Hedgie Hut

• What is a Hedghog?
• Online Article: "Hedgehogs are rare but getting popular"
  
• What do Hedgehog Eat?
• Do not buy Vitakraft Hedgehog food
• Personality
• Socializing
• What is Quilling?
• The Poop!
  

    Hedgehogs may look like porcupines, but they actually are not related.  They are related to more of the lines of moles.  Many times, their quills are mistaken to be as sharp as porcupines, but actually can feel quite soft when they are down and prickly like a hairbrush or comb.

    There is a noticable difference in adult quills and baby quills.  Baby quills are shorter and sharper than the adult quills.  Is may be a natural adaption for survival.  When hedgehogs lose their baby quills, this is called quilling.  Some hedgehogs like to eat them and other do not care.  So far I have not heard any concerns about the safety of hedgehogs eating their own quills.  When hedgehogs are frightened, they roll up into a tight ball and look like a cactus.  This is when they are the most prickly because their quills criss cross and stand up.  It is like a person getting goosebumps.


    Hedgehogs do not give off any offensive odor and they are easily litter trained. With  proper care and diet, your pet can live to be 4 - 7 years old.  And another bonus is that they require no immunization shots and are very disease resistant.  There are very few people who are allergic to African Pygmy hedgehogs.  Most people who are allergic to pets are not allergic to hedgehogs.  I know, my sister is allergic to horses and dogs to rabbits and guinea pigs, but not hedgehogs.




    The African Pygmy Hedgehogs is small in size.  The average adult weight is between .5 to 1.5 pounds and are 5 to 8 inches long, about the size of a Guinea Pig.  There are few adults that are larger than this without being overwieght.

    Here is an online article about hedgehogs and what makes them unique.

http://www.dchieftain.com/news/61746-05-24-06.html

    Hedgehogs are insectivores.  That means they naturally eat insects.  Insects consist of mostly protein and fat.  However, since your hedgehog is not in the wild, it is probably not a good idea to feed them a lot of fat.  The only time I feed my hedgehogs insects are for a treat for snack.  I feed them mealworms and freeze dried crickets that have been fortified with calcium.  I only give them a couple a day.  You hedgehog can eat fruit and vegetables too!  It's not a good idea to give them nuts because it may be difficult for them to digest.  The majority of there diet should consist of high quality cat food (low in fat, high in protein) and plenty of water.
    If you would like to find out what the best hedgehog food is, please go to the following website by Pogstar.  It is an excellent resource.  If you do feed your hedgehog fresh fruits and vegetables, please be sure to not leave it with them all day, only allow a seperate dish of fruits and vegetables (and even cottage cheese!) and allow them have it for a couple hours.  We do not want them to spoil and have your hedgehog get a tummy ache .  A diet with dry cat food is good for them to get their gums and teeth exercise, but if you hedgehog looses their teeth, soft foods, may be the way you need to go.  Usually dry food is given to hedgehogs when they are weaning at about 6 to 8 weeks old.

    This brand of food is horrible. It has been known to cause problems to hedgehogs.  This blend of so called healthy hedgehog food is more fit for a guinea pig to hamsters then a hedgehog. It says on the box that it is a complete diet. This is far from the truth. Hedgehogs need meat and protien. This food does not provide any, if not very little. Also it has raisens that can get stuck in the roof of the mouth and cause infections. it could also choke them. This food is mostly made up of nuts and grains. Hedgehogs in the wild normally eat insects, lizards, eggs, small animals, some fruit or some veggies here and there. Almost never do they eat grains and nuts. And you should not feed them nuts.  This product out of 10 would get a 1. If you like to have an unhealthy pet, feed it to you hedgehog. If not, I would recomend a high quality cat food like Pro-Plan Weight Management and Hairball Control for a good product that won't break your wallet.  The highest recommended is in the above paragraph that is linked to a hedgehog food review website.

    Hedgehogs, like people have different personalities.  Some are more outgoing, while others are skiddish and stress out easily.  When choosing a hedgehog, your ideal hedgie is one that is calm and outgoing.  One that is handled more, is more comfortable with humans and will unball shortly after it’s been picked up.  It’s quills should be flat.      
    However, there are hedgehogs who do take longer to be “socialized”.  Socializing is important for the hedgehog and it’s owner.  The more socialized or handled, the more the hedgehog will realize that the owner is no-threatening.  Please try not to allow any situation where the hedgehog can become traumatized, at least for the first month.  The first month of bonding is very important.  
    Note that some hedgehogs will never be completely socialized.  Some will even be biters, but you never quite know what you’re going to get.  Just remember that you need to let the the hedgehog know they can trust you.  Good breeders know to breed for personality.

