they come up with!!??!!
the unsolved mystery!!! a milky blood bath!

it DOES mean they are growing up when they start lappin
that's the part that hurts!

[kcassidy]

Yup Jackie, same here, wall and cage covered in formula. Just noticed it on a picture I have hanging on the wall near/above the cage. The sneezing, shaking, swimming of squirrels puts it all over the place.

But no more syringes

[stosh2010]

You can also feed young adults---without the nipple..
They will still chew the plastic tip of the syringe--but it will last weeks and they can drink just fine without a nipple.

[Starfish]

You can also feed young adults---without the nipple..
They will still chew the plastic tip of the syringe--but it will last weeks and they can drink just fine without a nipple.

That's just it; they're chewing the syringe to bits. You actually see them spitting out chunks of plastic. They chew it off until there is no tip whatsoever.

[Starfish]

Yup Jackie, same here, wall and cage covered in formula. Just noticed it on a picture I have hanging on the wall near/above the cage. The sneezing, shaking, swimming of squirrels puts it all over the place.

But no more syringes

The swimming is funny