help - hedgehog still out at night

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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Sorry totally non horsie - but we have had a hedgehog for months and we feed him dog feed and peanuts - bird ones not you KP's...... he was out and about last night and it was well minus 4. We have made him a hedgehog box full of straw under the shed away from the fox - we have no rats as they get shot by hubby - our garden is well sheltered - but should he still be around at this time of year.

Do i leave him alone and keep feeding him, or do we try and catch him and either try to keep him over the winter in a rabbit cage or take him to a local "charity"
 
i would have thought so long as he is having food and knows he has a reliable food source he should be ok. I have looked after hedgehogs at a local charity near me and they arent a lot of work to look after through the winter, indoor type rabbit cage, fed and watered twice a day and cleaned out once a day. They do smell a bit though!!
 
Phone the local charity and ask them the minimum weight they need to be to winter. If you think he is not up to weight, call them back.
I would be worried seeing a hedgepig this this time of year tbh, but they do move about if disturbed (although that doesnt seem to be the case with yours!)
 
When I worked for the RSPCA we collected any who were awake in winter who weighed less than 600grams because their percentage of body fat is not enough to make it through hibernation.

Get the scales out!!
 
There was something on Autumnwatch about late hibernating hedgehogs (think someone had had one in their garden) last Thursday I think it was (or the Unsprung thing afterwards). Sorry but I can't remember what they said but there should be a link on the BBC website to the programme on I-Player.
 
thats one hedgehog who knows a good home lol but honestly he has food a place to sleep so try not to worry and if it gets bad a cage in house and then you have a lodger for winter he he hhe he
 
weight is the most important thing, as others have said ... 600g is safe weight.

Foxes not a problem for hedgehogs, only badgers.

Are you seeing him out in the day or night - if you see a 'hog out in daylight, that suggests a problem.

If you are providing a food source that may be the thing that is stimulating him to stay awake ... but yes, I would agree with cat food rather than dog food (or puppy food was also welcomed - pedigree chum). You can also get hedgehog food.

If he is under 600g I would suggest taking him in and contacting the hedgehog preservation society or similar for more info/advice.

well done for looking out for him - they are special little creatures and struggling more and more every year :-)
 
Where are you based? If NW let me know and I will PM you the number of a local charity.

Lucky hedgehog having someone to look out for it :D Think "ours" is hibernating now- not seen it for a few weeks!
 
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