You may be wondering what to feed a six-week-old baby squirrel. There are many things you can give your new squirrel, including high-Calcium vegetables, Chew sticks, bread, and a rodent block. But the first thing you should know is the correct way to feed a baby squirrel. The amount you give a baby squirrel depends on its body weight. Aim to feed it at least 5% of its body weight. Ensure that he or she has bowel movements as well.
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High-Calcium vegetables
A squirrel’s diet should be a blend of healthy food and vitamins. It can also be supplemented with high-Calcium vegetables, such as broccoli and arugula. A few other high-calorie foods to feed a baby squirrel are green peas, carrots, and tomatoes. This way, your squirrel will have the calcium it needs to grow up strong and healthy.
Squirrels spend most of their lives munching nuts, crushing tree bars, and jumping from branch to branch. Some are nocturnal and may be suffering from calcium deficiency. They also gnaw their bones and antlers. This is why it’s important to provide them with a balanced diet to prevent dehydration and bone disease. If you have a squirrel in your home, don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal to feed them whatever is around.
It is normal to start solid food when your baby squirrel is six to seven weeks old. Remember that they still need the milk or formula every four hours. To get your baby squirrel started on solid food, choose natural, high-Calcium foods from your garden or grocery store. You can even feed him/her pecans or nuts. Vegetables are excellent sources of calcium, which will be essential for your baby squirrel’s growing bones.
Chew sticks
When it comes to feeding your little critter, you should be as consistent as possible. While you should avoid homemade formula, it is important to feed your little squirrel healthy food as often as possible. A good rule of thumb is to feed your baby squirrel about 5% of his body weight per day. When in doubt, use a small scale with gram measurement to calculate the amount he should receive.
Using a syringe is not a good idea because you risk aspirating the animal. You can use a dropper or an eyedropper. Just make sure the dropper is on the squirrel’s lips and not on the squirrel’s tongue or lips, as this could result in an aspiration. You’ll need to give your baby squirrel a little extra formula to get him into the habit of eating.
Rodent block
If you have a baby squirrel, you will need to provide nutrition for it. A rodent block is a great way to get your squirrel to eat. These small pellets contain all of the nutrients your squirrel needs to grow healthy and strong. Choose one made for mice or gerbils, as they are easier for squirrels to digest. You will need to change the block several times a week.
The best way to introduce solid food to a young baby squirrel is to give them rodent block. A rodent block is a large pellet that contains 100% nutrition, even though the animal is in captivity. Once the eyes open, you should give your squirrel its first solid food, which is a rodent block. The block isn’t as tasty as other solid foods, so make sure you buy one made specifically for rodents or mice. Store the block in a tightly sealed container to avoid spilling the food.
Bread
There are some things you should know about feeding a six-week-old baby squirrel. Bread contains too much sugar, and a squirrel’s digestive tract isn’t well-suited for digesting bread. In addition, bread’s high cellulose content can make it indigestible for a squirrel. It’s better to avoid feeding your baby squirrel bread altogether and instead offer other healthy food.
Although a squirrel won’t harm you, they will eat bread and other foods if you don’t properly prepare it. A common mistake people make is feeding their pets bread that is too old. Bread contains fat, fillers, and sugar, and can cause a squirrel to gain weight quickly. This can lead to poor mobility and serious health problems. Also, don’t feed your squirrel white bread, since this has no nutritional value. Instead, use whole grain or multi-grain bread. Remember to store bread away from heat and moisture and store it in an air-tight container. Leaving bread out for too long can cause it to mold.
If you can’t find the right type of food, try adding some baby bird seed or uncooked rice to their cage. Also, make sure to place a heating pad under the container or box. A towel folded twice can be placed in between the two. Keep an eye on the squirrel’s temperature. The squirrel’s body temperature ranges between 99 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If the baby squirrel becomes too warm, it could suffer from aspiration.
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.
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