hedgehog hibernation - next question :) - Page 2

sophisticat · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2011, 10:25 AM

Thanks. He obviously came out again later and has eaten more of the catfood although not all of it. He already had sultanas with the dry food; I'll add some peanuts tonight, and if I can get some today I'll add live mealworms - I know he likes those - if not, I have some dried ones.

I was hoping to feed him up a little before release - Spring seems to have arrived but I haven't seen any wild ones about yet.

paulinemiller10 · #12 (**permalink**) 02-04-2011, 01:10 PM

It might help to mash his favorite food to a creamy paste, I used to mash the dark meat of a fresh chicken and a little porridge made with water, I also used to add oat Complan from boots, full of vitamins but does nt smell like other vitamins, hoggies don't like anything that smells strange.
It might help him recover quicker from hibernation. Pauline.

sophisticat · #13 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 07:17 AM

He still wasn't eating much but was clearly awake so I went for a 'soft' release into one of the rabbit runs on Saturday night, hoping a bit more space would encourage him to eat. Had I realised just how much he'd dig I'd have let him out on Saturday night, but once I saw that I arranged the run so that he'd have space to get in and out but my cats wouldn't (just in case they went after his food

)

Last night, he was out and about round the garden, clearly finding himself lots to eat, and while I was sad I was happy

Happier this morning still, to find that he'd returned to his nest. So in others' experience how high is the likelihood that he'll continue to use it through the summer? It's in a plastic rabbit igloo, so can in theory stay, but if he's going to stay then it would be worth me buying a proper hedgehog (weatherproof) house for him.