FAQs

Q: How do I feed Henry's Healthy Blocks?

Henry's Healthy Blocks are designed to be fed along with plenty of healthy vegetables, wild foods, and occasional treats. When first starting to feed Henry's Healthy Blocks, there are some important steps you can take to help get your pet on the road to a healthier diet.


If your squirrel is a picky eater....try eliminating all extra nuts for two weeks. Squirrels don't need extra nuts for nutrition, and feeding nuts leads to picky eating behavior and can even cause aggression. Remember, wild squirrels only get to eat nuts once a year--not every day!

For more information, see our Healthy Diet for Pet Squirrels, Flyers, Rats & Mice.

Q: How can I be sure Henry's Healthy Blocks contain the right nutrients for my pet?

Henry's Healthy Blocks are formulated based on the nutrient requirements of rats (Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, Fourth Revised Edition, 1995. Chapter 2, “Nutrient Requirements of the Laboratory Rat.” National Research Council. National Academy Press: Washington, DC.) There is no research on the specific dietary requirements of flyers or other tree squirrels, so the rat nutrient profile was used for them as well because rats are the closest relative for which this research exists.The blocks are complete for all essential nutrients--fat, protein (including the full spectrum of amino acids), and all essential vitamins and minerals. The formulation was reviewed by a panel of experts in zoo nutrition and animal nutrition and was approved as a healthy alternative to rodent block.

Q: My squirrel won't eat any brand of rodent blocks. How do I know he'll like Henry's Healthy Blocks?

Store-bought rodent blocks have a fishy smell, and most squirrels won't eat them. Henry's Healthy Blocks are nut-based so they have a taste squirrels love, and they contain no meat products, fish meal, or other "yucky" ingredients. Try them for 2 weeks, follow the feeding instructions above, and if your pet doesn't love them, we'll refund your money.

Q: I tried Henry's Healthy Blocks and my pet only nibbles on them.

Every pet is different. Some love the blocks right away; others take a little more time to get used to any new food. Squirrels tend to become "junk food addicts," and you will need to break those habits to achieve a healthy diet. It's very important to follow the feeding instructions listed above. These techniques work! If your squirrel is very picky, try cutting out all extra nuts for a couple of weeks. If you follow these steps, including the information in the Healthy Diet, we're confident your pet will learn to love Henry's Healthy Blocks.

Q: I was told to feed my pet high-calcium veggies, pumpkin seeds, and nuts. I also sprinkle calcium on his food. Is this okay?

The problem with dusting food with calcium, putting vitamin drops in water and so on is that you never know how much your pet is getting: too much? not enough? A diet of nuts, seeds, and veggies is lacking in calcium and too high in phosphorus, which can lead to MBD. It's also deficient in B vitamins, vitamin D, and other important nutrients. Worse, this diet contains almost no protein, which can cause dull, sparse, or patchy fur.

Q: My squirrel loves his Henry’s Healthy Blocks, in fact, he’s eating about 6 per day. Is this okay?

We hear this a lot. When a squirrel is first given Henry’s Healthy Blocks, often they eat them ravenously for a while. Your squirrel is probably making up for some kind of nutritional deficiency. However, after a few weeks, you should cut him down to 2-3 blocks per day. The blocks are more concentrated than regular rodent blocks, and aren't meant to be fed in unlimited amounts.

Q: How many blocks should I feed per day?

Henry’s Healthy Blocks are formulated so that 2 blocks per day provide complete nutrition for an average-sized animal. The amount fed can vary depending on your pet’s size, weight, age, and activity level. If your pet is larger or more active than average, he might eat 3-4 blocks per day.

Q: What’s the difference between the squirrel formula and the flying squirrel formula?

The blocks and the amount in each bag are both “flyer sized.” However, the nutritional content is the same. The precise nutrient requirements of flying squirrels (and other tree squirrels) are not known, so we can't be sure whether, or how much, their dietary needs differ from those of rats. However, all of these squirrel species have been fed commercial rodent blocks for many years successfully. Henry's Healthy Blocks are simply a healthier alternative to commercial rodent blocks, for squirrels that won't eat store-bought blocks.

Q: Most rodent blocks have percentages listed for protein and fat. What are the percentages for Henry’s Healthy Blocks?

Henry’s Healthy Blocks are more concentrated than commercial rodent blocks, so the nutrients are not formulated as a percentage of the formula. They are fed more like a “nutritional supplement” than a “kibbled food.” For example, you don’t figure out how much calcium you should take based on a percentage of your diet but rather as so many milligrams per day or week. The nutritional requirements for rodents were calculated in daily/weekly/monthly amounts (based on the "Nutrient Requirements of Rats"). For example, based on their body weight and metabolism relative to rats, it is estimated that adult squirrels need approximately 100 grams of high-quality protein per month, while growing squirrels need three times as much (300 g).

More questions? Contact us.