winning over our hedgehogwinning over our hedgehogI know we have a visiting hedgehog, I spotted it once, so have a couple of adjoining
neighbours & I've seen the occasional poop near the gap under the fence. So I've brushed off the hedgehog house that's sat empty for years and put it near the gap in a sheltered spot in my shrub area, facing south. However, the lady next door (who is also a good friend) has also put out her hedgehog box, so we're now competing! who's box will hedgy choose? Can anyone suggest anything I can do that might attract hedgy to my h/house? "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
Re: winning over our hedgehogI love the idea that you are competing for tenants for your hedgehog houses.
I don't think there is much you can do other than provide a nice interior with dried leaves and straw, also put food down near it so it will know it's there. The problem with hedgehogs is that they are not territorial, and they often wake up several times during hibernation ..if they do they are very likely to move on somewhere else ..so the more nice warm houses there are for them, the more likely they are to survive the winter. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Re: winning over our hedgehogA little matching interior design maybe? lined curtains? Welcome mat?
Re: winning over our hedgehog
and don't forget the bunting!!! Re: winning over our hedgehogHey, a mat would be good, slugs might live underneath it!
I'm not keen on putting out catfood regularly atm, because of all the rats about, but we have lots of huge slugs in the garden, maybe I could put a slab or some bricks near the h/house to attract them. I've read that I should put torn up newspaper in the box, but would straw be better I wonder? "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant Re: winning over our hedgehog
Re: winning over our hedgehogHi kitla
As with any species, food talks !! Some meaty cat food and mealworms would make Harry or Holly Hedgehog prefer your abode to next door's !! Cover the House well with twigs, leaf and whatever else, the more natural it looks from afar, the better. Neither of you will know until probably late October if they've set up for Winter and with a mild Autumn forecast it could be November. Good luck !! Richard New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
Re: winning over our hedgehogthe hedgy was in my garden again last night, I'd made the fence gap bigger as
it's a very big girl/boy - is there a way to tell? "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
Re: winning over our hedgehogHi kitla
From appearance and behaviour I'm afraid you can't tell. It's one of those got to take a peep underneath things. Richard New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
Re: winning over our hedgehogI don't think Hedgy would like that
It will have to remain a mystery "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant Re: winning over our hedgehogWe're so pleased that our hedgehog is back visiting the garden! He chose not to
spend winter in either of the boxes, we think he may have slept in a big pile of beech leaves next door. I've bought a bag of hedgehog food & its having a handful of that & some mealworms every night - at least I hope its the hedgehog that's eating it! With the cold weather that's coming next week the poor thing will need all the help we can give him/her "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant
Re: winning over our hedgehogLovely kitla !
Upon checking the hedgehog is not in it, take a Sledgehammer to the neighbours when they're out You may find the hedgehog will spend one night in their's and another in yours, they get around a bit!! Pls they'll be mating soon so it would be wonderful if yours resulted in a few little spiky friends !! Richard New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
Re: winning over our hedgehogThat would be so cool Richard! but so far we've only seen the one hog, it's a pretty
big one. Our box had a mouse nesting in it this winter, I don't know if that might put hedgy off? "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
--Immanuel Kant |
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