I am regularly asked for the “Squirrel Block Recipe” so I am posting in the notes section for easy reference. (This also explains the seemingly insatiable need I have for protein powder on my Amazon wishlist!)
Henry’s Healthy Vita-mins are available at www.henryspets.com
Makes approximately a 4-week supply for a 1-pound squirrel.
Preheat oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit
Dry ingredients:
80 g Pure Whey Protein Isolate for adult formula (for growth formula, use 160 g).
130 g finely ground nuts (any kind; peanuts, pecans, or almonds work well)
1/3 cup wheat flour (optional)
1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1 package (45 g) Henry’s Healthy Vita-Mins*
Wet ingredients:
1 whole egg
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
1/2 cup water, or a little more, as needed (this is for growth formula only; do not add water to the adult formula unless the dough is too dry when mixed)
Instructions:
Place dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until dough sticks together. It will be fairly dry, like pie crust dough. Wearing gloves or with your bare hands (oiled), press the dough down and then start to knead it. Once the dough forms a ball, place it onto a lightly greased surface and knead a few more times until smooth and uniform in color. Roll dough out into a roll or flatten into a square, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. While still warm, cut into 60 pieces with a sharp knife
Allow the blocks to cool for at least 2 hours. Then place in zip-lock bags and store them in the fridge or freezer. They will keep in the fridge for several weeks. They will keep in the freezer for several months (unopened and with as much air as possible removed from the bag before sealing). Some squirrels enjoy eating them cold or frozen, but you can also put a cold block into the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to warm it up.
Feed 1-3 per day. Different squirrels will have different energy requirements.
When I make them, I use nut flour/meal instead of “finely ground nuts”. I reserve about 6-7% of the nuts for FINELY chopped nuts but I keep them very small to eliminate the “mining” squirrels will do of the blocks to get to the nut chunks.
I also sprinkle additional sesame seeds on top of my dough once it’s rolled out, giving them an additional calcium boost.