Mid Spring is a great time to clean out hedgehog hibernation boxes ready for the Summer nesting period. You can also check and make any repairs at the same time. The best time to clean your hedgehog boxes is normally in April. This is usually after hibernation but before the nesting period begins.
Maintaining your hedgehog house
In March and April, when the hedgehogs have finished hibernating and will have left the house. It's important that you clean the hedgehog house around this time and before the breeding season, as disturbing a mother can cause her to abandon her hoglets.
Whether you make your own or buy one, fill the chamber of your hedgehog home with a layer of dead, dry leaves. Hedgehogs prefer small leaves such as birch, oak, hawthorn or hazel. Then screw the roof to the box so that you can remove it in future to clean the box out.
If you should change the bedding weekly depends on how much bedding you use in the cage and how accurately you do the daily spot cleaning. So for some, it would be ok to change after about 10 days, while others have to do it after 7 days. For the change itself, it is important that you remove all the old bedding.
The wood can be treated with water based preservative only, on no account should the hedgehog house be creosoted or treated with non-water based preservatives as the fumes remain for a long time and can be very harmful. Do not nail down the roof as you may need to clean the box in the future.
There are two reasons to choose a hedgehog house with a solid floor. The first is predator proofing. Foxes and cats have been known to tip up houses with not floor, to get at the hog inside. Second is warmth, dryness and weatherproofing.
Insects are a favorite for hedgehogs. You can offer live bugs, which will also give your tiny buddy the chance to 'hunt' his dinner. Frozen ones are fine as well. Mealworms, wax worms, silk worms and crickets are all good options.
For a hedgehog house in your garden, choose natural nesting materials like leaves, hay or straw. If you are looking for bedding for an indoor hedgehog care box, hay and straw are still fine, but you could also use other small animal bedding, like wood shaving bedding of fleece.
Hedgehog Bottom Hot Feeding Tip
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.
Only solid bottom cages are suitable for hedgehogs, any wire bottom cages could trap their legs or rip off toenails. Provide a soft bedding free of dust, such as recycled paper pellets or if you use wood shavings use only kiln dried pine or aspen. Do not use cedar shavings as they could irritate your hedgehog's lungs.
Cats tend to like to get through any holes you've made for hedgehogs. This includes houses, boxes, feeders, or even a hole in the fence. This Cat resistant Hedgehog Tunnel is designed to be added to anywhere that a cat or other small animal (such as fox) may try and get through.
Many people get confused about how often they should bathe their hedgehogs. Your vet should be the ultimate authority here. That said, in general, about once a month is good. Don't bathe your pet too often: this could dry out his skin!
They are nocturnal animals and they come out to play at night. They must get complete darkness as they are sensitive to the light, however, they do need light during the day for about 12 hours. If they are not getting enough light in their cage, an additional light source on a timer should be set up.
Only put out small amounts of food, as this is supplementary to their natural diet. Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread as they can't digest it and it upsets their stomachs. Be aware that putting any food out will attract all sorts of wildlife including predators, not just hedgehogs.
So in short, always put them in their designated lavatory area before, during, and after handling them. We recommend placing stray pieces of stool, found around the cage, inside their litter tray during the training process.
It's not unusual to see hedgie parents using wood shavings as litter for their hedgehog. Pine and aspen are the two most common types of wood shavings used. It is easily found and cost effective. Pine has better odor control than aspen, but they're both about equally absorbent.
Place the box out of direct sunlight, with the entrance facing away from prevailing winds. Put it in cover, under thick vegetation for example, or under the garden shed. If you know where a hedgehog has built it's own nest in the past, consider putting your new one there, or in a similar environment.
Once a month bathing is adequate for the average hedgehog. Some hedgehogs need baths frequently and others seldom need one. Bathing generally helps to relieve dry skin; however, bathing too frequently may contribute to dry skin.
Daily: Spot Clean the Hedgehog Cage
It would be best if you take care of a few small items daily to keep your hedgehog safe and clean. This should take no more than five (5) minutes per day and includes: – Removing any visible feces from the cage.
Water Bowls
Baby hedgehogs or hedgehogs that have difficulty using a bottle may do better with a water bowl. Some hedgehog owners prefer using glass or stainless steel bowls for drinking. Water bowls will need to be checked frequently to make sure they are clean and full.
Like many pocket pets, hedgehogs love to explore mazes and tunnels. This will keep Hedgie active, and offer him mental stimulation. You can buy labyrinths, or make your own out of shoeboxes or PVC pipe. To make your pet's explorations even more fun for him, hide a snack at the end of the tunnel.
Hedgehogs are known to be very communicative when it comes to their needs, and often make a low purring sound when they are happy or content.
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.