Hedgehog

[poohshunny]

I've just been out to the bin and found a hedgehog in the garden. I put some water out for it as I was told that milk is not good for them as they are lactose intolerant. I was going to put some chopped apple out too. Do you think that would do any harm?

[tiggerblue10]

I'm sure I've heard somewhere that hedgehogs like cat food. Or it that badgers! Can't remember now.

[chappie]

Don't know if they will eat apple, but tigger is right, they like cat food. It rings a bell that you should avoid fishy cat food though, but I don't know if this is right.

They love mealworms - we put them out for ours, and on occasions three hedgehogs have been shuffling around the dish, trying to get stuck into them.

I have also read that they will eat suet.

[poohshunny]

Thanks tiggerblue and chappie. After reading your answers I did a bit of digging on the internet and you are both correct. Having a phobia of cats, I don't have any cat food. I did find out that you can acctually buy hedgehog food from the big pet shop chains. I'll go tomorrow and if they don't have any I'll get some kitten or puppy food as recommended on the site I found. I think it would be nice to have a hedgehog visit the garden regularly. Thanks again for your answers.

Ali

[honkytonkman]

Hi,

I've got hedgehogs in my garden, in fact, I bought a wooden house for them to live in. They are free to leave the garden but seem to prefer living in their 'hog-cabin'. I put about 1" of sawdust in the bottom and then filled it up with dead leaves and they made a hollow to sleep in. So I don't disturb them I only look in there once or twice a year, just to clean out the old bedding and put fresh in - as they don't like being disturbed.

I feed mine special dry crunchy biscuits made for hedgehogs called 'Spike's Dinner" - a bit like cat munchies. I've built a little brick igloo to put a saucer of these munchies in every night (so cats can't eat them!). And of course a couple of bowls of water for them.

I know I sound mad!!!! But honestly I'm the most normal person you'd meet LOL.

Hedgehogs must never have milk, or fishy cat foods, or bread.

:)