The Hedgehogs & Hoglets Thread

[Marcia]

Hi everyone,

After the amazing support shown on Spikey's Thread, I thought it could be a good idea to start this space where we all could share our stories, experiences and knowledge in caring for hedgehogs and hoglets. And at the same time everyone will be widely welcome to post questions, discussions, news and whatever else you could find interesting.

If however, you came across this thread looking for emergency help for a sick or injured hedgehog here are the basic links:

1. First Aid from British Hedgehog Preservation Society and from Wildlife Online

2. List of hedgehog carers in your area

[Marcia]

As a hedgehog-fosterer-wannabe, I'm trying to prepare myself for my first guest after Spikey. So I was wondering what kind of equipment I should get. Could you recommend me the essentials, please?

- Bottles: I have no idea what kind of bottle is ideal to feed a hoglet? A syringe would be easier? Or a specialized bottle?

- Fluids: rehydration fluids? Esbilac milk?

- Tick remover: what's the best - O'Tom, Trix Lasso, twizers or just olive oil & paint brush?

- Anything for fleas, fly eggs and mites?

Anything else I should get? I told the vet I would only be able to look after hoggies that are not seriously sick or injuried, so I hope I won't need buy any medicine unless the vet recommends.

Thanks a lot.

Marcia

[AndrewB]

Hi, could I ask with a general question? Although my main interest is birds I have had hedgehog visitors for a while now and have placed a small supermarket meat tray full of water at the end of the garden for them (which the birds also like to make use of).

I have often wondered about leaving some food, and have read they like catfood, but I dont really want to start supporting the local cat population. Would they eat raw or cooked meat or maybe fat from a roast?

Many thanks!

[Marcia]

Hi Andrew, when I first joined WAB my first interest was birds too.

The problem with any meat is that they will attract cats, no matter what. However, you could build a hedgehog feeding station with a narrow entrance that would only allow hedgehogs entrance. Here are some grand designs:

Hedgehog Feeding Stations

Remember to put the meat after the flies have gone (after dusk) and remove it in the morning to avoid fly eggs.

Alternatively, you could offer food that hoggies like but cats are no big fans: sultanas, sunflower hearts, crushed nuts (raw unsalted peanuts, pecan nuts etc), weetabix, dry mealworms (they love it), dry cat or dog food (chopped if it's too big).

Don't forget the fresh water in a shallow container, like a small plant saucer.

How many hedgehogs visit you garden, do you know?

[AndrewB]

Hi Marcia, many thanks for your reply and the information. Will definitely think about giving the hoggie-house a try!

As far as I am aware it is just one who visits, although I have noticed little "deposits" on the patio for a good couple of years. I have seen it on a few occasions usually around dusk or in winter tucked up against the side of the house.

A couple of weeks ago I was concerned as it came into the garden in broad daylight around 1pm. However it didnt appear to be distressed in any way and after about 15 mins moved off into the Close, much to the delight of the neighbours children who monitored its progress.

I did take this photo

[pattie may]

Like Marcia I am a newbie when it comes to looking after hedgehogs. We have both raised a little hedgehog from an early age. I found mine (exactly a year ago) when he was about three to four weeks old. I feed him goats milk (hedgehogs have an intolerance to cow's milk) for about a week before I introduced mashed up cat food into the milk. I used Whiskas supermeat chicken variety. Any cat food must be meat based hedgehogs don't like fish based ones.

The little hedgehog I found I overwintered and he was released this spring. I found an underweight one in November so she was overwintered too and released this spring.

I like you watched the birds and because of this I found I had a hedgehog visiting my garden. He would eat the fallen seed from the bird feeder. I immediately bought CJ Wildlife hedgehog food (I buy it from Adsa) and Gardman hedgehog nibbles (most large garden centres will stock them) for my garden visitors. The cats don't eat the food but the wood mice do. I put out cat food but the hedgehogs didn't eat. I think they prefered the more expensive stuff!

