There are so many posts about "have a rejected joey kit" but the "kits" I see are so over whelming to me. I just have to post my opinion.
Hand raising a rejected joey is NOT easy. It is an 8 week time period of very little sleep and constant worry. But it isn't as difficult as so many make it seem. Besides the sleep deprivation and time involved, the basics are not all that difficult. Feed, "potty", weigh, cuddle and keep warm. (oh, and don't forget the kisses and the belly and foot rubs!)
What I have for possible rejected joeys (kept after successfully hand raising and/or supplementing joeys over the last 12 years) is...
syringes for feeding (same ones I use to give meds to adults) I don't use a "french cath" but it doesn't hurt to use one.
syringes and sharps just in case I have to sub-q (have not had to with a rejected joey)
Saline (sterile salt water) and d5w (sterile sugar water) for sub-q if needed
Fleece (doesn't everyone have tons of fleece?)
heating pad for when I can't hold the joey
Large Kritter Keeper for incubator if I can't hold the joey.
Esbilac puppy milk replacer powder (liquid can be kept but expires faster and either has to be used or frozen within the first day it is opened) Wambaroo has marsupial milk replacer if you want to use that. Don't use kitten milk replacer.
Impact Colostrum replacer. Impact colostrum replacer helps boost the joeys immune system. Marsupials get colostrum the entire time they are nursing unlike humans or puppies that only get it the first week or so. I've raised one without it and he didn't do as well as the rest that got the Impact.
And a
vet I can go to or call if needed as well as other owners that "have been through it" for support.
That's it! And other than the Esbilac and the Impact, all those things are part of my regular
emergency kit.
A gram scale to weigh them (something I use constantly anyway with all my gliders)
I love Suz and her website is FULL of great information but really, it doesn't have to be that complicated.
Baby BML or other
diet staples are not needed for the first 5-6 weeks. The joey's tummy is not ready for such complicated foods. At about 5 weeks I start to add in my staple (Reep's) into the puppy milk and gradually ween them over.
I hope no one ever has to experience hand raising a joey. It IS very difficult and very emotional. And not all joeys will make it (I lost one). What needs to be remembered is they are rejected for a reason. That is not always the parent's fault. Sometimes there are things "wrong" with the joey we can't see.