Problems in Squirrel Breeding and Feeding

1. The squirrel in the feeding environment is very lively, especially likes to climb trees, and the activity space is more three-dimensional, so we should try to choose a wide and high cage. As squirrels are used to nesting in trees, the nest box should be installed at the top of the cage. The nest box can be replaced by a nest box that is used by birds and whose entrances and exits are high. The squirrel moves very quickly, so be careful when opening and closing the door to avoid escaping. In case of escape, if you suddenly grasp it hard, avoid being bitten by a squirrel.

Houses that raise squirrels are generally required to choose the southeast, warm in winter and cool in summer, and a place with a certain amount of light, which is conducive to animal health. The houses and cages of animals should conform to the living habits of animals. The house where squirrels are raised can be nailed out of wire or wood, and the area should be appropriately larger. When raised in a single cage, the size of the outside cage can be 60X25x45 cm, or a double-layer cage with a size of 55X45X45 cm, which can be used as a place for mating during feeding, drinking, sports and reproduction; the perimeter and top of the outer cage can be made of iron wire, and the mesh size is 4cm to 3.5cm, while the bottom of the cage can be woven with thicker wire. The sides and rear can also be replaced by glass or iron, with small doors for animals to get in and out or clean, or to put in food and water. In addition to the outer cage, there should be a box for roosting, resting and giving birth; the box can be nailed out of wood 1.5 cm 2.0 cm thick and its length, width and height is 30X25X25 cm or 45X35X45 cm. The outer cage can be installed together with the nest box, or it can be placed separately to allow the squirrel to enter and leave freely.

Squirrels can also be raised on a large scale. In this case, there is a need for a larger pet house, which is divided into two parts: the playground and the house where animals rest and sleep. In the playground, there should be trees or perches for squirrels to climb and jump. Male and female adult squirrels should be kept separately during the non-breeding period. If it is reserved for breeding, squirrels should be given special care and can be raised separately. The pet has a larger area than other single-cage individuals to ensure that it has enough exercise, the size can be 90X30X45 centimeters, and the bottom of the cage should have a dung-bearing plate for cleaning and disinfection.

Pots and pots should be placed in each pet and fixed so as not to overturn and get dirty or wet the environment; the pots can be made of enamel or plastic.

Although squirrels live in cold temperate zones. In the mixed zone of broad-leaved forest, however, because of its superb nesting technology, the temperature inside the nest is much higher than that outside the nest, so under the condition of artificial feeding, in order to ensure its safe overwintering, it is generally necessary to keep the temperature at 523 degrees Celsius, which should not be too low, otherwise it will affect its fertility.

2. Feeding management squirrels seem to feed on the seeds of Fagaceae plants, but they also eat a considerable number of insects in nature, so it is best to feed some animal food. Nuts such as walnuts and chestnuts are favorites of squirrels. Biting open the hard shell is not only a game for squirrels, but also helps to wear out their teeth. It is best to feed this kind of food regularly. If artificial feed is used as the staple food, apples and other foods should be added.

Good feed and scientific management are not only important conditions to ensure the normal growth and development of squirrels, but also conditions to improve the production capacity and varieties of squirrels. The proportion of feed matching should pay special attention to the content and quality of protein. Squirrels are fed with mixed feed, roughage and green succulent feed. The mixed feed is generally composed of barley, wheat, corn, soybeans and peel, with a content of 25% barley or wheat, 20% corn, 15% bean cake, 10% soybeans, 20% drum skin, 6% fish meal, 3% bone meal and 1% salt. The nutrients of this mixed feed are: more than 20% protein, 6% fat and 42% carbohydrates. Roughage mainly includes peanuts, sunflowers and walnuts; green and succulent fodder includes cabbage, carrots, rape, mulberry leaves and holly leaves; and some melons and fruits can also be fed in summer and autumn, such as cucumbers, tomatoes and watermelons. The daily feed intake of each squirrel is about 30 grams of mixed feed, 200 grams of roughage, and 150 grams of succulent green feed. It is necessary to feed three times in the morning, in the middle and in the evening, and a fixed point of feeding every day. For young squirrels, the number of feeding should be increased appropriately to ensure that they feed at any time and meet the energy and nutritional needs of their growth and development.

In different periods, squirrels have different nutritional requirements for food. For female squirrels, the feed should be diversified during pregnancy and lactation, and the feed should be fresh and nutritious as far as possible, so as to meet the nutritional needs of fetus or cub growth and development, especially to increase the protein content in the diet. For young at different developmental stages, attention must also be paid to the composition of the nutritional structure of the food.

During the mating period and recovery period, male squirrels should also strengthen nutrition and increase the supply of fishmeal and milk, but it should be noted that if the supply of carbohydrates exceeds the feeding standard, it will lead to the decline of squirrel physique. on the other hand, it affects the speed of its growth and development.