What Do You Feed a 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Nuts and seeds are great choices for feeding your baby squirrel. Deer antler is also a great option. However, some things to avoid are nuts and seeds that have been contaminated with manure. You should always use clean, dry cloths to put your baby squirrel in. You can even use a baby diaper to protect the baby squirrel from possible germs and bacteria. Remember, never use towels or blankets to put your baby squirrel in. They can be easily harmed by hung toenails.
Table of Contents
Nuts
You might wonder what to feed a three week old squirrel. This article will cover the basics of feeding a squirrel. Peanuts, while commonly found as a food item for squirrels, may not be the best choice. Studies have linked peanuts with health problems in squirrels, so you should avoid or limit your squirrel’s exposure to peanuts. Instead, choose healthy nuts like walnuts or pecans.
When a baby squirrel is younger than 4 weeks old, he will be pink with no hair and be completely dependent on its mother. However, after two weeks he will be covered with soft, white hair on his back and belly. His or her eyes will be open and it will be fully furred. The baby squirrel will be in a box or cage until seven weeks old. You can feed it with baby food and baby formula for about three weeks.
Seeds
You can feed a baby squirrel by hand, or you can get a nursery and rehabilitate it for you. Be sure not to use commercial squirrel food formula because these animals are easily choking hazards. The baby must also be induced to eliminate after feeding, as it is easily fatal if left unattended. It can be rehydrated by soaking in a solution of one pint of boiled water with one teaspoon of sugar and a half teaspoon of salt.
A baby squirrel needs a balanced diet with a variety of food types. Sunflower seeds and peas can provide enough calories and protein, but you should try to keep the amount to five percent. Native nuts are healthier and can provide your squirrel with a richer source of phosphorous. So, be sure to include a variety of food items, such as nuts and fruits, in its diet. If you’re feeding a squirrel by hand, make sure you get one with the right size and shape.
Corn
One of the most important things to remember when you’re looking at what to feed a 3-week-old squirrel is to give them a balanced diet. Squirrels have slow taste buds and shouldn’t be given soft or slimy foods. Instead, start them off on a firm veggie and work your way up to a few bites per meal. It’s also important to avoid giving them too much junk food, such as cookies, cakes, and other processed foods. Also, avoid giving them cereal and other foods made with artificial sweeteners or preservatives.
A squirrel’s tail should start to bush out at around the sixth week. In the seventh week, it starts looking like a miniature adult squirrel. Never give a squirrel nuts as its first food. You should instead introduce it to a variety of fruits and vegetables. After introducing it to these foods, you should give it a nut or two, one per day. Remember to stimulate urination and eliminate, otherwise the baby squirrel will die painfully.
Deer antler
In addition to the usual tree nuts and seeds, deer antler is an excellent food for squirrels. However, be sure to follow the proper safety procedures when field dressing deer antler. You should be extra careful around the anus and areas that are soiled by the squirrel’s stool. Using a special saw to cut the antlers and separate the bones is important, as you should avoid cutting the brain and spinal tissues.
Initially, the baby squirrel needs its mother’s milk for the first few weeks. It can then begin eating solid food. However, if you do not have a mother squirrel, you need to give it a milk replacer. Ideally, goat’s milk replacement is better than infant or puppy formula. A squirrel’s diet should not contain corn, peas or grapes, as these can be too dry.
Human convalescence liquid meal
The first thing to know about rehydration is the right way to feed a baby squirrel. Squirrels are sensitive to cold and may dehydrate if they have not had a regular diet. You can feed baby squirrels a milk replacement formula or special rehydration formulation formulated for human infants. Never feed a baby squirrel cold liquid. Always hold the baby squirrel in a semi-upright position. It is not recommended to feed the baby squirrel milk, as this can cause dangerous diarrhea.
A low-fat solution like Pedialyte will quickly replenish the baby’s lost fluids. However, you must make sure that the dropper doesn’t drip too much fluid onto the squirrel’s tongue. Its natural sucking reflex can cause the fluid to be too much. Hence, you should try to mix a small amount of liquid with water and let the squirrel lap it up.
What Do You Feed A 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Answer: 1/2 cup of squirrel chow 3 times a day.
Plus 1 teaspoon of multi-vitamin powder mixed in with the food.
How Much Water Should A 3 Week Old Squirrel Drink?
Answer: 1 teaspoon of water per day.
When Can A 3 Week Old Squirrel Start Eating Solid Foods?
Answer: Around 6 weeks old.
What Kind Of Solid Foods Can A 3 Week Old Squirrel Eat?
Answer: Fruits vegetables and insects.
What Should You Not Feed A 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Answer: Anything with high sugar content like candy or cake.
How Often Should You Feed A 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Answer: 3 times a day.
How Much Sleep Does A 3 Week Old Squirrel Need?
Answer: Around 16 hours a day.
What Kind Of Housing Is Best For A 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Answer: A metal cage with a solid floor and plenty of toys and branches for climbing.
How Much Space Does A 3 Week Old Squirrel Need?
Answer: At least 2 square feet per squirrel.
What Temperature Should The Squirrel’s Cage Be?
Answer: Between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Kind Of Bedding Is Best For A 3 Week Old Squirrel?
Answer: Soft absorbent bedding like shredded paper or cloth.
How Often Should You Change The Squirrel’s Bedding?
Answer: Every 2-3 days.
How Often Should You Clean The Squirrel’s Cage?
Answer: At least once a week.
What Should You Use To Clean The Squirrel’s Cage?
Answer: A mild soap and water solution.
Where Should You Place The Squirrel’s Cage?
Answer: In a quiet shady spot outdoors.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
