What can I feed
Hedgehogs should be eating cat food kibble. Our favorite is the above American Journey Duck Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. We like it because it has a nearly perfect 1:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio meaning healthy bones and heart and liver function.
Cat and dog food has been scientifically balanced to be safe and nutritious, and contains no ingredients that are harmful to hedgehogs. Although both dog and cat food are perfect supplementary foods for hedgehogs, because they have small mouths the tiny size of kitten biscuits is ideal.
Our hedgehogs love Whiskas kitten food, it's a firm favourite as the tasty pieces are small enough for the young hoglets.
Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Supply good quality, meaty hedgehog food from wildlife food suppliers. Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread - milk can cause diarrhoea and bread isn't very nutritious.
The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects. More infrequently, they will take advantage of carrion, frogs, baby rodents, baby birds, birds' eggs and fallen fruit.
Grapes and avocados are toxic to hedgehogs. While some people give crushed peanuts to their hedgies, nuts and raisins are generally considered a choking hazard as they get stuck on the roof of their mouth. Avoid giving your pet hedgehog insects you've caught yourself as they might have digested toxins.
Put out a dish of cat biscuits, hedgehog biscuits or meaty dog food each night along with a dish of fresh water. If there are hedgehogs around they will come to know where there is a reliable source of food.
Hedgies require about 70 to 100 calories a day which isn't all that much. Roughly, depending on the specific calorie content of the food offered, this would break down to about 1 to 3 Tablespoons per day. But remember, if more is offered, hedgehogs will gorge, consuming many more calories than they need.
Fruits: Dried fruit should be avoided, but a small amount of fresh fruit can be offered to your hedgehog as treats. Apples, bananas, berries, and melons are popular choices among hedgehogs.
Essential Oils: I have been advised that oils that are considered "hot" are toxic to hedgehogs. Oils that are considered hot: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Thieves, and Thyme. These are often contained in blends.
The poo of a healthy hedgehog is black to dark brown in colour. Each poo is around 1.5 to 5 centimetres long. They are sausage shape, with one or both ends slightly pointed. They are often almost sparkly due to the bits of beetle skeleton they contain.
Fish protein is beneficial and therefore within a balanced, cat or dog food is fine for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs have an excellent sense of smell and may be put off by (or attracted to) strong odours and fish of course, have a strong odour.
Other “treats” can include meal worms, sultanas, small pieces of fruit, cooked potato, light fruitcake, plain biscuits, cooked chicken, and raw mince. Even if you don't feed your hedgehogs, please always may sure there is a shallow dish of water especially during the summer months.
For the most part no, hedgehogs cannot eat cheese. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so dairy products aren't good for them. However, some hedgehogs have been said to like cottage cheese in very small amounts. If your hedgehog is in this group then you'll want to make this a rare special occasion just to play it safe.
Feeding hedgehogs in your garden should only be a supplement to their natural diet, or to help them during the harder Winter months, so it is important to not offer too much of any one type of food.
As opportunistic eaters, hedgehogs will readily consume food left out in your garden. The best foods to provide are: Meat-based cat or dog food.
Some hedgies include fruit, roots, grass, leaves, and seeds along with their creepy-crawly main course. Hedgehogs at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park eat a well-balanced diet of vegetables, cat kibble, pellets made for insectivores, crickets, and mealworms.
Grunting and snuffling, like a pig = hedgehog out and about, looking for food. Chuffing like a steam train = mating season. Chirping like a baby bird = hungry hoglets in the nest. Screaming Hedgehog = in pain and distress.
Hedgehogs do not groom or clean themselves like most other animals. You will know your hedgehog is ready for a bath when it looks dirty, has dry skin, “poop boots” (dirty feet from, well, you know!), or anointed spots of dried “stuff”. Once a month bathing is adequate for the average hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are definitely more active at night than they are during the day. During the day, they like to do most of their sleeping. And at night they like to do most of their playing, AND rearranging of their cage.
They have sharp needles all over their backs which can penetrate the skin. It will often itch if a needle does and may cause a rash.
Pet hedgehogs have an average life span of four to six years and weigh about a pound. Most owners will feed them a low-fat dry cat food supplemented with vegetables, mealworms, and crickets, and keep them in a large, flat-bottomed cage.