    I think the most important part about owning a hedgehog is getting it socialized.  This helps them stay tame and friendly with people.  This is especially important their first 3 months of life.  It helps shape them for the future and helps them bond with their owner.
    Some things to help you with socializing your hedgehog, is just holding it, or having it on your lap, etc. the first month for at least 30 minutes a day.  One thing I have told new owners, is to have a hooded sweat shirt and put it in the pouch while you go about your business during the day.  Every now and then, reach in slowly to pet it.  Don't be afraid when it pokes you.  If you let it scare you, it will continue to be like that.  It proves to the hedgehog that it can defend itself and learns that it can continue to be huffy so you won't pet it.  But be careful of poop and pee in your pouch.  You need to be as gentle and quiet as possible the first couple of weeks.  Stressing out a hedgehog is very bad.  For them mentally, and for them physically.  Physically, the stress can cause them to become ill and possibly die.  Mentally, they may never bond with you or people ever.

Here are some warning signs that your hedgehog is letting you know:

• huffy - I'm trying to scare you way
• jumping - I'm trying to hurt you
• clicking - back off, I might even bite you
• jumpin, huffing, and clicking - The worst warning sign.  Really do back off and let me calm down some.

    Also, try not to let your hedgehog lick you.  It might be cute, but it's because you taste good.  Licking leads to biting.  So when you hold your hedgehog, watch to make sure that they don't start licking their lips.  Some don't even give a warning and chomp down.  Just keep rolling your fingers away from the face and mouth.  And let it move around in your hands.
    Picking up and moving your hedgehog can be sometimes difficult.  I usually try the subtle approach.  I slowly move my hands under the belly and pick it up.  If that doesn't work and it balls up before you can put your fingers under it.  I try to gently roll it onto my hand that is on the other side of the hedgehog.  Sometimes your hedgehog will ball up on your hand.  Don't panic!  Just let it take it's time to loosen it's grip and gently fall into your hand.  If you panic and try to get your hand out, it usually tightens up more.

You're going to have to get used to being poked.  I say that it's like learning to play guitar.  You'll have to build up your tolerance of being poked.

Every now and then, put the hedgehog down to run around in it's ball or cage or small area on the floor and pick it up.  That's good practice in letting your hedgehog know that it's normal to have people around and getting constantly handled.

Here is a link that has pictures that show some handling techniques.  If your hedgehog begins to bite, which adolescents sometimes do, there are some tips here.  If hedgie is nipping or biting avoid putting flesh in hedgie’s way, as errorless learning is the best way.  If you avoid handling a hedgie that is huffy or biting, it may learn to continue that behavior, in order to get you to leave it alone.

If you have any questions or concerns contact us.

    If you have purchased a baby, you will experience quilling.  Hedgehog lose and gain sets of quills between birth and 6 months old.  You will notice quills in the cage – they are usually small and thin as compared to the new quills growing in.  Sometimes you will see the new quills breaking through the skin.  Your baby may become grumpy while this is happening.  Keep handling baby (see the first section in this article) and remember that it’s a phase!
    Baby quills are sharper and shorter than adult quills, but adults can lose quills too.  Adult quills are larger, but a little smoother, but still hurt when you step on one.  Adults still lose a couple quills a week, but should not lose a hand full.  Adults may lose quills because they are dehydrated and are scratching their dry skin.  Check their skin and water dish to see if that is the problem.  However, adults that lose more quills are more likely to be highly stressed, sick, or have a mite problem.

    It isn’t unusual for hedgie to develop bright green poop for 1 to 3 days after a move to a new home.  This is generally a sign of stress.  We will generally switch to a single, nutrient dense food and bottled water and it pretty much always clears up within 3 days.  If hedgie is acting listless and having unusual poop, then I would not wait to take hedgie to the vet.  For more details about what is normal in the output department, see here.  Baby hedgies can be bad about pooping on you, but most become civilized about it by 6 months old.