You can put soft hay or dried grass in as bedding, but do also try and leave some fallen leaves around for the
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.
What can I feed hedgehogs? Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary. Specially made hedgehog food is also widely available.
It's a good idea to put out food for hedgehogs all year round. In spring, it will be a boost for those emerging from hibernation, while in late summer and autumn it will help hogs build up those all-important fat reserves to survive the winter.
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.
They're also pretty keen on cooked potato, small pieces of fruit (not citrus) or even unsweetened muesli or Weetabix. If you have a problem with cats eating the food, place it under a brick shelter with a gap only big enough for the hedgehog to get through.
Hedgehogs are sensitive to temperature changes. The ideal range is between 75°F and 85°F. However, they will tolerate temperatures between 72°F and 90°F. Hedgehogs can go into a hibernation-like state of inactivity when temperatures are too hot or too cold.
A pet hedgehog's diet should mainly consist of high-quality hedgehog food mixed with high-quality, low-fat cat food. The following supplemental foods can be offered in small amounts two to three times a week: Gut-loaded insects, such as mealworms and crickets.
Hedgehogs need environmental temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. Keep your hedgehog's cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, or cold areas. You may want to provide your hedgehog with a small warm spot in his cage where he can go to get warm but would also be able to get away from if he feels too warm.
Hedgehogs are active during the night, so the best time to put out food is just after dusk, when they are starting to search for food. The Autumn and Winter months are the most important for them to find food to put on enough weight before hibernation, so always make sure you put out food at this time of year.
Rats like to keep under cover if possible, whilst hedgehogs are happy to eat in the open. So think about moving your feeding station to the middle of the lawn. Feed as late as possible. The less time the hedgehog food is out there the less chance it has of attracting rats.
Young, pregnant, or lactating pets can be fed free-choice, but the amount should be measured out for all others. An adult hedgehog will thrive on 3 level teaspoons of the main diet (eg Mazuri), 1 level teaspoon of meat, egg, and/or insects, and 1 level teaspoon vegetables and/or fruits per day.
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. The crunch also helps keep teeth strong and healthy. Pet food is also readily available in all supermarkets.
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.
Plain fresh water is all that is required for them. Sadly, this mixture can be lethal for birds if they bathe in it as the sugar will cause problems with their feathers. Please do offer plain water in shallow bowls in the garden for thirsty hedgehogs but do not add anything else to it.
Hedgehogs are lactose-intolerant and will have stomach problems after consuming most dairy products, though occasional plain lowfat yogurt (yogurt contains bacteria that naturally process lactose) or cottage cheese seem to be well tolerated. Sugar intake should be restricted to fruits, avoid any treat with added sugar.
The worst foods are mealworms, sunflower hearts, peanuts and oats. Eating these foods forces the hedgehogs body to make up for the lack of calcium in it's bloodstream by taking it from the bones. The bones will become weak and painful, and prone to breaks.
For the most part no, hedgehogs cannot eat cheese. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so dairy products aren't good for them.
Tea Tree oil/ Eucalyptus/Thieves - this includes: tea tree shampoo, tea tree oil, tea tree sprays and anything tea tree. Even Candles inhaled can harm your hedgehog! This can be fatal in as little as one dose or application. It causes renal, liver and complete organ failure.
Yes, Hedgehogs Can Eat Broccoli
The thicker stalks of the broccoli plant are also safe for hedgehogs to eat, although they're a little tougher and may not appeal as much to your pet. Petkeen.com recommends you avoid feeding your hedgehog raw broccoli, but boiled and steamed vegetables are completely okay.
In reality, hedgehogs do not gather and store food for future consumption, instead relying on built-up fat reserves to survive hibernation. Rather than carrying apples as a method of food storage, hedgehogs may use the juices of wild apples to defend against parasites, similar to anting behaviour in birds.