Hedgehogs still active.

[Dragonfaer]

Thank you for all your comments. Not putting any food out in the mornings now as Mum hedgehog not really eating much. Put plenty out at night and its all gone the next day. She much prefers cheese to sultanas and raisins it seems. So will just her those occassionally. The babies doing fine. Had to move a couple of them today as they had strayed a wee bit from their nest and were near a puddle of water. Yes it rained heavily most of the day. They can really curl up tight now and all you can see is their little faces tucked in.
I use a thick gardening glove to pick them up so my scent isnt on them and also so I dont get pricked.

[Jez]

It was quite mild here last night in Bewdley but the previous night was cold one, down to 0c and I woke up to see a deep frost had set in. Looking out of the window I could see the bird feeders wanted filling as the tits were scrambling to get the last remaining fat balls so I went out to give them seed fatballs & peanuts. It was at the feeders that I noticed the squizzels had managed to unscrew the peanut feeder which was lying on frozen ground, I went to pick it up and noticed there was a little hoggy trapped inside the feeder . Quickly I found a box to put it in, grabbed a towel and some catfood put in a warm place and phoned around and managed to get intouch with the our local hedgehog lady, Helen, for some advice and help, I still wasn't sure if it was alive or dead at this point! I managed to unscrew the base of the feeder as if it was alive and perked up it's quills would prevent it from crawling backwards out the way it first crawled in. Helen unfortunately couldn't get out to me as she was ill and I couldn't get to her as I was waiting on second attempt of some important documentation so cutting the hoggy free was a real consideration at the time, but I'm sure it over heard me mentioning this and it's little nose picked up, it's bottom did a little wiggle and like I hoped it carried on up the feeder and out the otherside (What a relief that was "phew"!!!! ) Helen on the other end of the phone was delight also and asked I get it a waterbottle put on some thick gloves and weigh it whilst popped the bottle in the box. It was a mere 380g so yep like I say a big relief indeed, what a lucky mite it was for making it through the night, stuck in a icy cold metal cage (brrrrrrr).

Fortunately my brother popped by and took it over to Helens who now has it in her care. I hope there comes the day when I can release back out and in the meantime I'm going to be doing all I can to prevent the squizzels getting at that feeder.

I'd just ike to say well done and a big thankyou to all the people who give up their time to look after poor and injured animals. It really is a great job your here to help!

[Dragonfaer]

Well done Jez. So glad you managed to save the wee hedgehog. I just wish we had some place to take hedgehogs to. Am in New Zealand and have bad news regarding my wee family of hegehogs. Put some food out for mum tonight and found one baby dead so now there is only 4. The baby was stretched out and another was stretched out beside it I think trying to keep it warm. I picked that one up and it promptly curled up tight so put it back in the nest with the other 3. The two babies had strayed from the nest and I think got too cold as it poured down most of the day. Just hope the other one survives. Left the dead baby out of the nest but where mum could see it when she comes home tonight so she would know it had died. Will bury it tomorrow.

[Hedgehoggy]

Gosh, Jez, that’s one lucky little hedgehog indeed! Well done with your quick actions and thank goodness you went out to refill the feeders. Hope you get him/her back in the spring to release into your garden

Dragonfaer, can you be absolutely certain mum is still around? Have you seen her recently? Although inquisitive babies will often crawl out of their nest, they’re usually ushered back in again by mum who is never too far away that she can’t hear their cries. Generally, babies found outside their nest like this are more likely to be starving and are searching for mum. The dead hoglet found outside the nest is suggestive this could be what’s happening. Can you hear the hoglets ‘squeaking/cheeping’’? If something has happened to mum, the babies will need to be taken into care immediately.

Whether mum is still around or not, remove the dead hoglet as it won’t be long before it becomes fly blown and could put the other hoglets at risk of disease.

[Hedgehoggy]

Dragonfaer, just in case you do need to rescue the remaining 4 hoglets, the following organisation in NZ should be able to help and put you in touch with a local carer:

Hedgehog

I also found this list of NZ SPCAs who may also be able to help:

RNZSPCA - Local SPCAs

[Dragonfaer]

Hedgehoggy thank you soooo much for your feedback. Really appreciated.
I disposed of the baby the next morning so there was no problem with flies. Mum had been and pushed it around a bit so knew it was dead. Well, I presume mum is coming at night as the food is all gone each morning. Yes, I stepped in tonight and rescued the 3 remaining babies (found 1 more dead tonight and the other 3 werent looking too good. Got goats milk but couldnt get a syringe anywhere at 8.30pm. Will try the vet tomorrow. The babies have picked up a bit but 1 is rather dehydrated. Many thanks for the contacts here in NZ. Spoke with a lady from Taupo which a 3 hr drive from here which was helpful. She has Hedgehog Haven & very knowledgeable. Have heating under their box now to help keep them warm. Newspaper in the box then a towel folded in half, then the babies and the other half of the towel over them. Have managed to get a wee bit of milk into them but rather difficult with a plastic spoon. Oooops was giving them straight goats milk but she said 2 parts to 1 part water is best. Feeding them what I can roughly every hour. Feel rather doubtful about the outcome of this wee family.

[Marcia]

Hi Dragonfaer, I just want to say well done for rescuing the hoglets. You're doing great helping them, I hope they all survive. Let us know how it went in the vet. Best of luck, all my fingers crossed.

Jez, well done you too! Lucky for the hoglet you were there to save him and take such good care of him when he needed most.

