winning over our hedgehog

All free living creatures around our Homes & Gardens - enjoying helping them helping us
Post Reply
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

I 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
jannie
Hedgehog Champion
Posts: 4536
Joined: 21 Jan 2010, 22:46
Gender: Female
Location: Dulais Valley, South Wales

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by jannie »

I love the idea that you are competing for tenants for your hedgehog houses. {rofwl}

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. )t' {hog}
User avatar
perchy
Moderator
Posts: 23734
Joined: 26 Aug 2009, 18:28
Gender: Female
Location: Nottinghamshire

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by perchy »

A little matching interior design maybe? lined curtains? Welcome mat? )grin2(
jannie
Hedgehog Champion
Posts: 4536
Joined: 21 Jan 2010, 22:46
Gender: Female
Location: Dulais Valley, South Wales

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by jannie »

perchy wrote:A little matching interior design maybe? lined curtains? Welcome mat? )grin2(


and don't forget the bunting!!! {rofwl}
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

Hey, 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
User avatar
perchy
Moderator
Posts: 23734
Joined: 26 Aug 2009, 18:28
Gender: Female
Location: Nottinghamshire

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by perchy »

jannie wrote:
perchy wrote:A little matching interior design maybe? lined curtains? Welcome mat? )grin2(


and don't forget the bunting!!! {rofwl}



{rofwl} {rofwl}
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by Richard »

Hi 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
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

the 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
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by Richard »

Hi 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 )t' )t'
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

I don't think Hedgy would like that :oops:
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
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

We'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
User avatar
Richard
Lord Lane of Down...... Site Owner
Posts: 30037
Joined: 26 Apr 2007, 22:48
Gender: Male
Location: Ashford, Kent, UK

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by Richard »

Lovely kitla !

Upon checking the hedgehog is not in it, take a Sledgehammer to the neighbours when they're out :-D

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 )t'
New Member? Get more from the Forum and join in 'Members Chat' - you're very welcome
User avatar
kitla
Legendary Laner
Posts: 3752
Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 23:25
Gender: Female
Location: Northants

Re: winning over our hedgehog

Post by kitla »

That 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
Post Reply