redfrock Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Guess what - we have got a nursing hedgehog! She has nested in a box filled with hay that Andy initially built for the guinea pigs but which wasn't really suitable. We left it outside in the garden (deliberately)- we knew we had a hedgehog already living under the shed. We have just looked in as stuff has been pulled into it and there is a nursing hedgehog with at least 2 babies. We've removed all the plastic rubbish that she has dragged in from the bridle way, and the paintbrush that we had thought we had lost! Now we are going to leave them to it. They are right by the house We are walking around the house with a lovely warm glow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Oh how lovely What food can you leave out for hedgehogs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 oh lovely mealworms! raisins! I'm sure she would appreciat eany help though I doubt you'll want to crawl around looked for beetles etc and you can buy ready mixed hedgehog food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 Oh how lovely What food can you leave out for hedgehogs? I've just been doing some research to try and find out! oh lovelymealworms! raisins! I'm sure she would appreciat eany help though I doubt you'll want to crawl around looked for beetles etc and you can buy ready mixed hedgehog food Thanks Bron - and that's fab about the ready mixed stuff - I'm just off to our you-name-it-they-supply-it garden and pet store to have a look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 How sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 We looked out of the back door late last night and fournd a rather large Hedgehog eating the chickens mash porridge, so I think they also like chicken food..............I hope the babies thrive they sound like they will be very well looked after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 apparently they are partial to a bit of cat food (my cat is NOT impressed) I suppose you could give hedgehoglets kitten food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 What food can you leave out for hedgehogs? I too have heard that cat food is a good once for hedgehogs if you can't get the proper hedgehog food. Have also read that the traditional bread and milk is definitely NOT suitable for them! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 I think any tinned cat or dog food that doesn't contain cereal (and most of them do) is fine, otherwise probably finely chopped meat leftovers? You used to be able to get special tinned hedgehog food, not sure if it is still available Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Not sure if you have a "pets at home" store but I saw some in there yesterday, its in the wild bird food section....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Just found a good link. http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/diet.htm Very interesting, especially the bit about slugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Just found a good link. http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/diet.htm Very interesting, especially the bit about slugs I like the bit about the dried cat food "premium brands only please - cos our hedgehogs only like the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 How wonderful!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 we've got the special hedgehog food - this one looks like cat biscuit ... which explains why Ollie is doing his darnedest to stretch his long paw to get at it (followed a website advice & its under a paving slab raised on 4 bricks - amazing what you find around the garden!) We've also found some on a local website that is slightly different - and better value, so will get some of that during the week. While we were sat in the conservatory having our dinner - surrounded by chickens - they suddenly all started looking in one direction and chattering .... and their was our hedgehog! It was about 8pm and she had emerged from her nest and was waddling across the patio. It's so exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 Bless - I love hedgehogs I had never seen a real (live!) one until a couple of weeks ago when one scuttled across the patio at dusk. It gave me a real fright - I thought it was a rat at first. I was suprised how big it was & what a lot of noise it made muching & snuffling away. Adorable ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 Oooo try and get some pics redfrock the next time she is out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 23, 2007 Author Share Posted July 23, 2007 something awful has happened. We left them all to it, and set up a night vision camera to watch. Mummy H was in and out eating the food we had put down. Two days ago we had a quick check and there were 4 babies in there, not 2 as first thought. We didn't record last night. We have just lifted up the lid to check all ok as we have a mini flood out there and they are all dead. Something has killed them and left them really mangled. It is a horrible bloody mess. We don't know what to do. We don't know if Mum knows and if she is ok. We need to dispose of the box but we need to make sure she has a home. It is awful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 oh how sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 23, 2007 Share Posted July 23, 2007 Thats terrible news poor little things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Oh, what a shame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 That is so sad. I would contact Tiggywinkles & ask if you should clear the nest out or not - I am sure they can advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Oh, what a tragedy Sorry I've no advice, don't know the first thing about hedgehogs, but I feel really sad about your poor babies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Oh no That is such a terrible shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 oh no. That's really, really sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
