HI Im New. I have a Teenage Squirrel Named Hammy!

[Jetaimesierra]

Im Sierra. Ive had my squirrel Hammy since September 25, 2013. He was six weeks at that time. Now hes a teenager. Hes very playful and bites me very hard. He also likes to take his blanket out of his cage and put it in my purse and sleep in it. He poops and pees everywhere. Hes a handful.

[Skul]

What type are of squirrel are you caring for?

[Jetaimesierra]

Eastern Gray Squirrel.

[Jetaimesierra]

[Charley Chuckles]

I love it, sleeping in your purse

[Jetaimesierra]

Thanks Ive never used a forum before but can squirrels be litter trained? Also, hes not sleeping at night a lot. He likes to sleep in my purse during the day then party all night while im trying to sleep and bang against his cage.

[MJS]

HI SIERRA... TO TSB!!! VERY CUTE LITTLE SQ YOU'VE GOT THERE. EVERYONE WILL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HIS DIET BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT...SO I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ASK...WHAT DO YOU FEED HIM???

[MJS]

Thanks Ive never used a forum before but can squirrels be litter trained? Also, hes not sleeping at night a lot. He likes to sleep in my purse during the day then party all night while im trying to sleep and bang against his cage.

LITTER TRAINING IS HIT AND MISS IN MY EXPERIENCE. TRY A DECENT SIZED PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINER WITH A PAPER TOWEL OR THAT SHREDDED FERRET STUFF IN THE BOTTOM. WORKS SOMETIMES FOR ME BUT NOT 100%. OTHERS MAY OFFER DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS. SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS HIS DAYS AND NIGHTS CONFUSED. HE SHOULD COME AROUND. MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS PLENTY OF FLEECE IN HIS CAGE TO SNUGGLE INTO AND PREFERABLY A CUBE OR HUT OF SOME KIND. WE HAVE MEMBERS WHO MAKE THEM ALONG WITH OTHER SQ RELATED STUFF.

[Negerto30]

His cage looks kind of small.

[Jetaimesierra]

His cage is small. Im getting a new one. A ferret cage preferrably. But my room is HIS cage. He stays out all day then I put him up at night. He eats sweet potato, spring peas, rodent block, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, romaine lettuce, squash,cucumber, banana, acorns, pecans, and a lot more.

[Anne]

He's adorable! Glad a bigger cage is in his future. Please go to the nutrition secton and read the healthy squirrel diet. You love him enough to want him to be happy and healthy all his life. Diet is next to love in importance!

[farrelli]

The diet isn't so great with all those seeds. Here's the healthy diet guide:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...(Revised-2-13)

WHat kind of block do you feed? Some are crap. The best is from Henry's. It's what most people here use. Two a day and you're good:

http://www.henryspets.com/squirrel-diet/

Can you tell us what formula you used to feed and if and when he decided that he didn't want it anymore?

As far as biting, they do that, but if you take your hand away and say "ouch" or something very forcefully, they tend to get the idea that they've gone too far. Grooming your hands and such, however, is a way of them telling you that they love you.

As far as the purse goes, they often like spaces like that and many people here have hanging cubes and such in their cages. Here's a link to a member who makes such things:

http://www.auntiemmscustomboutique.c...t-gallery.html

[Jetaimesierra]

I used Esbilac powder. I would say a week later he didn't really want it since I got him when his eyes were open. how would I go about sterilizing deer antlers for him?

[Charley Chuckles]

My Simon is paper trained

[SammysMom]

My Simon is paper trained

So is my Sammy 99% of the time. Sadly, sometimes he also feels that since the mail is technically paper...

to TSB, your squirrel is adorable!

[Anne]

Deer antlers shouldn't need sterlizing. However, to "dry" sterlize place item in a 175 degree oven for an hour.

[farrelli]

What kind of block do you give? How many?

You want to minimize nuts and seeds because they are high in phosphorous which blocks calcium. Calcium deficiency, and dietary issues in general, cause the most problems that we see here. A quality block gives them what they need but can be undercut by bad foods. Nuts, seeds, and fruit should only be treats.