How to care for a squirrel at home

“Spinning like a squirrel in a wheel” - this phrase can accurately describe this restless rodent. Recently, people are increasingly thinking about getting at home not just a dog and a cat, but a wild animal. And protein is no exception. With sufficient care and proper attention, the protein becomes a real friend for a person. And when observing this energetic animal, the person himself becomes active and cheerful.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Protein as a Pet

Squirrel is a very intelligent, curious and graceful animal. Her fur coat has an attractive reddish tint, for which it is most valued. Squirrel is very trusting and affectionate, easily attached to a person, if he feels a good attitude. Squirrels are perfectly tamed in free areas, for example, in country houses. If your building is located on the border with the forest, and you regularly sprinkle food in the feeder, the squirrel will come back to you again and again, delighting with its presence. Squirrel is the cleanest rodent, after which there is practically no smell left. This is due to the incredible popularity of keeping squirrels in apartments.

Among the negative features of the protein content, it can be noted that the animal may not be tamed. Often, one wrong move or gesture leads to the fact that the protein does not recognize the owner in a person. Wild squirrels can bite, sometimes very painful and ruthless. During molting, the squirrel's skin crumbles, leading the dwelling to a not very neat condition. One of the difficulties in protein content is their “briskness." Squirrel can gnaw even thin metal rods, getting out. And if you have a window open at the same time, you will no longer see your darling. Squirrel moves confidently and can escape from any floor. In addition, squirrels reproduce very poorly in captivity, and your pet may never bring offspring.

Squirrel cage

To make the squirrel comfortable, you need to buy a spacious cage for it. The height, length and width of the new home should not be less than half a meter. Otherwise, in such a cramped squirrel withers. If a squirrel has appeared in your house, but there is no cage yet, you can prepare a mittens or a hat for it. Squirrels love a warm place and will certainly settle there. But how to explain to the animal that this mittens are for him? Just put the milk saucer next to it.

In the cage there should be a house or shelter for the animal. It can be wooden or ceramic. Inside the shelter, be sure to lay old rags so that the rodent is comfortable and cozy. It is better to divide the cage into the upper and lower tiers. This will give the animal more space, in addition, the squirrel will be able to practice climbing skills, regularly moving around the cage. A round hole is enough between the first and second floor.

Remember to place feeders and drinkers in the cage. The drinker can be attached to the bars of the cage. Do not use simple cups with water as a drinking bowl - the animal will overturn the dishes and remain without water. There should be two feeders - one for dry food, the second for fresh vegetables and fruits.

In addition, in the cage of the animal should be branches, rods, wooden blocks. The squirrel will be able to get over them and sharpen its claws about them. This is really very important. If the claws of the animal are not sharpened, their rapid growth can lead to the fact that the protein can not move, it will catch everything.

Do not forget about the wheel for the squirrel. This is an animal with restless energy and a reserve of strength.In order to at least slightly tire the rodent and give him the opportunity to throw out this energy, it is necessary to install a wheel in the cage. When choosing this accessory, make sure that there are no large holes on it - an animal’s foot can get into it.

How to feed a squirrel

In nature, the squirrel eats the gifts of the forest - nuts, cones, fruits, berries, mushrooms, grains. In order for the animal to feel good at home, it must be provided with a balanced diet. How to feed the animal?

1. The first thing that you can offer the animal without fear is dry grains. Veterinary stores have special food for rodents. It includes grains of wheat, oats, millet, lentils, and various legumes. Usually, a squirrel has about 2-3 tablespoons of dry food per day.
2. Squirrel can be treated with fresh or dried mushrooms, acorns.
3. A favorite treat for the squirrel is pine and spruce seeds. In spring, the animal loves to feast on the young shoots of various shrubs.
4. Squirrel is very fond of forest berries - strawberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries. From fruits, you can offer rodents apples, bananas, pears, peaches.
5. Do not forget to treat the animal with nuts - they contain a huge amount of trace elements necessary for the rodent. You can give squirrels walnuts, cedar and peanuts.
6. In nature, a protein can eat eggs of birds, small insects, lizards and even chicks. For proteins, this is a source of protein. To make up for this shortcoming, offer the chicken eggs and boiled pieces of meat.
7. Young tree buds have a huge amount of vitamins - do not forget to treat them with an animal in spring.
8. The rodent loves sunflower seeds and pumpkins - for squirrels this is a special delicacy.
9. Offer the animal vegetables - cucumber, cabbage, carrots.
10. In addition to water, protein can drink milk or fruit juices.
11. To avoid vitamin deficiency in the winter, add a drop of honey to the animal’s water.
12. In addition to milk, protein loves to feast on dairy products - cottage cheese and cheese. Among other “human” treats, squirrels are especially attracted to bread. You can offer the animal dry and fresh slices of a white loaf.

All the food you give the animal must be safe. No fried foods - even seeds should be raw. The exception is eggs. They are boiled before giving the protein, this protects the animal from infections. After consulting with a veterinarian, you can give the animal a multivitamin complex, consisting of vitamins A, E and D. One drop per week is usually enough.

Protein Features

Squirrel can be wild or domestic. It is quite difficult to tame a wild squirrel - for this you do not need to limit it in space, regularly offer food from your hand. If you treat the rodent well, she will understand your intentions and will take food without fear. Here are a few features of the content of this amazing animal.

1. In spring, the shedding begins at the squirrel. In females, it passes immediately after estrus, in males a little earlier, but lasts longer. Often animals change their behavior during this period. Some become aggressive, while other squirrels, on the contrary, sleep almost all the time. To squirrel fluff did not fly throughout the apartment, you need to comb out the squirrel. However, this is only suitable for domestic squirrels - you won’t be wild. Carefully comb the animal's fur coat, avoiding the head and abdomen. With the right approach, you will not only save the animal from an unnecessary gun, but also give the squirrel pleasure.
2. If you keep the cage with the animal on the balcony or open area, do not forget to make a rain roof over the cage.
3. Animals in captivity live longer. This is due to good nutrition and treatment of emerging diseases. Squirrel lives about 16-18 years.
4. Clean the cage regularly. To prevent the squirrel from escaping, close all windows and doors, and then release the animal into the room.After harvesting, do not drive the rodent inside the cage - anyway, you will not be able to catch it. When the baby is hungry, he himself will enter the cage.
5. Constantly communicate with the squirrel, because it quickly forgets everything. A few days of your absence - and you will have to reconnect.
6. Squirrel diseases are similar to hamsters - if you feel unwell or have a change in behavior, contact your veterinarian.

Squirrel is a very smart animal. She understands how you feel about her. Only a pet that was born and raised in captivity can be kept in a cage. It’s not worth driving a wild squirrel into a cage - it is difficult to tame it, it will bite and, in the end, will die without freedom.

Squirrel is the most charming, mobile and cheerful animal that can live in your home. Squirrels are willingly tamed by patient and good-natured people. If a little squirrel has appeared in your house - be prudent. Patience, time, love and care will give you the most affectionate and reliable rodent friend.

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