Two Hedgehogs together

[pattie may]

Last night (about midnight) there were two hedgehogs inside my feeding station. The feeding station measures approximately 15" by 20". The larger of the two hedgehogs was eating the food and the smaller one was just sitting there. Can anyone tell me what the relationship would have been between them. Would they be mother and baby? (although the smaller one was not that tiny and the larger one was very big).

[dampflippers]

It could have been mother and child, or just two unrelated ones. The less dominant one may have been biffed out of the way, and would probably wait for the other to leave before eating. Was the smaller one looking a bit bristly or reticent?
Do you have just one food bowl in there? If not, divide the food between two so there are less confrontations.

Now is the time when they are eating alot to build up fat reserves for hibernation. A young one can hibernate at or below 400g, but is unlikely to survive hibernation, so they really need to be 600 or 700g to be safe.
If you are worried about the small one, hijack it (with gardening gloves on) and weigh it.

If you need more information, ask here: The Hedgehog Forums - Index

[pattie may]

Have two maybe three hedgehogs visiting my garden. One large one and one/two smaller ones. I picked up a smaller one a few days ago and was surprised to find that he weighed 582 grams. I have picked up a smaller one tonight and he weighed 551 grams. Not sure if it's the same one. The one tonight was happy to sit in my gloved hand and stare at me with his wide dark brown eyes. (Oh how I love them). After putting him back under the feeding station he ran off under the bushes by the hedgehog house. Then heard and saw movement in the tunnel. Think he's living in there now.

Will put out more dishes of food. So they don't have to share.

[pattie may]

Very late last night there were two different sized hedgehogs inside the feeding stations. They were side by side and seemed to be eating from the same dish.

[pattie may]

I have managed to check two hedgehogs. The larger one was 1112 grams and female. The smaller one is a boy. Are they Mother and son? Boys always need looking after don't they? Even when they are grown up!

[CharlieCreek]

They could I guess be related but I doubt it. If they are related they are coincidentally coming together where the food is as there is less natural food. Any relationship between them wouldn't keep them together as they are naturally solitary and at 500 to 600 grams the smaller ones are not babies anymore.

As for babies and juveniles roughly (obviously healthy ones):

up to 56 grams 1 week old
upto 90 grams 2 weeks old
upto 115 grams 3 weeks old
upto 170 grams month old
upto 230 grams 5 weeks old
upto 310 grams 7 weeks old
upto 350 grams 2 months old

It's around about 6 weeks that juveniles venture away on their own.