All you want to know about hedgehogs....

what may i ask can safely be used to de-flea a hedgehog? as far as we can tell our Hodgie never had any (at least that we could see) but his new friend sure does! what would you recommend?

 

I got told powder is fine but not the aerosol @luciusmaximus can you help with this question

 

Johnsons Small Animal Spray is fine to use but be careful how you apply it as you do not want the hog to breathe in the spray. I cover their faces when applying. Johnsone used to make a powder version of the spray, but I think this has been discontinued. Do not use Frontline or any other product designed for use on cats or dogs, these are toxic for hogs. If you de-flea the hogs you need to bear in mind that they may well re-infest themselves again, depending on where they picked up the fleas in the first place. For example if the fleas are in their nests then they will pick up new fleas after you've got rid of the first lot. If you see ticks on a hog then the best way to remove is with a tick remover. They are a very cheap to buy. Do not use olive or vegetable oil. This will suffocate the ticks making them feel unwell so they let go and drop off but they regurgitate their stomach contents back into the hog before they drop off . Can cause infection under the skin.

I love your photo honeybunny ! So you have one male and one female then ?? ........ could be you will be having baby hogs soon

I found 2 courting hogs behind the caravan last night.

 

It's not very good for the birds either

 

Thank you very useful .

Spruce

 

thank you that was 5 star info and very much appreciated i'll be sure to get the one you recommended @luciusmaximus
oh what i wouldn't do to see our Hodgies lil bubbas we are pretty sure our resident chap "Hodgy" is male as hes lived here for about 5 yrs or so and never had any babies, and of course we're only assuming Sonja (and t'other hedgehogs Hodgy has brought home in the past) are female because...well...why would he bring other males home with him ........... OMG!!! maybe Hodgie plays for the other team!!!

 

How come?

 

Bird hearts are even less well adapted to dealing with the processed fats used in mass produced breads than ours are . I was scolded by my neighbour (a keen bird man) for putting the bread out for them.

 

Okay, I'll stop then. Didn't know that.

Even normal brown bread?

 

I wouldn't like to say. The s/market freshly baked bread I believe to be as bad, but from an artisan baker probably not.

 

Its quite easy to tell an adult male from an adult female but it does depend on whether the hog will allow you to pick it up and look. Male hogs have a 'belly button ' which is their manhood , females do not have ' belly buttons ' and their lady parts are lower down. Sexing babies can be a bit more difficult. You could also try placing Hodgie in a large rectangular glass bowl, raise it up and look through the bottom of the bowl - only works if hog is not rolled up. Another way is to slide your fingers under his skirt and feel for a belly button, if he will let you. A 3rd way is to place hog on a table top/ kitchen top and raise his back legs up vertically so his front legs remain on the table top and his body is stretched out straight. In this position he cannot roll up and you can look at his abdomen. You could maybe sex the other hog as well

There's lots of baby making going on around here at present - or the intent to baby make

 

hmmm...dont have a glass bowl but im sure i have a small empty storage tub (the see through perspex kind) knocking about somewhere so i think i'll give that one a go....not the others though as Hodgie may never forgive me if i went groping around "down there" lol hedgehogs can sue you for sexual harassment you know! it was in the recent animal rights bill im sure

 

A couple of nights ago:



Grunting at me like mad he was.

 

I've got a question. How do you know when hedgehogs are visiting your garden without seeing them? I mean what evidence do they leave behind?

 

Sounds as if you've pulled!!!!!!!!