Hedgehog house and feeding station now finished and in place! Do you use hay or straw on the surrounding ground? 2 nights ago the food went. Before I get too excited, I'm concerned it may be rats. I had a problem with those last year when I had chickens, though I haven't seen any for a while. Mike, have you ever had a rat problem? Hoping to get a camera soon, so then I should have my answer!
I personally don't have a specific preference between hay or straw, though I know other people are far more specific about their choice. Hay tends to be small, shorter and softer, and so if that's available I will get that for the hedgehog houses. I've been fortunate not to have a rat problem at all, so I don't have much experience or advice in that regard
I've been putting water and hedgehog food out every evening and setting up a night vision camera. As you've said in earlier videos Mike, this can be a very addictive hobby. So far I'm getting one regular visitor.
Mike could you help with this one. In your video you say no fruit for hedgehogs. In summer very occasionally I put out a small amount of apple, which they love. Am I wrong in doing this?
Hello Heather, I'd avoid even small amounts of fruit. Hedgehogs enjoy everything, or at least, they don't have the filter that tells them that something may be bad for their long term health, and they eat whatever they find. So it's always better to avoid anything that we may think of as a "treat" and is not the usual dry food biscuits.
@@HedgehogsHollow Thanks for this helpful reply. In future will avoid all fruit in feeding. They must eat a lot that isn't good for them on their travels.
Re feeding -A couple of years ago we started with a feeding station( wet & dry changed & plates cleaned each morning) - as well as this, now, we scatter dry food around in the hay outside the feeding station - much more natural for the hog and less arguments regarding access to the feeding station. This year the cameras show our hoggie population has increased from two to four.
@@HedgehogsHollow Yes!it' great! I suspect though that the number will drop off during the summer -at present we are still very cold here at night & not many insects about yet, and they are all very hungry!
@@HedgehogsHollow My hedgehog, Eileen didn't hibernate, she just kept coming out to eat the delicious buffet I put out for her each night 🤗🤣🤣 But now other hogs are coming to eat her food and ther have been some scraps with her booting them out and rolling them! At least I hope it's her doing the pushing and not the others pushing her! Fortunately I don't think they hurt each other - do they? Thank you for all your help and advice 👍
The little scuffles and skirmishes tend to be rivalry for food sources. If you're able to, perhaps provide an additional source of food and split the food between the two - at least that might separate the hedgehogs. At this time of year there ought to also be some more natural food starting to appear, so they should all get their fair share (we hope...)
