So there are a few posts about 'hogs but I am sure there are many wonderful minds stacked with 'hog information but no where to release it. Enter the Hog thread!

Hedgehogs are becoming increasingly popular amongst wildlife at the moment and I am sure there are many people out there with hundred of questions just burning to ask.

If you think you know anything about our lovely hoggy friends or would simply like to ask a question then why not stamp it here!
I hope this comes into use as intended.

Hi Rou, great idea for a thread.

I'll start it off with a little bit I've learnt here before, is that you shouldn't feed them bread, as they get filled up and don't get the nutrition they need from it.

Thanks for adding to the thread.

Its a well known fact that almost every hedgehog will have some form of external parasite such as a tick or fleas as the hedgehog is one of the very few mammals that do not groom themselves.

External parasites can be a dreadful draw back to a hedgehog should it have a bad infestation and can often make them extremely ill. Should anyone find a hedgehog that is badly infested with any form of parasite external and internal (ie worms) it should be taken to the vets straight away.

I just read up on why not to give a hedgehog cows milk and bread. It turns out, like with many mammals that are weaned from their mothers milk, the hedgehog is in fact lactose intolerant. This means the hedgehog cannot metabolise the lactose within dairy products such as cows milk due to its inability to manufacture lactase, the undigested lactose sits in the intestines where gut enzymes begin to break it down, ferment it and it then produces gas hence the bloating.

Feeding a hedgehog on a combination of cows milk and bread can lead to stomach bloating and cramping, diarrhea and other symptoms.

I also found that experts suggest leaving out sheeps/goat or human baby formula or even soya-based milk as opposed to the traditional bowl of cows milk as this does not have the same affect.

I say nothing can beat a nice bowl of fresh water for a wild hog though.... they need alot of it and drink alot of it.

Hedgehog specific foods can be purchased from the well known Pets At Home stores.

The food is titled Spike's Dinner or Wildthings Hedgehog Feed.

Wildthings generally comes in dry biscuit form where as Spike's Dinner comes in either wet tinned form or dry biscuit form.

Hedgehogs hibernate through the whole winter but often wake up a few times throughout. They often hibernate in places like piles of wood or logs, so it's a good idea to leave places like that alone through the winter if at all possible!

I have seen the odd hedgehog in my lifetime, although unfortunately more squashed on the roads than roaming about.
However I've always wanted to provide some sort of shelter or food for them in my garden as they are fascinating creatures and look so cute as well! But I've always been put off the idea as I do not want to attract the attention of other animals, such as rats! Is there anyway to prevent this from happening?
Thanks

You can always provide natural shelters for the hogs such as piles of wood, patches/corner of the garden with longer grass than the rest or even grow a thick shrubbery or a bush. These options however are likely to attract rats than hides built by man.

Man made hides can be made with things like large terracotta plant pots, wood (made into a little hut), strategically placed large tiles and so on. Just get creative, anything can be used from wood purchased from B&Q to the old piping the builders throw out.

I will do a big search on some sites to get some ideas for you and will list them here for you when I have done so. If all else fails, just leave the grass longer in a quite corner of your garden!

Try the following websites for some ideas and how to make the hog houses.

http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/FAQS/..._homes.htm
http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/product...1QodR21OWA
http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/houses.htm

Here is a google images page with loads of ideas.
http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=hedg...a=N&tab=wi


Let me know You think the information I have provided is of any use.


Rou

With any ponds or holes in the ground putting up fencing around the boarders will prevent the hogs from falling in. Hedgehogs cannot swim and have been known to drown in water.

Netting over the pond although good for preventing cats and herons from getting the pond fish, should not be used to stop hedgehogs. Little hog legs will get caught up in the [/align]netting and can cause injuries such as skin scrapes and broken limbs to occur if the hog panics.

This post was last modified: 16-06-2008 10:56 AM by Rou.

good thread guys i have heard before that you can feed the dog food but im not sure if this correct not seen. I've not seen one this year yet but there is a good chance becuase we have a bit of scurb land behind our house, foxes visist this regularly so maybe the hogs are lying low

yes hogs can be fed dog food but only on a rare basis as this is too rich for a staple diet. feeding a hog on just dog food would be like us eating chocolate cake every meal.

The hogs may lay low if there are foxes around however healthy hogs are pretty much safe from all predators minus man and badger as it is only these two predators that are able to successfully pry a healthy hedgehog out of its defensive curling position.

Foxes however have been known to succeed in a hog kill if the hog was already ill or injured as their curling position cannot be held as well.

I read on one of my books that hedgehogs are good swimmers even if they do not appreciate water so much...

This web site tells something about it:
http://www.sosricci.it/html/i%20nostri%2...imali.html

I read on one of my books that hedgehogs are good swimmers even if they do not appreciate water so much...

This web site tells something about it:
http://www.sosricci.it/html/i%20nostri%2...imali.html

I would be interested in checking out the book you read as hedgehogs are naturally physically challenged to swim due to the make up of their bodies. think of the size of the torso/bulk of the body and the length and strength of the hedgehogs legs. not to mention the positioning of the hedgehogs face.

just take a look at this you tube video. can you see that although the hedgehog can swim it would get very tired. you may want to turn the audio off though.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zXjPQYgT25Q

and also.
"Garden ponds and swimming pools.
Hedgehogs can swim, but will eventually tire and drown if they are unable to escape from the water." - http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/dangers.htm

Surely hedgehogs get tired soon and often they can't escape from water. If a hedgehog falls into a swimmingpool, it will probably drown... But they are able to do short swims. I read this on the (italian) book "Il riccio. Ci sono anch'io" - author: Marina Setti (she is the biologist founder of a famous hedgehogs' hospital in Reggio Emilia, "SOS Ricci"). But you can find similar info here "http://ragazzicominostriamicianimali.blog.hr/2008/02/1624201319/il-riccio-abile-nuotatore.html" (third line); and here "http://www.parcogargano.it/?3,137,85" (section: Descrizione - beginning of the third paragraph).

The video on YuoTube is... how can I say? I can't understand if the hedgehog is having fun or not. It swims a little and, as you said, gets very tired. It does a somersault and floats lying on its back for a long time.
For sure I won't never put a hedgehog into the water!

Very nice the website you suggest!