Hedgehog houses

pattie may · #1 (**permalink**) 26-09-2010, 04:13 PM

I have a hedgehog house in my garden and it has been used by a number of hedgehogs over the last three years.

I think I now have two hedgehogs visiting my garden and one of them is using the house from time to time.

I want to put a second house in my garden so the second hedgehog has the chance of a nice warm home over the winter.

Where is the best place to site it? How far from the first should it be?

dampflippers · #2 (**permalink**) 27-09-2010, 09:30 AM

Under a bush to protect it from the worst of the weather, probably so the entrance is against a fenceline or edge. Entrance not facing between NW and E because this is the direction of the coldest winds.
Behind or next to a protective feature like a shed or compost bin could also be good.
Not where the ground will flood.
Make sure it's not directly on the ground as damp will seep through. Place on bricks, wooden battens, paving slab, rubber mat etc.

pattie may · #3 (**permalink**) 27-09-2010, 03:14 PM

How far apart should the houses be? The first one is in exactly the right place. Could I put them close together?

dampflippers · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2010, 01:35 PM

Not sure about the answer to that one.
Can I suggest you ask the same question on the forum that is in my signature?

Hedgehoggy · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattie may

How far apart should the houses be? The first one is in exactly the right place. Could I put them close together?

Yes, especially if the previous house has been/is being used. I have 6 hog houses dotted about in my garden and the two which are almost side by side are the most widely used – probably because one of the feeding stations is closeby to these particular two houses!

pattie may · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 09:05 AM

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure if the boxes should be well apart. The first one is sighted in the best place in the garden. Under a large bush and next to a fence. I can put a second one in front of it, further down the fence. I will also move the feeding station back under the bushes too. I had put it on the corner of the patio so I could see the hedgehogs feeding.

Hedgehoggy · #7 (**permalink**) 05-10-2010, 10:42 AM

If your feeder is being used, then personally I would leave it where it is. Having a feeder too close to your hog houses could unintentionally draw attention to and disturb your sleeping residents by anything else visiting (or having a nosey at) your feeding station, e.g. cats, rats, foxes; plus, by leaving it where it is, you can continue to monitor the comings and goings of your visiting hedgehogs. On the other hand, if your feeder isn’t being used you could move it near the hog houses to start with and overtime, move the feeder further and further away.

My set up of two houses and feeder close together wasn’t deliberate, but as it worked out well I’ve left them in situ! I do have other feeding stations/areas around the garden which are more accessible to my other visitors, so I guess this diverts any unwanted attention from these particular two houses.

pattie may · #8 (**permalink**) 06-10-2010, 08:36 AM

No chance of foxes in my garden unless they can get in under a three inch gap under the fence! Since posting this query the first hedgehog seems to have disappeared. No hedgehog in house either (there's a stick across the doorway).

Last two nights the second hedgehog hasn't come either. The food in the feeding station hasn't been touched. I will continue to put food out just in case one or both return.