[Marcia]

Hi Andrew, the hedgehog in your picture seems quite young, maybe he had left the nest a couple of days before and was struggling to find food by himself during the night. In general, when a hedgehog is seem in daylight as early as 1pm it could mean that: a) it's starving b) it's cold. Exception is made to nursing females who forage for food in daylight. It's a good thing that he didn't appear to be distressed but he would still be vulnerable to other animals attacks. If you see him again in daylight it would worth to weigh him, give him some food, keep him warm and -- as long as he's healthy -- release him at night. But I'm sure he's sorted himself out by now. You could put some food out just in case

Pattie May, I need to try those hedgehog food you mentioned because the cats still eat the spike's dinner food. I have a resident wood mouse, he's called Dumbo because of his ridiculously giant ears, he's so funny. He made a house near Spikey's house, how convenient.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Marcia

As a hedgehog-fosterer-wannabe, I'm trying to prepare myself for my first guest after Spikey. So I was wondering what kind of equipment I should get. Could you recommend me the essentials, please?

- Bottles: I have no idea what kind of bottle is ideal to feed a hoglet? A syringe would be easier? Or a specialized bottle?

- Fluids: rehydration fluids? Esbilac milk?

- Tick remover: what's the best - O'Tom, Trix Lasso, twizers or just olive oil & paint brush?

- Anything for fleas, fly eggs and mites?

Anything else I should get? I told the vet I would only be able to look after hoggies that are not seriously sick or injuried, so I hope I won't need buy any medicine unless the vet recommends.

Thanks a lot.

Marcia

Just logged in to find your new Q&A thread, Marcia!

The following are basic essential products I personally use, but are by no means compulsory, or exhaustive! There are other similar products on the market, so it’s a case of shopping around and checking the labels/prices.

Bottle feeding -- Syringes, definitely. Semi-weaned hoglets tend to bite artificial feeding devices, so silicone teats should be avoided!

Rehydration fluid -- 1 litre boiled water, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt. Serve at room temp. Store any excess in covered container in fridge and use within a few days, or pour into ice cube trays, freeze and defrost prn.

Replacement milk -- I wouldn't invest in Esbilac milk (v. expensive and has shelf life) until you really need it. A good emergency stand-by to have in your cupboard is a carton of UHT goat's milk, baby rusks and some vits (either Abidec drops for human infants or SA37 powder for animals).

Tick remover-- I now use O’Tom Tick Twisters, (bought via BADA tick-borne disease charity - Products: BADA-UK) they’re effortless to use and come in a pack of 2 (small & large).

Fleas, mites-- Johnson’s Insecticidal Powder for small animals appears to have replaced Johnson’s Rid Mite for caged birds – kills mites, lice and fleas. Severe mite infestations will require stronger preparation.

Fly eggs-- need to be manually removed immediately. Scrape/wipe off. I use tiny penknife and damp cotton wool balls.

Anything else?-- Tweezers for removing maggots. Stock pile newspapers, bedding materials, food dishes. Oh, and ask your vet surgery for any free sample bags of cat biscuits - they're good quality and help towards feeding costs

Hope you get to nurture another little needy hoggy soon, Marcia

[Marcia]

Hi Hedgehoggy, thanks for your reply. I'll get my supplies as soon as I can. Oh now I'm in constant look out for food dishes, fleece and newspaper (btw, don't you hate staples in newspaper?). One dish that I've found it's good for water is the glass container of Gü desserts. So for that reason *only* I need to have some hot chocolate suffle.

When you have time, could you post an approximate "recipe" to make the baby rusks, goats milk and vitamins mixture?

I saw in the other thread that you have lots of young hoglets at the moment, awww can you send me one by Royal Mail First Class, please? I'm kidding, of course, everyone knows DHL is much faster...

Marcia

[pattie may]

Be careful with glass it could chip and then the sharp edges could cut tender little mouths.