Pat Hoggie Advice needed please...........

[mandymoosie]

I'm really happy to say that we have a new hoggie in our neighbourhood Pat.

He only appeared a few nights ago, not sure if it's male or female, but it's a nice size and appears to be pretty healthy from what I can tell, though it's difficult to get a real good look, as he scurries away quickly if he sees me! lol

Now, so far I'm feeding him Iams cat biscuits, my cats eat them so I've always got plenty in, I leave him fresh water in the morning and at night, am I doing this right please? I don't want to be making the poor little chap poorly or anything? I also tried him on a tiny bit of wet cat meat which he seemed to devour! lol

We've named him "Mr Hedgy" and I'm already growing to love him.

When do they hybernate?? and if I get a hoggie house, where would be the best place to put it please Pat??

lol.........Mr Hedgy is out there as I speak!!! I can hear him rattling his bowl!!

Many thanks in advance for any advice you can give me Pat. X

[bitsnknots]

Hi Mandy.  I've no advice about your hedgehog but it's good to see you back.

[mandymoosie]

Thank you Chris. X

When is the Wedding, I'm sure it's coming up soon if I remember rightly?

[rsjlew]

Hi Mandy, I know I'm not Pat and I'm sure she'll be along to answer your questions soon .

Meanwhile you are doing fine feeding the cat food so long as it's meaty not fishy flavoured, wet or dry should be fine. Water is very important, especially with the dry food.

I think hibernation times depend on the weather, our were late appearing this year due to the cold, wet spring we had.

Hope this reassures you until the expert comes along

[mandymoosie]

Thank you so much for your advice, I appreciate it very much.

I have some minced beef with boiled potato, carrot, onion and gravy which was left over from tonights dinner, I was wondering whether that would be ok to give him as I have some left and would rather him have it than throw it away??

[rsjlew]

Have a google, lots of advice on there

I just had a look and cooked meat is fine for them, doesn't mention the veggies so not sure about them?

I get dried hedgehog food for mine which has chopped nut, dried bananas and fruit in, which they enjoy very much

[mandymoosie]

Thank you.

I've just been having a read, I'll check out the vegetable sittuation before I give him anything. From what I've just read, the minced beef sounds fine.

I'll have to get some hedghog food, thank you once again for your help.

[mandymoosie]

Yay!! I managed to get some pics of him just 10 minutes ago

I'm not very used to this new forum so I hope I've done this right, please bare with me.

Would you say he looks healthy Pat and rsjlew?

[bitsnknots]

Hi Mandy.  The wedding is upon us.  Steph and Graham get married at 1.30 this afternoon.  Grace is one of the bridesmaids but doesn't want to wear her dress.  It should be fun.

[mandymoosie]

Oh bless darling Grace.........they have a mind all of their own, hopefully you wont have dress issues with her today, I'm sure she'll be so exited and happy that she wont remember not wanting to wear her dress

I hope you all have a wonderful day Chris, the weather isn't too bad here, very mild and maybe the sun will come shining through this afternoon for you all

[rsjlew]

Well done for getting photo's up

Looks like a whopper you've got there! I'm really no expert and don't pretend to be. As far as I can see he looks fine but hopefully Pat will be along to have a look soon as they are tricky things.

Did you see my previous thread about our wounded hog? Thankfully now nursed back to health by our local rescue in Cheddar

[mandymoosie]

Thank you

It was fun trying to get that pic of him, I didn't want to frighten the poor little chap, so I had to lay down on the ground so that I would be at his level, glad the neighbours were all in their beds then

Yes I thought he's on the rather large side, he doesn't half eat well.....I'm not really sure how much food I should be giving him, I don't want to over feed him ?

I shall go and have a read of your hoggy thread, I'm so glad that you found him and they were able to sort him out and save him

[hightara]

hi mandy,

no advice.......... i have never seen a real hedgehog

pics are gorgeous though

[rsjlew]

Glad I'm not the only nutter trying to take pics in the dark!!This is our juvenile having it's fill last night, not a great pic but it tends to scarper if it hears me coming!This one is mum and juvenile about 6 weeks ago.

