I was under the impression that hedgehogs hibernate in winter ?

[Farplace]

Do you break the biscuits up first, Charlie? Or just feed them as they are?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Originally Posted by Farplace

He looks a good chunky hog.

Originally Posted by CharlieCreek

This fella looks a reasonable size looking at his body shape.

lol Yeh he/she does look like a chunky hog. The Hedgehog has got some cheddar cheese, peanut granules, sunflower hearts and some sultanas to have a go at tonight when he/she arrives plus water. I`ll get some of that mix from the supermarket tomorow to give it some meat as well, its just ive got to be careful as we had a rat not long ago and its still lurking around, before you know it the whole rat clan can be in your garden.

The speed a hedgehog runs at amazes me and makes me laugh as well, its funny watching one running across the lawn. They can`t half make a racket when their is 2 of them, its like a loud panting noise similar to a dog, i wondered what it was one night.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

You have to first strike up a deal with the hedgehog -- You feed him with some tasty cat/dog meat,

Ahem, ignore that suggestion! I've lost count the number of times I've advised folk NOT to leave out cat/dog meat in cold weather because it freezes solid due to the high water content, and yet that's exactly the opposite of what I suggested you do here! Senior moment me thinks!

Originally Posted by Steve_In_Cheshire

They can`t half make a racket when their is 2 of them, its like a loud panting noise similar to a dog, i wondered what it was one night.

Sounds like their courtship ritual!

Steve, if you're worried about rats, just put out a little amount of food once you've spotted the hog in your garden. You can always top up if he's still hanging around looking for more, or if he returns later looking for more.

P.S. He looks a good size in those pics, going by head-to-body ratio.

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Ive just been out to defrost the water and guess whose munching away on some cheese ? I`ll give you a clue, it aint Micky Mouse.

I came straight back in and left the hog in peace, i got my pic last night so i`ll leave he/she to enoy the freebies.

[CharlieCreek]

Originally Posted by Farplace

Do you break the biscuits up first, Charlie? Or just feed them as they are?

We break them in half for 200 - 300 gram hogs, 300 plus and they have them whole. They are only small little bones shapes but they are the first hard food we have found that all our hogs like, thank goodness!

[CharlieCreek]

Originally Posted by Steve_In_Cheshire

The speed a hedgehog runs at amazes me and makes me laugh as well, its funny watching one running across the lawn. They can`t half make a racket when their is 2 of them, its like a loud panting noise similar to a dog, i wondered what it was one night.

Yup, when they hitch up their skirts they zoom off at a right old rate.

You will find that they also 'huff' very loudly which seems to be a kind of 'oi' thing, quite often folloed by a big of barging. They are noisy little creatures, normally easier to find them by listening than sight.

[natalie1602]

Hedgehogs need to be 600g to hibernate - if they hibernate under this weight they will die. If you could very queitly and gently pick your hog up in a towel and weigh him that would be great, if it is under 600g get in touch with a rescue centre who will take it in over winter.

Good to leave food out, dry cat biscuits are good in this weather but preferably somewhere they won't get rained on.

If your hog is out during daylight then there is something wrong with it and needs to be seen by a rescue centre.

Maybe provide a nice hibernating place for it, and it will find it's way in and go into hibernation.

You could check the hog poo - if it is black on the outside and brown inside then that is fine, if it is green at all then again the hog needs to be seen, the other thing to look for is dry skin, they get ringworm and need treatment to recover. Last thing to look for is a lot of tics, again if your hog has a lot of visable tics then get it to a rescue centre who will remove them.

Hope that helps.

[natalie1602]

Originally Posted by mbaldw

Only if very frightened or distressed, but my understanding is that it's very rare. Even if they do bite, the jaws are weak and apparently do not puncture the skin. Gloves are advisable, nonetheless. Check out Hedgehoggy's article on my site, or this page on the BHPS site for more info.

Cheers,
Marc.

Hi - I work with hedgehogs and have been bitten once by a hog, I made it jump poor thing but I would just like to say that from experience they have wonderful teeth and trust me it can puncture the skin. Hedgehog biting is rare, ive handled hundreds of hogs and been bitten once and in fairness I felt that was my fault for makiing the poor chap jump!

[Hedgehoggy]

I guess it must depend on the thickness of individual human skin, ‘cos I’ve also handled hundreds of hogs and on the few occasions I've been bitten, I've never had the skin punctured. Maybe that suggests my hands are akin to an elephant’s hide?!!!!!!

[CharlieCreek]

It is pure supposition on my part but I don't think that they try to break the skin. I think it is normally more of a warning nip of 'oi' rather than biting agression.