[Hedgehoggy]

I’m really sorry to hear about the 2nd hoglet, Dragonfaer. Regards mum, unless you’ve actually seen her recently, it could well be that another animal is eating the food you’ve been leaving out for her, hence the situation with the hoglets. But, if you have seen mum, she could possibly be injured or poorly as to the reason for neglecting her hoglets. Keep a lookout for mum, and if you see her, pick her up and check her over thoroughly for any injuries (including checking she has all four limbs – often overlooked), and for fly eggs, etc.

As for feeding the babies, if their eyes are open, they may well be able to lap the milk themselves from a coffee jar lid, or similar. You’d need to support their bodies by holding them over the lid in order to lap, so they don’t climb into the lid splashing the contents everywhere! You may also need to ‘toilet’ them still at this age (mum would do this in the wild).

I’ve copied the following useful info from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s website:

HYGIENE
It is important that the hoglets, their bedding and feeding equipment are kept scrupulously clean. The bedding should be changed regularly and the feeding equipment sterilised. See 'After Feeding' for keeping the hoglets clean. After dealing with each hoglet, hands should be washed.
WEIGH the Hoglets regularly and chart their growth.

HOW TO FEED THEM:

ONE WEEK OLD weighs about 28-56gms [1-2oz] and 50-l00mm [2-4"] in length) These tiny hoglets have no teeth and their eyes and ears will be closed. They will need to be fed every two to three hours on 1-2mls Goats' milk diluted 2:1 with water, and vitamin drops added; or Goats' colostrum. A plastic pipette, icc syringe or doll's feeding bottle can be used to feed them with. Each hoglet should be held on its back in the hand and fed slowly, taking care not to get milk up its nose or in its lungs.

AFTER FEEDING it is important that you massage each hoglet's tummy with a brush or tissue - mum would do this in the wild to stimulate bladder and bowel movements (very young hedgehogs cannot do this for themselves, unaided). Droppings, on arrival, should be bright green, but on a diet of goats' milk should change to pale greenish/blue. Carefully clean the hoglet's mouth, face and tummy with damp cotton wool and gently massage with baby oil, especially inside the back legs and around the tail area.

TWO WEEKS OLD (weighs about 56-85gms [2-3oz] and 70-130 mm [3-5"] in length). Eyes will probably still be closed but could open soon. Earholes begin to appear. Feeding should be increased to 3-5ml every 3-4 hours.
AFTER FEEDING clean and toilet as before.

THREE WEEKS OLD (Weighs about 85-1l3gms (3-4oz]) Eyes now open and teeth beginning to appear. Can now be encouraged to lap milk from a shallow dish. When lapping successfully, liquidized puppy food and milk could be offered. Hand feeds should continue.
AFTER FEEDING clean and toilet as before.

FOUR WEEKS OLD (Weighs about 113-170gms [4-6oz]) Now looks like a mini-adult hedgehog. Gradually decrease the milk in the liquidized puppy food and eventually give the puppy food on its own, but mashed. Droppings will now become brown, firm and smelly. When the hoglet is no longer taking milk, offer a dish of water (would now be accompanying mum on foraging trips if still in the wild). When the hoglet is weaned worming should be considered. Panacur powder (available from your vet) is recommended, 110mg/500gm sprinkled on food over three meals, and then repeat in two weeks.
AFTER FEEDING clean as before but toiletting can be reduced and stopped altogether when the hoglet copes unaided.

FIVE WEEKS OLD (weighs about 190-225gms [7-8oz]). Should now be eating twice daily: a dish of mashed or liquidized puppy food with added vitamins and cereal. New flavours can be experimented with, such as: chicken, lightly scrambled egg, a little grated cheese, banana. Heat will not now be necessary in the summer but adequate bedding should be provided.

SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS OLD (weighs about 225-310gms [8-11oz]). Now eating one tablespoon of mashed puppy food and cereal twice daily with added vitamins and minerals, and a dish of water.

EIGHT WEEKS OLD (weighs about 350gms [12oz]) Should now be eating adult cat or dog food twice daily, and given a vitamin and mineral supplement once weekly. Natural food can be introduced, such as slugs, snails and worms. Foraging expeditions in the garden can be undertaken. Shredded newspaper, straw or paper tissues can be given for nesting materials to encourage the youngster(s) to build their own nests.

N.B. The foregoing weights, ages and amounts are approximate and for use only as a guideline. Like all young mammals, each hoglet's development will vary individually.

Good luck and I wish you every success with this little family.

[Dragonfaer]

Hey guys thanks sooo very much for all your support.

More bad news I'm afraid. A baby died in the night which left 2. Managed to get syringe feeders from the vet today, they couldnt help me regarding the babies though. Got home & found I had one baby left. The dehydrated one died while I was out. That was the one I didnt expect to last the previous night.

This baby has had 2 feeds with the syringe so far. 1& half mls 1st feed and it had the strength to get out of its coverings and climb to the top of the towel looking for its 2nd feed. It took roughly 2&half mls 2nd feed.

Have been trying to get hold of someone heading to or passing through Taupo to take a wee passenger and drop him off at Hedgehog Haven but no luck so far. Even went to a motel which is a favourite with the truckies as plenty of room for their trucks to park. No luck there either.
Posted a couple of entries on our website trademe but nothing there either so far.
One of the girls at the vets had looked after a baby hedgehog but it had died after a few days. So that wasnt much good either.
Just wish I could have got a feeding syringe last night, would have had 2 alive now not just the 1.

[Hedgehoggy]

Credit to you for trying so hard to help the hoglets, Dragonfaer. The remaining hoglet sounds promising. Keep it up, and I’m keeping everything crossed for you and this little guy

Thanks for taking the time to keep us all regularly updated, that’s really appreciated too.