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We have a hedgehog.....

(44 Posts)
AlieOxon Mon 22-Aug-16 10:38:22

I just found out I still have the hedgehog that I overwintered in my greenhouse in a box of hay. In January the derelict house next door was taken over by developers who first stripped the garden of everything. I asked them to look out for hedgehogs as I'd been feeding them the autumn before, and they found one and left it in a box on my porch! - so I put it in the greenhouse with food and water, and as the weather then got colder it just stayed in the box until I provided a place in my garden, which is now very overgrown but I'm leaving it alone!
Recently a plant i just put in was dug up, probably by the hedgehog, and I realised that there might be a shortage of slugs etc as it's been so dry here - so put out some soft chicken bits near the hedgehog place, which disappeared. Now it's rained, so plenty of slugs. Which I deal with with a beer trap near my veg.
Re fences, a lot of high fences are appearing round here, and I have been asking people to see that there are hedgehog ways under them, some have responded. You can always make sure you own garden is accessible though. Hedgehogs roam an unexpectedly long way for food.

jacalpad Mon 22-Aug-16 10:23:54

We have two fully grown hedgehogs in our garden, in the city. We buy hedgehog food from the local garden centre, and put a dish of this and chopped raisins out each night with a separate dish of water. The dishes need to be shallow - saucers are ideal.

Some time ago I researched what to feed hedgehogs, and you can give them wet or dry cat food or dog food, but it must not be a fishy or pork variety. I decided to buy the hedgehog food, which looks very much like cat crunchies, in the hope that it might be less appealing to the local cats! Milk is another no-no as it can upset their little tummies and kill them. Also, the dishes should not be left out in the day as flies can leave something nasty behind that kills them. It seems hedgehogs have a very delicate digestive system.

Our hedgehogs are currently starting to feed around 9.15pm each evening, and are a delight to watch. They are very noisy eaters! One evening there was a bit of an altercation between the two adults, and they were grunting very loudly indeed!!!

oznan Mon 22-Aug-16 09:59:05

I am lucky enough to have a hedgehog too-my dog always comes in to "tell" me when it's about by running in and out until I follow him.Of course,it rolls into a ball when the dog approaches and I don't think he can understand why it doesn't say hello and play with him!
You can buy special hedgehog food from Tesco and Wilkinsons.

path20 Mon 22-Aug-16 09:57:46

We see the occasional hedgehogs. We had a surprise a few weeks ago, we saw a badger strolling past our bungalow.It has been confirmed that they have set up camp in the wood close by.
PS We no longer use slug pellets.The hedgehogs eat the poisoned slugs and die themselves.

Alishka Sun 21-Aug-16 20:27:11

Full of envy here envy
I've just had four hog pets over the years, the last being about four years ago in my previous garden.
Love them smile

Katek Sun 21-Aug-16 19:43:42

We've put out some cat food for our visitor and DH has been looking online at how to construct a house for him. Hopefully he'll stay around and perhaps hibernate in the habitat DH is going to make. It's actually quite exciting!

M0nica Sun 21-Aug-16 19:08:16

DD found a hedgehog in the garden about a month ago. She feeds them (she now has two) the dried meal worms you feed birds with. To stop the birds eating the worms she puts the saucer of worms for the hedgehogs out after dark and usually finds the saucer empty in the morning.

I intend to do the same. I had a hedgehog overwinter successfully in a mound of leaves a year or so ago, so I know they are about.

judypark Sun 21-Aug-16 16:39:04

Pretty sure that the RSPCA recommend wet cat food. Their only natural predator is the badger as they can prise them open with their powerful claws, however foxes may take youngsters by catching them by their hind legs and flipping them over. Good luck with your little visitor.

chicken Sun 21-Aug-16 15:32:28

We once heard strange noises from the shed and thought we had a rough -sleeper in there but on investigating(very gingerly) found it was a hedgehog, snoring loudly! I found one hibernating in the greenhouse last autumn and have seen it around a few times, usually foraging for dropped bits from the birds fatball feeder. When the male is pursuing a female for a bit of hows-yer-father, he makes a fantastic grunting noise. You can hear it from way off.

HootyMcOwlface Sun 21-Aug-16 15:26:30

We have a hedgehog though I rarely see him, but I know he comes as he leaves his poo all over the grass(small and black). Last time I saw him he was eating seeds that had fallen from the bird feeders. I looked for some snails for him but they were hiding so I left him to find his own.

I've heard you should not give bread and milk, but you can leave out tinned cat food. I've also heard that if you see them during the daytime they are in trouble or distress and need help, otherwise leave them be.

durhamjen Sun 21-Aug-16 15:14:20

Oh, and don't put out slug pellets.

durhamjen Sun 21-Aug-16 15:12:20

I had the same a couple of weeks ago.
The day after, I received some post from the Woodland Trust asking when did you last see a hedgehog?
I could tell them the exact date, but it was the first time I'd seen one here in six years.
The important thing to do is to leave spaces in your fences or hedges so they can pass from one garden to the next, and not block up the hedgehog run.

KatyK Sun 21-Aug-16 14:52:35

I've only ever seen one hedgehog in my life. It was ambling down our road a few years ago (in the middle of the road) and some teenagers were stopping traffic to ensure its safety smile I would be afraid to put food out as we have a canal at the back of the house and I think the only things that would benefit would be rats! I would love to see a hedgehog in the garden.

hildajenniJ Sun 21-Aug-16 14:38:01

I haven't seen a hedgehog for a couple of years. We used to get them in the garden every year. sad

NfkDumpling Sun 21-Aug-16 13:25:35

We had a hedgehog. Even baby ones (so there must have been more than one!) But we've had no sign since our new neighbours moved in, re-styled their garden and put up new panel fencing. We now have slugs!

Elegran Sun 21-Aug-16 13:24:01

I did like those DIY hedgehog homes. I might have a go at that, my garden is rough enough to hide one in. Only problem is that I've not seen a hedgehog for years, and I think the foxes which are certainly around would demolish any that took up residence.

Penstemmon Sun 21-Aug-16 12:52:15

I too have a hedgehog. I put out cat biscuits and water each day to supplement diet of worms/slugs/beetles etc! I cover the food witha plastic box with a doorway cut out. I had lifted it up to take this picture.

Elegran Sun 21-Aug-16 11:45:48

Lucky you. If you do feed it, on no account give it the traditional bread and milk, that will kill it. I think dog-food is what is recommended, but someone else will be able to enlighten you. It should be hibernating quite soon, if it is fat enough. Maybe you could supply a suitable hibernation home for it? www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hedgehog-homes.html

Katek Sun 21-Aug-16 11:35:59

Came home late the other night and wondered why the security light was flickering on and off. There, beside the front step, was a hedgehog who looked like she/he'd been eating a snail. In all the time we've stayed here (30+ years) we have never seen a hedgehog so it's a novel event for us. Should I feed him/her or is there anything else we ought to do to ensure Mrs Tiggywinkle's survival and comfort? Total hog novice!!