Hedgehog Home

[Bouncytigger]

I'm seriously thinking of buying a home for these little lovelies

I have a very leafy wilderness at the bottom of the garden and plenty of gaps under the fence from the churchyard at the back and the neighbours either side so i've just the spot.

I havn't seen a hegehog in years only the one that sadly i found drowned in my pond last month but now i have a selection of ramps and shallow area's to hopefully avoid any repeat performance

I've seen a few possibilies online of little houses but some advice expert and experienced advice but be very much appreaciated.

[Jez]

Unfortunately I don't see many Hedgehog heads around these days on WAB, maybe there all hibernating (the threads & posts used to be a daily thing)!

I'm doing my best to give advice in the mean time, fortunately I'm still in contact with one those regular posters, who's sadly too busy for WAB atm! So I'll do my best & have a word for you (can't promise you though)!

Fingers crossed that other Hedgehog WABBERS will soon come to your aid!

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by Jez

Unfortunately I don't see many Hedgehog heads around these days on WAB, maybe there all hibernating (the threads & posts used to be a daily thing)!

I'm doing my best to give advice in the mean time, fortunately I'm still in contact with one those regular posters, who's sadly too busy for WAB atm! So I'll do my best & have a word for you (can't promise you though)!

Fingers crossed that other Hedgehog WABBERS will soon come to your aid!

Thanks for that Jez

Don't worry though I've been doing alot of online research and looked through a few wildlife books i have and i've just ordered one from the RSPB site.

I was ordering dried mealworms and they had a couple of nice hedghog homes so i pushed the boat out and bought one.

Should arrive next week sometime so I'll prepare that area of the garden for its impending arrival

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Bouncytigger

Thanks for that Jez

Don't worry though I've been doing alot of online research and looked through a few wildlife books i have and i've just ordered one from the RSPB site.

I was ordering dried mealworms and they had a couple of nice hedghog homes so i pushed the boat out and bought one.

Should arrive next week sometime so I'll prepare that area of the garden for its impending arrival

So i take it you will bury the new home under those leaves you have, just as a safe haven, inclusive of the insulation props?!

Good stuff, I wish your garden a friendly Hoggy zone, but it can become an expense if more should follow! So Keep the D.I.Y method in mind then aye

happy hoggy times to ya

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by Jez

So i take it you will bury the new home under those leaves you have, just as a safe haven, inclusive of the insulation props?!

Good stuff, I wish your garden a friendly Hoggy zone, but it can become an expense if more should follow! So Keep the D.I.Y method in mind then aye

happy hoggy times to ya

Yes should be an exciting prospect and endless evenings outside with a torch


I bought a Squirrel feeder and one of those Bug Habitats as well
Us Tiggerz don't do things by half meaures you know

[Blackdogjnr]

I'm a bit mad on the hedgepigs myself like.
I heard from our neighbours that they used to be around our lane in abundance, aparrently they used to keep people awake snuffling and foraging under the bedroom windows (we are in bungalows, no, the hedgepigs didn't fly!)

Alas I haven't seen one at all in my time here, I think the fact that the person who lived here before us erected a nasty 7 foot tall wooden fence may well have contributed to this.

So first and foremost if I can I'll be ripping it out and popping a nice wildlife-friendly hedge there instead.

I am also at a bit of a loss as to how to encourage them with food without the cats eating it, or worse still, the rats!

Anyhoo, I am also thinking of getting a house as well.... I'd love to get another little friend in to help my frogs keep the slug army at bay!

[Jez]

Hi Blackdogjnr,

May I suggest giving your local wildlife rescue centre or better still, your nearest Hedgehog rescue center, as they're always looking to rehome Hedgehogs. That way will save you a lot of probs with putting out food in which your moggys nab! Once you have your new hoggy then more quite possibly may come & pay a visit in search of a possible mate?!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

I am also at a bit of a loss as to how to encourage them with food without the cats eating it, or worse still, the rats!

Can`t help with the Rats, but if you want to stop cats getting the Hedgehog food, a few bricks/stones around 8" or so high placed around the food, with a bit of wooden board or similar placed on top will still allow the Hogs to get in,to the food, but will stop cats.Make sure the food`s far enough under to prevent the cats dragging it out with their paws though

Mark H

[Kayleigh]

I put lots of shrub cuttings and a tarpaulin down at the back of my shed, made it nice cosy and dry and hey presto got hogs breeding there...

As for feeding them, they eat what seeds drop out of the bird feeders then go foraging for slugs around the garden..

[Bouncytigger]

I keep OUR MOG in after dark so if any of the food i put out for a would be HOGGY is scoffed ,not by HOGGY himself then i'll blame that RAGAMUFFIN of a MOGGY that lives over the back!

[Bouncytigger]

I had an emil from the RSPB earlier today to say my HOGGY HOME has been despatched so hopefully it should arrive in the morning

WOO HOO HOO HOO

[2dogs2000]

I wish you all the best with your Hedgehog house. I am fortunate to have Hedgehogs around, unfortunately they didn't like my Hedgehog home (bought).
The bees have nested in it 2 years running and also a mouse moved in after the bees.
Oh well at least someone was making use of it.

[pressld2]

I built one using old wood recovered from a pine bed that my kids grew out of. I used a design that I found on the web somewhere...



The lid is a good tight fit - you can lift the whole box up by it. No one's been in it yet but it's only been out for just over a month so it's early days!

Good luck with yours Tigger!

Dave P.

