Hedgehog food

[Vanessa W]

Thanks Pauline. I was wondering whether hedgehogs stay around a patch or do they wander off quite far. I suppose it depends on food supplies. I know that our garden is an absolute haven for slugs! We haven't seen him for a couple of nights now and quite far away from our house, down another street adjoining ours, we found a dead hedgehog on the road side. Probably another one as there are quite common round here but you do worry about the little chappy (or chapette!).

[paulinemiller10]

Originally Posted by Vanessa W

Thanks Pauline. I was wondering whether hedgehogs stay around a patch or do they wander off quite far. I suppose it depends on food supplies. I know that our garden is an absolute haven for slugs! We haven't seen him for a couple of nights now and quite far away from our house, down another street adjoining ours, we found a dead hedgehog on the road side. Probably another one as there are quite common round here but you do worry about the little chappy (or chapette!).

I have a wildlife shelter with tunnels to next door's gardens Vanessa, and my hoggy has been coming back every Spring for four years, and if other hogs smell his tracks, they will visit too, this year I had one visit in March, then he went off courting, and he's just arrived back two days ago, he's tucked up in his bed now, he comes home when he's tired and hungry.

Sad about the hoggy you found, I alway's watch out for hoggies when I 'm driving.

I also feed the woodmice in the shelter, and they are just getting used to sharing it with Hansel, they are not used to sharing with a big hog, and some are afraid of him.
I watch them all on live cam every night, better than tele. Pauline.

[batwing]

OK, I bought the dog food and have been putting out a small amount every night for a few days and although I've not actually seen our hog the plate has been cleaned so assume it is him. However, last night I had to put it out earlier than usual - about 5 o'clock- only to see it devoured by blackbirds and starlings! How can I make sure the hog gets the food? We only have a small garden so hedgehog houses etc. are out of the question.

By the way, lovely photo galanthus.

[paulinemiller10]

Originally Posted by batwing

OK, I bought the dog food and have been putting out a small amount every night for a few days and although I've not actually seen our hog the plate has been cleaned so assume it is him. However, last night I had to put it out earlier than usual - about 5 o'clock- only to see it devoured by blackbirds and starlings! How can I make sure the hog gets the food? We only have a small garden so hedgehog houses etc. are out of the question.

By the way, lovely photo galanthus.

You need to put the food under a garden paving stone with bricks , and make a tunnel with the bricks to go in, it also stops cats from eating the food, they also drink a lot of water, you can usually tell if a hedgehog has been drinking the water, as they have dirty snouts from grubbing in the soil, and you will find dirt in the water bowl, hedgehogs also like chopped peanuts.
This site will give you loads of information on Hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs Help and Advice
Hope this helps. Pauline.

[aww]

Originally Posted by batwing

We need some hedgehog food as we've long suspected that the hedgehog that lives in our neighbours rather overgrown garden visits us at night and were delighted to actuallly witness a visit yesterday evening. We want to encourage him ( they eat slugs don't they?) But I can't remember what hedgehog food we need to put out, is it dog food or cat food we should put out?

i have just been searching the web for what hedgehogs eat (i saw one in our garden last night) and they do not eat that many slugs or snails. (Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue - Feeding Hedgehogs) But they can eat dog or cat food as long as it is not cheap value brands. They will also eat leftover chicken or mince as long as you cut it up into small pieces. in hot weather they whould also like a drink of water. Do not encourage it into your garden if you use slug pellets because they will poison the hedgehog!

[winder]

We had our first visit from a hedgehog last night so found this thread very handy. I thought that hedgehogs should only be given meat now and again. Did I get it wrong?

[pattie may]

Hi all,

I feed my house hedgehogs (being released in a week or two) whiskers supermeat - chicken variety. I put it out for the garden hedgehog and he ignores it. I put C J Wildlife dried food, gardman nibbles and mealworms out in the garden. All disappear but they may be eaten by the wood mouse / mice too.

[winder]

Thanks for your reply but he /she didnt come back last night. Will take up your tip on feeding if the hedgehog comes back.