Hedgehog home

[Tangaroa]

Hi,

I put a hedgehog home in the gardeb last summer and it appears to have been used - all the straw we left outside the house had been pulled inside - although it may have been used as a day nest in the summer and not for hibernation.

I have seen a hedgehog back in our garden - i dont know if he/she was using the house - is it best to just leave the house alone - or should we clean it out??? I dont want to disturb any hogs that may be using it as a day nest....

[Hedgehoggy]

I clean out the hog houses in my garden twice yearly; mid-April and again mid-October (I plan to do mine on Monday). The hay/straw used for their bedding tends to go mouldy and dusty and also harbours parasites, including ticks, so it's beneficial to clean the boxes whenever possible. To avoid disturbing a possible resident before I clean out the boxes, I either wedge a twig diagonally across the entrance, or plug the entrance with some hay and then check my 'traps' the following morning to see if anybody is at home - hogs will merely barge past such obstacles!

Hoglets are usually born between May-July and again in August-September, but there are exceptions of hoglets being born outside of these months, so if your 'traps' haven't been sprung, listen very carefully for any high-pitched squeaking noises or activity before opening up your hog box to ensure mum isn't inside with her new borns.

[Cazzie]

Hi Tangaroa

Totally agree with Hedgehoggy - set a trap and if it's not sprung, clean it out quick lol! I cleaned out my boxes with jeyes fluid (yes I know it's strong), but diluted well down and air dried thoroughly in the sun the smell dissipated and it certainly didn't put my hoggies off using it again. I wasn't keen on using straw as it's really tough and the hedgehogs can get caught up in it, so I'd advise hay only or a mixture of hay, dried leaves and shredded up newspaper of all things - honestly, they like it and it's keeps them warm

So glad you've got a hedgehog visiting your garden - lucky you!! (yes, I'm jealous ) lol

[Tangaroa]

Hey - thanks for the advice - the traps (twigs) are set so hopefully ill know tomorrow - is there any sure fire way of telling if the home was used for hibernation????

[Cazzie]

Not that I know of, but just supplying a box can be a life saver for the hoggies during winter

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Tangaroa

Hey - thanks for the advice - the traps (twigs) are set so hopefully ill know tomorrow

Do keep us posted on the outcome of the traps!

Originally Posted by Tangaroa

- is there any sure fire way of telling if the home was used for hibernation????

You'll find a hog-sized hollow space swaddled with tightly woven bedding. When cleaning out your box, carefully lift out the old bedding, layer by layer to reveal a hoggy hollow!

[Tangaroa]

Just checked this morning and all the twigs had been pushed over - The little hog was wondering around the garden last night and has eaten most of the food we left out too......

Guess ill have to try again tonight - jus out of interest - how likely is it that he will sleep in the box every day???

[Hedgehoggy]

I’m afraid that question is anybody’s guess Generally, during the warmer months (if we ever have any of those again!) hogs sleep in temporary lightweight nests, and will ‘nest hop’ frequently. However, some hedgehogs choose to live permanently in the houses which have been provided for them (I've had a hoggy living in one of my boxes since last autumn who continued to come out and feed all through the winter and he is still living there now, but I’m sure he’ll be off chasing the girlies soon! . Similarly, a female will seek out a more secure and sheltered site to give birth in, so if your visitor is a female, she may well be laying claim to the des res in your garden!

I'd suggest setting your traps for a full week and if they're still being sprung after a week, best forget about cleaning out the house for the time being and just leave a huge pile of fresh hay outside the entrance for the hog to help itself to. I've had hogs (both sexes) who have shoved out soiled bedding from their nests in true badger style!

[pattie may]

I checked my hedgehog box last Saturday and the hedgehog was inside so I put new hay in outer chamber and in tunnel. Next day there may have been a gap but hay in tunnel doesn't seem to have been moved all week.

Last night, about 11.30 pm there was a hedgehog sitting next to the box. He/she didn't move, even when I returned and put food and clean water close by. I checked again at 12.30 am and hedgehog was gone but food was still there. This morning the food was gone but there was a mouse dropping on the dish. We have relocated 2 wood mice this week.

I uncovered the box again and looked inside. No hedgehog but there were more than 12 large ticks in the nest. Is diluted Jeyes fluid effective for them?

I hope the hedgehog comes back tonight so I can check him/her for ticks. Olive oil for them isn't it?

[Hedgehoggy]

I’ve never bought, or used, jeyes fluid, so I personally can’t endorse its safety aspect, but I imagine so long as your box is rinsed well and left to dry thoroughly afterwards and it doesn’t leave a pungent chemical smell behind then I don’t see why not. I just use a mild detergent (washing up liquid + water + a few drops of tea tree oil added for antibacterial value) to clean my boxes out.

As for ticks, the BHPS recommend using cooking oil to remove ticks from hedgehogs – coat the tick with oil using a paintbrush or similar, but take extreme care not to get any oil on the hog’s tummy area as this is where their sweat glands are situated. The ticks will eventually suffocate and drop off within a couple of days. Personally, I prefer to use tick removers, they’re effortless to use and you get instant results.

A few ticks on a hedgehog is nothing to worry about, the ticks will drop off when fully gorged anyway. Lots of ticks on a hedgehog is debilitating and is usually indicative that the hog is poorly and will need veterinary treatment.