[mandymoosie]

Hi there Tara, I'm so glad that you're feeling better and on the mend now

rsjlew oh I love your pics, no you're not on your own, I'm often lurking around in the dead of night

I love your hoggy shelter too, I'm going to try and make a little hoggy home for him too.

Oh and Mums had a little one too, how lovely is that

[stampingpat]

Hi Mandy, Sorry hun, just saw this post. You are doing fine. We feed Iams Kitten biscuits here, as they are smaller in size, but if yours is okay with the larger biscuits that is fine. 🙂 The dry food is best and water. But some wet cat food is fine too. The meat would be okay, but the gravy gives them the runs. I do sometimes give some of mine here veggies. But I think at this time of the year, I think the cat food is best for him. He/She looks a good size. So not to worry about him getting up to size for hibernation. The males usually go into hibernation first to leave more food for the girls. And then they are the first usually out of hibernation in the spring. You are basically only suplimenting their natural diet. But it all helps. 🙂

  As for the house, best of luck. We have 7 in our garden and not one hog hibernates in them!!! LOL  They have and do sometimes use them for a night or two. But I think they have nests under sheds around here that they hibernate in. You will want to position it under some bushes and where the wind doesn't blow into the entrance of the box. Also leave out some straw or hay for them to build up thier nest. They can really pack the stuff into their boxes. We usually put it into a plastic box turned on it's side so they can get what they want from it. Put it near their nest box. Also don't put the food and water too near the nest box. They don't like it near them.

   As for hibernating..... Some don't hibernate at all. It again will depend on the weather and how cold it is. And also, they can come out of hibernation and look for a top up on food and water. We do keep food and water available here for ours all year long. During the winter it usually is mice or cats that end up getting it. But if a hog finds it needs it, it is there just in case. Keeping the water from freezing is difficult. We have a microwave heat pad that we use under our bowls here and top up really late in the evening with fresh water. And go out several times during the day in case.

[mandymoosie]

Oh thank you so much for your helpful advice Pat

I've just ordered a plastic storage box to make a feeding station, I got the instructions from the Epping Forest Hedgehog site.

Having to put the food out in the open at the moment is causing a little problem, as another cat has noticed and thinks I'm feeding her too!!! lol

I'm not sure about getting a house yet, if I do, it will be one of the more natural looking one's, but how I see it is that they've always found safe places for hybernation, so I would think that they can sort of look after themselves on that front, we have got some really bushy, full covered shrubs which would make a perfect place for sleep or hybernation, there are against a wall so they don't get the wind blowing them much and the keep the rain and snow off of the ground where they are, so hopefully Mr Hedgy has already discovered that, I've a feeling that that is where he's probably sleeping during the day, I haven't really checked as I don't want him to think he's been discovered

Once again many thanks to you Pat, I appreciate your guidance and advice

[stampingpat]

Any time Mandy. 🙂 And if you can't reach me, the forum on the Epping Forest is always got someone there that can give you advice. 🙂

  I have been out tonight checking our garden hogs. 🙂 I like to do that about this time of the year so I can see if any need a bit of tlc or help before hibernating. I deflead them and removed some ticks too. Our old girl Suzy showed up. 🙂 She has been with us for over 4 years now. She is looking quite gingery now. Bless her.  I brought in 7 tonight and missed one.  We had two adult females besides suzy, which was surprising. And one large male. And three youngsters. Two of which are a good size, but the little female I have brought in for some feeding up. I will do a poo sample and check her for parasites tomorrow. She had a few fleas and ticks on her and hopefully I have dispatched the fleas and most of the ticks. I will get the others tomorrow. They all look good and healthy which is a great bonus. 🙂 I put it down to the good food they get here. 🙂 It really does make a difference.

Well done again and if you have any questions, just ask. 🙂 We carers alike to help where we can.