Once a possum or glider joey is past 80% of pouch life it has short to dense fur, fully open eyes and erect ears, spends some time out of the pouch and may take a little solid food. Wombaroo Possum Milk Replacer >0.8 is built for that emergent stage: late lactation composition, high in fat to fund the jump in activity levels, and high in protein to coincide with peak growth. It analyses at 32% protein, 33% fat and 22 MJ/kg, roughly double the fat of the <0.8 powder that precedes it. Because the fat level is elevated, mix the milk thoroughly and re-mix it after thawing or it will separate out. Twenty-five grams of powder makes 100 millilitres. PeekAPaw has the 1.25kg and 5kg packs available, the larger pack suiting a shelter or a carer taking several joeys through a season rather than a one-off rear.
Reading this stage
Joeys at this stage have short to dense fur, with eyes fully opened and ears erect. Joeys spend some time out of the pouch and may consume some solid food. Faeces are soft to firm dark pellets.
Key Features
- Formulated to match the composition of late lactation possum milk.
- High energy (fat content) milk, to cater for the increased activity levels of emergent joeys.
- High in protein to coincide with peak growth rate.
Ingredients
Whole milk solids (low lactose), whey protein, casein, glucose, vegetable oils, omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, maltodextrin, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, C, D3, E, K, biotin, choline, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium.
Typical Analysis
| Protein | 32% |
| Fat | 33% |
| Ash | 5% |
| Moisture | 3% |
| Energy (ME) | 22 MJ/kg |
Making Up Milk
To make 100mL of milk: Mix 25g of powder (3½ scoops) to 80mL of warm water.
To make 1 litre of milk: Mix 250g of powder with 800mL of warm water.
Add about half the water to the powder first and mix to a paste. Then make up with remaining water and mix thoroughly. Water is preboiled to ensure that it is sterilised. If the water is too hot it can cause the milk to curdle. If it is too cold then it will be difficult to disperse the powder. Wombaroo contains elevated fat levels, so the milk needs to be well mixed to prevent it from separating out. An electric whisk can be used for mixing larger quantities. Milk can be stored in the fridge for a day or can be frozen for up to 2 weeks. It may be useful to store frozen milk in small portions (e.g. ice cube trays), so that the required daily feed volumes can be easily thawed out. Re-mix well after thawing. Once thawed out, discard any unused milk, and wash feeding utensils thoroughly.
