How to care for a squirrel at home

“It is spinning like a squirrel in a wheel” - this phrase can rather accurately characterize this restless rodent. Recently, people are increasingly thinking about getting at home not just a dog and a cat, but a wild animal. And squirrel is no exception. With adequate care and proper attention, protein becomes a true friend for a person. And when you watch this energetic animal, the man himself becomes active and cheerful.

Advantages and disadvantages of squirrel as a pet

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

Among the negative features of the protein content, it can be noted that the animal may not be tamed. Often, one incorrect movement or gesture leads to the fact that the protein does not recognize the owner in a person. Wild squirrels can bite, sometimes very painfully and ruthlessly. During the molting period, the skin of the squirrel crumbles, rendering the dwelling not in a very neat state. One of the difficulties of protein content is their “briskness”. A squirrel can gnaw through even thin metal rods by getting out. And if at the same time you have a window open - you will not see your favorite anymore. The squirrel moves confidently and can escape from any floor. In addition, squirrels breed very poorly in captivity, and your pet may never produce offspring.

Squirrel cage

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

In the cage should be a house or shelter for the animal. It can be wooden or ceramic. Inside the shelter you will certainly put old rags to the rodent to be comfortable and cozy. It is better to divide the cell into the upper and lower tier. This will give the animal more space, besides, the squirrel will be able to practice climbing skills, regularly moving around the cage. Between the first and second floor is quite a round hole.

Do not forget to place in the cage feeders and drinkers. Drinking can be mounted on the bars of the cage. Do not use as a drinker simple cups of water - the animal will knock over the dishes and remain without water. Feeders should be two - one for dry food, the second for fresh vegetables and fruits.

In addition, in the cage of the animal must be branches, twigs, wooden sticks.Squirrel will be able to move on them and sharpen their claws about them. This is really very important. If the animal's claws are not sharpened, their rapid growth can lead to the fact that the protein cannot move, it will cling.

Do not forget about the wheel for squirrels. This animal with restless energy and a stock of forces. To get a little tired of the rodent and give him the opportunity to throw out this energy, it is necessary to install a wheel in the cage. Choosing this accessory, pay attention that there are no large holes on it - the foot of an animal can get into it.

What to feed a squirrel

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

1. The first thing you can offer the animal without fear - it is dry grain. Veterinary stores have special food for rodents. It includes wheat, oats, millet, lentils, various legumes. Usually squirrel lacks about 2-3 spoons of dry food per day.
2. Squirrel can be treated to fresh or dried mushrooms, acorns.
3. A favorite treat for squirrels is pine and spruce seeds. In the spring, the animal loves to enjoy the young shoots of various shrubs.
4. Squirrel loves wild berries - strawberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries. From fruit can be offered rodent apples, bananas, pears, peaches.
5. Do not forget to treat the animal with nuts - they contain a huge amount of microelements necessary for the rodent. You can give squirrels walnuts, pine nuts and earth nuts.
6. In nature, squirrel can eat eggs of birds, small bugs, lizards and even chicks. For protein, it is a source of protein. To fill this deficiency, offer chicken eggs and boiled meat pieces to your pet.
7. Young buds of trees have a huge amount of vitamins - do not forget to regulate an animal with them in the spring.
8. A rodent likes sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds - for squirrels it 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, the squirrel is especially attracted to bread. You can offer the animal dry and fresh pieces of white loaf.

All food you give to an animal should be safe. No fried foods - even the seeds must be raw. The exception is eggs. They are boiled before they are given to the squirrel; 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.

Features of the protein

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

1. In the spring, squirrels begin to molt. 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, almost all the time sleep. To fluff squirrels did not fly throughout the apartment, you need to squirrel comb.However, this is only suitable for homemade protein - wild you will not be given. Carefully comb the fur of the animal, avoiding the head and abdomen. With the right approach, you will not only save the animal from an unnecessary gun, but also bring pleasure to the squirrel.
2. If you hold a cage with an animal on a balcony or an open area, do not forget to make a roof over the cage from rain.
3. Animals in captivity live longer. This is due to good nutrition and treatment of diseases. Squirrel lives about 16-18 years.
4. Regularly remove the cage of the animal. To avoid the little squirrel, close all windows and doors, and then release the animal into the room. After harvesting, do not drive the rodent inside the cage - still you will not be able to catch it. When the baby is hungry, he will enter the cage.
5. Constantly communicate with the squirrel, because she quickly forgets everything. A few days of your absence - and the contact will have to re-establish.
6. Diseases of the squirrel are similar to hamsters - for any ailment or change in behavior, contact your veterinarian.

The squirrel is a very smart animal. She understands how you feel about her. You can keep in a cage only a pet who was born and raised in captivity.You should not drive a wild squirrel into a cage - it is difficult to tame it, it will bite and, eventually, will die without freedom.

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

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