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Post by kleftiwallah on Nov 16, 2019 17:16:25 GMT
I have had a hedgehog visiting quite regularly until this year when there has been no sign. I've put out chicken cat food under a plastic box (with access to hogs) to keep the cats off in the same place but still no sign. What can I do to show hedgehogs what a marvelous garden we have?  Cheers, Tony. |
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Post by rowanberry on Nov 18, 2019 21:13:43 GMT
We've never been fortunate enough to have hedgehogs, but at this time of year I think they like cozy brush or log piles... something to provide shelter over the winter months. You can buy ready-made (often expensive!) ones, but this youtube video shows how to make your own quite easily.
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Post by Tringa on Nov 20, 2019 13:26:48 GMT
I have had a hedgehog visiting quite regularly until this year when there has been no sign. I've put out chicken cat food under a plastic box (with access to hogs) to keep the cats off in the same place but still no sign. What can I do to show hedgehogs what a marvelous garden we have? Cheers, Tony. I think an untidy garden helps; ours has lots of twigs and other garden waste near the back wall.
Places for them to sleep during the day and/or hibernate and gaps in or under the fences for them to get into adjoining gardens might help too. Our garden has two hedgehogs visiting. I don't know where they have come from as for many (15+) years we saw no hedgehogs at all. We tried wet dog food but the local bengal cat ate it. Then we tried dry dog food and water. The cat left it alone but the local fox didn't. We also tried, as you did Tony, putting the food under a plastic box with a weight on top.
The hole in the box was much too small for the fox to get in, but as our trail camera showed, the fox could get to the food by lying down and sticking its head into the box - video attached.
Now we have a box I made from left over bits of wood. It has a baffle that stops the fox getting to the food.
So far so good. I'm hoping one of the hedgehogs gets enough food soon as it looks too small to survive the winter. I have read 600g is about the minimum weight considered to safe for one to survive. However, I don't know if that is for one hibernating. I wonder if the winter is mild and food is available a smaller one would survive.
Sometime I sit outside at night watching for them. Unfortunately, I don't see their clockwork-like antics very often as they can appear anytime from about 8pm to 3am.
Good luck.
Dave
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Post by kleftiwallah on Nov 20, 2019 17:58:11 GMT
Good evening hog fans, I was told that poultry based cat food was best so that is what I've been setting out. The cats head and opening in the box must be pretty close so I think I'll install a wire across the top section of the arch.
The bottom of our small garden is a tad untidy with a log pile and pond (mesh covered at this time of year).
I made a hedgehog house from bits of marine ply quite a few years ago, we did have a hedgehog overwinter in it so it's not unnacceptable to them. I've filled it with dry leaves, so the waiting continues...
Cheers, Tony.
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Post by Tringa on Nov 20, 2019 20:12:33 GMT
From what I've read almost any cat/dog food is OK for the hogs.
The only thing(apart from milk) I have heard is not too good are mealworms.
This surprised me because hedgehogs eat a lot of insects(and pretty much anything else too) and therefore mealworms, I thought, would be good.
It seems the calcium : phosphorus ratio is very high in mealworms. If mealworms make up a large proportion of a hogs diet the relatively high levels of phosphorus can lead to depletion of calcium from their bones, which can be fatal.
Sounds like your garden would suit a hedgehog.
Dave
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