[Bouncytigger]

Hi Buddy Bears

A big thankyou to everyone that has come up with suggestions,ideas and experience's

A Lovely Homemade one you have there pressld2 I'm sure it won't be long before a hoggy or several set up home in that as you say

I'ts interesting though as well about what might set up home other than HOGGY?? OOOOOOH ECK not RATTIE please

I had a family of rats in last year living in the wilderness at the bottom of the garden but i have cut a lot of it back and they moved on to another
RAT HOLE!!!! LOL

A little MOUSEY would be nice but then i don't think we do LITTLE MOUSEYS
round here

[Nettle Runner]

A few years ago, I had a wildlife area at the bottom of the garden. An old large dog basket was to be thrown out. It had a step down on one edge for dogs to climb in. I placed it upside down in this wildlife area, surrounded and covered it with large rocks, also redundant from an ex-rock garden, leaving space between for alternate accomodation. Each year I throw all the branches, twiggy materials, and leaves on top of this pile, which gradually reduces in height ready for the next season.

I've had hogs ever since. They breed in there, as the young are often seen throughout the summer. When winter arives, they usually pop out for a feed as soon as it gets dark, then return to this safe haven. We do get little ones also in the autumn, but they seem to be able to survive the winters, as they emerge again next spring.

They do seem to like the bird food bought for the ground feeding birds, and I always make sure the dishes are topped up before dark each evening. There are also hiding places close to the feeding stations, were they retreat if disturbed by us entering or leaving the house.

They have a run from the feeding station back to their haven, via a shruby border, and are not generally seen untill emerging at the feeding station.

Its just great watching them on an evening. The dogs are trained to leave them alone, and don't bother them at all.

Les

[Blackdogjnr]

Last night I put some peanut butter out and this morning I found it had all been schlurped up!

Around and about on the lawn I discovered some droppings too, cylindrical black poos, when I google imaged them for Hedgehog droppings it looked pretty much the same.

Quite exciting!

I'm definitely going to get a hog house now!
Just need to confirm that this little critter is indeed a Hedgehog with my own eyes!

Anyone know wether they are more active in the early evening/dusk or perfer the dead of night/early hours of the morning?
I want to catch a glimpse....

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

Last night I put some peanut butter out and this morning I found it had all been schlurped up!

Around and about on the lawn I discovered some droppings too, cylindrical black poos, when I google imaged them for Hedgehog droppings it looked pretty much the same.

Quite exciting!

I'm definitely going to get a hog house now!
Just need to confirm that this little critter is indeed a Hedgehog with my own eyes!

Anyone know wether they are more active in the early evening/dusk or perfer the dead of night/early hours of the morning?
I want to catch a glimpse....

Nice one Ours tend to show just after dusk at present, but theyre living in the garden, so if yours are coming from further afield then expect them a little later. On cold nights they`ll venture out later in the evening,and if its heavy rain they may only venture out briefly for a quick snack.Ours tend to come and go all through the night, wandering off to forage then coming back for some birdseed and a drink in the pond.
If theyre visiting regularly, then any Hedgehog box you put in should start to be used pretty quickly, i think our 3 boxes took about a week to all be occupied...
Btw,the Hedgehog page in the reference section now has dropping pics/info and track info,just click the blue link

Mark H

[Blackdogjnr]

Further afield?
Hmmm... my house backs onto a field! heh heh
so I presume they're always going to be around somewhere nearby....

Its also reassuring to hear that they munch on bird seed and drink in ponds as my garden has both of these features.

Its totally true what they say about making thre garden acessible... it seems that last weekend my efforts to clear paths and make ramps from the field into my hedgerow really has paid off.

Hopefully it won't chuck it down tonight and I'll sit tight on hedgepig watch

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

Further afield?
Hmmm... my house backs onto a field! heh heh
so I presume they're always going to be around somewhere nearby....

Its also reassuring to hear that they munch on bird seed and drink in ponds as my garden has both of these features.

Its totally true what they say about making thre garden acessible... it seems that last weekend my efforts to clear paths and make ramps from the field into my hedgerow really has paid off.

Hopefully it won't chuck it down tonight and I'll sit tight on hedgepig watch

My garden`s the same,regarding being accessible - plenty of access points for them under the back hedge,and under the fences. Now they know theres food available in your garden they`ll be regular visitors i`m sure.You`ll get others turning up as well as your regular visitors too - word soon gets round in the Hedgehog world about free scoff

Mark H

[Bouncytigger]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

Further afield?
Hmmm... my house backs onto a field! heh heh
so I presume they're always going to be around somewhere nearby....

Its also reassuring to hear that they munch on bird seed and drink in ponds as my garden has both of these features.

Its totally true what they say about making thre garden acessible... it seems that last weekend my efforts to clear paths and make ramps from the field into my hedgerow really has paid off.

Hopefully it won't chuck it down tonight and I'll sit tight on hedgepig watch

Your garden setup sounds very similar to mine
I have a churchyard at the back though , two ponds, loads of leftover bird seed on the floor, plenty of slugs, leftover cat food that even i won't eat

Must get out with my torch in a minute

[Nettle Runner]

The baby hogs started visiting the bird food this week. We saw one on Monday and two on Tuesday night, both evenings at about 10pm, just after dusk. The seemed to be on their own, with no sign of an adult hog.
Les

[Blackdogjnr]

Anyone know if they prefer wet or dry nights? likewise cold or warm?

I'm trying to study my hedgepig's habits. Some nights he'll arrive at 10.30 prompt, for 3 nights in a row!

Then other nights he obviously doesn't come until past my bed time!

[Dillibags]

My Hedgehog has been run over Even if I don't actually see him, he leaves a little sign on the lawn for me! Wondered where he'd got to over the last few days, then yesterday was walking up the road and found one dead, too much of a coincidence for it not to have been mine, such a shame. I hope another one arrives to take his place, have plenty of food waiting for him, plus the slugs are moving back in rapidly.