Hedgehog feeder

[Sally Robinson]

Hi everyone,

I have a hedgehog that visits my garden and forages under the bird and squirrel feeders. A friend built me a hedgehog feeding station so it would feel safe (I have a dog which is very curious) but it won't use it and just continues to forage for the few scraps left by the birds and squirrels. The box is made from an old kitchen cupboard. It has a corridor leading to the main feeding room and hasn't been painted so I'm pretty sure there is nothing wrong with the box itself.

I have tried hedgehog food, chopped peanuts, chicken flavour dog food, soaked mealworms and a variety of bird food as well as a shallow bowl of water. I know that a mouse uses the feeding station as there are usually mouse droppings in it in the mornings and also quite a few slugs, but cannot understand why the hedgehog won't go in. I have tried leaving a trail into the feeding station for it to follow, but the mouse gets there first!

Is there a food that hedgehogs really love (other than the ones I've tried) that might encourage it in? Or does anyone have any other ideas?

Many thanks

Sally

[brendaward]

we have a regular hedgehog visit. She comes to the back door and we can tell when he is there because the cat retreats. If there is no dried cat food (chicken and rabbit flavour) in the bowl, the cat paw rubs the back door for a refill. When we try to fill the plain simple plastic cat bowl, we have to wait for miss Tiggywinks to scurry off, to return as soon as the bowl is filled and the back door is shut. It is also lovely to hear the hedgehog munching on the dried cat food and is also a way of giving you the nod when she is about. if the bowl is too close to the wall she moves it with her snout scraping it on the concrete.

Plastic cat bowls can be sterilised. Our one likes tesco premium cat crunchies.
Last year I found one hedgehog down an open drain. As it was wedged in I had to use two pieces of narrow wood to get it out which was difficult but it survived. I also leave fresh water about in little bowls so they don't feel the need to venture under drain covers. Funny little fascinating creatures, She seems to get on well with the cat that invited herself to live with us.

[Sally Robinson]

Thanks for the info Brendaward. Hadn't thought of cat biscuits but will definitely give them a go (not fish flavour though).

Sounds as though your hedgehog has made itself right at home and doesn't seem too bothered about the cat.

My dog was the first one to notice the hedgehog and it curled itself into a ball (the hedgehog not the dog!). The second time the dog discovered it, it didn't curl into a ball and just stood its ground (my dog is an Airedale, and is quite large) so hopefully it's not as scared anymore - though I would still prefer it to go into the feeding station.

Thanks again
Sally

[Cowgirl]

Hi Sally, welcome to WAB. What about leaving a trail of tasty treats into the feeder? I used to get a visitor every night when I left dried dog food in a bowl in the feeder, I then went & bought proper hedgie food, now it doesn't come as often, ungrateful little beast!

[Sally Robinson]

Hi Cowgirl, perhaps our hedgehogs just don't like hedgehog food! I have tried leaving a trail into the feeder (hedgehog food, chopped nuts, soaked mealworms etc) but the mouse always gets there first (I can tell from the droppings). Even the slugs seem to like the hedgehog food more than the hedgehogs do!

[pattie may]

Welcome Sally,

Just be patient. Your hedgehog will use your hedgehog feeding station eventually. If there is not food under the bird feeders hopefully he/she will wander around your garden and find the food in the feeding station.

My first hedgehog visitor ate fallen seeds from my bird feeder. I then bought special hedgehog food for him - C J hedgehog food (I bought it from Adsa). I just left it on a dish under the feeders at first and then moved the dish up the garden and put it under cover as the bad weather started. Hedgehog went under cover and ate all the food - no problem.

[Sally Robinson]

Thanks pattie may, I suppose I'll just have to be patient!