Hedgehog second home advice

[gillwrig]

Hi All

I'm after some opinions on a couple of hedgy houses which I've seen.

I've already got one of those box type ones approved by the Hedgehog Preservation Society but cos I've got so many visitors I though I may get them a second home.

I've seen the two below but wondered whether they would be any good or should I just go for another similar one. I would build one but I'm extremely rubbish at DIY.





I'd be grateful for any comments????

Thanks

Gill

[Jez]

I like the look of them both, but if I had to make a choice between them, I'd opt for the bottom one of the two!

[gillwrig]

Thanks Jez

That's what I thought.... it looks rather rural.

The otherone looks like something you'd put your laundry in! May have to sneak it in to the house as the other half thinks I'm already obsessed

Gill

[Kayleigh]

They don't look very water proof..
I have tarpaulin at the back of my shed with lots of branches and sticks over the top..Very cosy..

[gillwrig]

Apparantley the bottom one is ??? Don't know how though.

I think I will revert back to the good old Hedgehog Preservation Soc again ... that one was like a mansion and at leat the proceeds go to a good cause.

[Hedgehoggy]

I agree with Kayleigh, they look about as much use as a chocolate teapot! Certainly wouldn't withstand our wet British climate and I imagine would be easily blown out your garden by a strong gust of wind

You don't need to be great at DIY to make your own. I bought a hoggy sized pine box with a hinged lid (makes for easy cleaning ) from B&Q a few years ago for about £7. I cut out an entrance hole 5"x5" at one end, made an outside entrance tunnel out of some left over wood lying about in my garage and secured that to the cut out entrance hole, then I covered the box with water-proof roofing felt (or you could use tarpaulin or something similar). Lastly, if you stand the house on one of those rubber holed outdoor mat thingies, that'll prevent the cold/damp from rising up into the house.

There was also a thread on ideas for hog houses on this forum recently; I'm not sure if I'll be able to attach the link, but I'll give it a go!

http://http://www.wildaboutbritain.c...bernation.html

[gillwrig]

Well that sounds easy in practise - it will probably look like nothing on earth when I've finished. It's a good job they can't see very well though!

Just joined to BHPS and was intrigued by their suggestions for "building your own", it looked like a nuclear bunker!

I think I fuss about my hogs far too much - they're probably asleep in my compost heap