Hedgehog advice

[Pinkshrimp]

I was thrilled to see a hedgehog ambling across the lawn when I got the cat in the other week. I had seen hedgehog poop a couple of times, weeks and weeks apart, so I didn’t think I had a regular visitor.

After seeing it myself I have been leaving water and food out each night but, when I went to put the food out recently, there were half a dozen slugs waiting by the dish. It seems I’ve trained the slugs to know what time feeding time is!

I keep leaving food out-hoping the slugs will attract the hedgehog- but does anyone have any tips? Is there a food that slugs hate but hedgehogs love? Do slug proof dishes exist?

It's a Hydrangea, in a pot. (Pictures taken last night)

Oh, maybe hoglet has left mum already!

They're lovely, my hydrangeas in the garden are no way as happy as that. I'll maybe plant some in pots.

Do! They love pots

I found the slugs ate the food but that attracted more hedgehogs, 2 years ago I had at least 4 different ones visiting. I've not seen any this year but I have not had my door open as much.

My back door is in my living toom and they would come right up to the door.

I already had a 'wild patch' but it has become more wild when a willow tree died and I just put it in the wild bit.

Gratuitous hog pics

Sweeet sash Always Thing is I've got to do the changeover on the terrace (from pelargoniums to bulbs and or chysanths) As well as move the hyds!)

How do you get a pic without making them freeze and turn away Always ?

I know that wasn't aimed at me. You can see my laminate floor in my pics so they are quite used to going near light. My local butcher has bags of cooked meat off cuts that I get for the cat, they love them but they are not that good, apparently salt is a problem so no ham or corned beef but a bit of cooked chicken they don't care about light.

vodka How can you tell yours is female? I'd love to know how to find out.

Someone on here gave me some advice. I name mine alternate male / female names, this year (if I see one) will start with a female name.

Back to the advice, and it only works with more than one hog, females ignore each other, males will fight, a male will circle a female, a female that is not interested in a male will run away.

I actually had a very feisty small hog that would run full pelt into the side of a much bigger hog, big hog ignored it, little hog would give up and come back for 15 mins.

Poop! There is new poop.

So, it/they are definitely around but can hedgehogs do steps?

I have a patio outside the doors but the garden is down steps. It is flat from the patio around the side of the house to the front but I’ve been putting the food/water Down on the garden & the shelter I’ve built is down there under a hedge but the poop is up on the patio. So, it’s either coming from the front and not getting any of the food I’ve been leaving and won’t use the shelter, or it can climb 4 steps.

They can!

Slugs are very definitely an absolute last resort for hogs and as others have said, often carry lungworm.
Hedgehog rescues recommend dry kitten food, one that has meat, not cereal listed as the main ingredient and some 'hedgehog' foods have sunflower hearts and mealworm in, which are really harmful to them. Please do check out @HedgehogCabin or Wildlife Orphanage on Twitter for some excellent, knowledgeable advice.

Thanks sash,

Pink Oh yes they can climb (our terrace has steps on 2 sides and a small wall on the other sides, which has climbing plants on it and they must climb them because a few years ago they were approaching from the unstepped side if you see what I mean.) They now use the steps to finish the cat's food outside our kitchen door.

How long do the mums stay with their babies? There's a smaller one now and the mum has gone , will she go off to find a new mate? Will she feed somewhere else or just come back at another time? There has never been fighting here!

Where do you think the best spot for a hedgehog house would be? Somewhere a bit hidden and sheltered I presume? I read something about it facing east but I don't know why and can't remember where I read it?! Also are foxes a threat? We've got a very confident one who comes in the garden it was kicking a ball around around 5pm yesterday

Hedgehogs love gravy by the way ;-)
Any that is left over from a roast goes out into a bowl in the garden for mine to eat

I love the though of a hedgehog playing footie.

Where to put your hedgehog home. Hibernating hedgehogs like peace and quiet. Put the house where it won't be disturbed, against a wall, bank or fence if possible and under or near plant cover. The north wind doth blow, so face the entrance away from north or north-east and you're more likely to encourage a guest

www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/hedgehog_home/

Hedgehog shelters

www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/giveahogahome/

www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-make-a-hedgehog-house.html

My greedy cat keeps scoffing the food, I will have to start going out later in the scary dark with a torch.

Gravy-wow, it will wanting a couple of roasties too before long!

Pinkshrimp
Before I moved my back door, the hedgehogs would come in through the open back door in summer and eat from the cats bowls

Thank you @Pinkshrimp 😊 unfortunately it was the fox playing football, not the hedgehog!

Our younger one is getting more bold , but not coming inside! Listening We have a timid rescue cat who just watches the hogs. He also has recently started coming inside.

I keep 'piles' of grass cuttings etc. under thick hedges\shrubs for the hogs . The gardener knows not to touch them. He thinks I'm mad but he does understand it's for nature.

@anxietrist

Thank you *@Pinkshrimp* 😊 unfortunately it was the fox playing football, not the hedgehog!

I need to read more carefully!

Do hedgehogs like rain? Ours have disappeared!

@ppeatfruit Mine hasn't been visiting either. I think it's definitely the weather.
Mine usually returns after a week or so. I'm sure yours will too. They might be coming out at a different time during the night

But they're not eating the food. it's difficult to stop it getting waterlogged. Yes perhaps they hibernate out of the rain

The young one has returned ( can tell by the smallish poop on the step !) for 2 nights. It seems they like it when the temperature goes up and the rain stops, like butterflies!

So happy to see the hedgehog love

Over the last couple of years we’ve taken 3 to our local wildlife place, found out in daylight, weighed and not heavy enough to get through winter. One of them had the ring from a plastic milk bottle stuck around its neck poor thing. They look after them over winter and bring them back in the spring.

This year we’ve had a whole family in the garden most nights. I was properly affronted when it came out in a chat with my neighbour that she also thinks they’re her hedgehogs. I was like errr no actually they’re MINE 😂

Hands They do eat a lot.

Warms my heart to read this thread. Do add this app - it’s brilliant to read about everything related to hedgehogs and you can post your sightings of them

apps.apple.com/gb/app/hedgehog-street/id1467753478