what to feed hedgehog babies

• Dog or cat food - tinned dog or cat food, and cat biscuits or crushed dog biscuits, make good hedgehog foods.
• Good quality, meaty specialist hedgehog foods - these can be bought from wildlife food suppliers.
• Soak biscuits in water for very young hoglets that weigh less than 300g, as they can't eat dry food.
• Never give cow's milk to hedgehogs, as it can give them diarrhoea.
• Don't feed them bread, as it's low in nutrients.

Full Answer

How much and how often do you feed a hedgehog?

You should free feed your hedgie, that's what most people here do As for how much a hedgehog eats, it varies between hog to hog. Kashi eats about 20-30 kibbles a night, so I put in about 40 in his bowl... but recently I have had to start crushing up his kibble into smaller pieces (because he kept choking on them), so I measure by table spoon, and he eats about 1 tbsp a night.

What is the best food for a hedgehog?

• Live crickets, mealworms, or silkworms
• Bits of plain, cooked meat with no seasonings or salt (no processed meats)
• Raw or cooked vegetables and fresh fruit (no citrus)
• Unsweetened “stage 1” pureed baby food (no grains)
• Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs (plain: no salt or butter)

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What foods can hedgehogs eat?

There are plenty to choose from that a good for hedgehogs, these include:

• Apples – eaten in moderation, apples are a deliciously crunchy treat for hedgehogs. ...
• Leafy greens – hedgehogs love veggies like broccoli, cucumber, lettuce and more. ...
• Berries – organic blueberries and raspberries in particular are okay for hedgehogs to eat, opt for organic if you can because these will less likely have been sprayed with possibly ...

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What fruit can hedgehogs eat?

Some of the best fruits to feed your hedgehog include apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon. Although you can feed hedgehogs any of the fruits in the above list, these six fruits are the best options. No matter which fruit you select for your hedgehog, it’s important that you select an organic variety.

What milk do you feed baby hedgehogs?

Hoglets should be fed with a milk substitute such as Esbilac which contains all the fats, vitamins and minerals they need. Under no circumstances should you give them cow's formula which will kill them. Goat's milk with Goat's colostrum may be used for a short period of time if nothing else is available.

Can baby hedgehogs survive without Mom?

Step 4: Take abandoned hoglets to a local hedgehog hospital But without the mother to provide this, they won't survive out in the wild on their own, and with daily life in the way, you won't have the time to give the hoglet the proper care and attention it needs.

How do you take care of newborn hedgehogs?

Hedgehog Birth It is important to remove any cagemates and to leave her and her litter undisturbed for at least 5-10 days after birth. If you know your female is pregnant, cagemates should be removed at least 5 days before birth. Mom and babies should be kept in a quiet, secluded spot in your house.

What should you do with a baby hedgehog?

For survival, human help is needed quickly, and generally three things are needed urgently – WARMTH, TOILETING and FLUIDS. Do not give hoglets fluids by mouth if the hoglets are cold. Warm fluids before giving. Wild animals suffer stress in an unnatural environment and hedgehogs are no exception.

What do baby hedgehogs eat in the wild?

Insects and other invertebrates are the hedgehog's main natural food source....What do hedgehogs eat?Beetles.Earwigs.Caterpillars.Earthworms.Millipedes.Fly larvae.

When can you touch baby hedgehogs?

15 days oldBaby hedgies are cute, but shouldn't be handled Since a mother hedgehog that thinks its nest is in danger may abandon or kill off the litter, it's advised to wait until babies are at least 15 days old before handling.

Do mother hedgehogs eat their babies?

Unfortunately, it is fairly common for hedgehogs to eat their babies and/or reject them, especially if it is a first litter or if the mother was disturbed (mother hedgehogs need considerable peace and quiet).

How much should I feed my baby hedgehog?

A lot of hedgehog owners recommend one tablespoon of food once to twice a day. Most prefer a free feeding schedule. Baby hedgehogs need to have constant access to food. Pregnant and nursing hogs are expected to eat more.

What do you do with an abandoned baby hedgehog?

Keep the hedgehog somewhere warm and quiet indoors, offer them a small amount of suitable food and water, and contact your nearest wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. It's often faster to take an animal to a wildlife rehabilitator yourself, as our officers may be out of the area attending other calls.

Can you give hedgehogs milk?

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.

How old are baby hedgehogs when they leave the nest?

around three to four weeks oldYoung hedgehogs will leave the nest when they are around three to four weeks old to go on foraging trips with their mother. After around ten days of foraging with their mother the young will wander off on their own.

How long do baby hedgehogs stay with their mother?

about six to eight weeksHow long do baby hedgehogs stay with their mother? Sows will only usually care for their hoglets for about six to eight weeks, but by that time, the hoglets will be around ten times their birth weight. Then they'll leave the nest to fend for themselves.

How long do baby hedgehogs live?

In the wild, these small insect-eating animals seldom live beyond the age of 3 years. Although you shouldn't bring a baby hedgehog home before he reaches the age of 6 weeks, a young hedgehog is more likely to bond with his owner than an older animal.

How long do hedgehogs have to stay with their mom?

around six weeksHoglet Development and Family Life. Baby Hedgehogs are only with their mother for around six weeks, and in this time they must develop from tiny, blind, spineless infants into independent young hogs.

Do hedgehogs live alone?

No, hedgehogs do not live in groups. They are solitary creatures that prefer to be alone. They nest and hibernate alone. Mothers live with their hoglets in a group until they are ready to leave home at around 6 to 8 weeks.

The Staple Meal For Your Hedgehog

Milk is regarded as the usual staple given to your pets because of the amount of nutrition it contains. Like adult hedgehogs, baby hedgehogs can not be given milk or any food with lactose present in it as an ingredient.

Timeline For Baby Hedgehogs

It is advised to let an expert handle a baby hedgehog and its diet for at least two days after it is born. When a hedgehog is premature, it needs to feed with special techniques and care.

The Diet Of A Baby Hedgehog

The diet of a baby hedgehog primarily depends on their age and weight. Milk, preferably mothers’ milk, is the ideal food source when they are very young.

How Much Do Baby Hedgehogs Need To Eat?

Baby hedgehogs need to small amounts and often. Initially and in the first 3-4 weeks of life, they will or should feed exclusively on milk before transitioning into larger servings and onto solid meat-based foods.

How Often Do Baby Hedgehogs Need To Eat?

The younger the hedgehog, the more frequently they should be feeding. As they age and get bigger, hedgehogs can go longer without food until they will only eat once, per night.

How Do Baby Hedgehogs Eat

How a hedgehog will eat depends primarily on whether they are obtaining milk from their mother, or this is being replicated by a human.

What Do Baby Hedgehogs Eat?

Hedgehogs already have an adequate diet that they can thrive on. When it comes to newborns, things become even more difficult. So, what do baby hedgehogs eat?

What Do Baby Hedgehogs Drink?

You must hand-feed a hoglet if its mother is missing or if the mother hedgehog has abandoned her young. Instead of the mother’s milk, you may give hoglets sheep’s milk. It would be ideal if you avoided giving cow’s milk to your hoglet since it can cause diarrhea.

What Do Baby Hedgehogs Eat 4 Weeks After Being Born?

Insects are not only a source of food for hedgehogs but also their primary source of dietary fiber. Chitin is found in insect hard exoskeleton and is primarily a protein source, although it does provide some fiber. Chitin is a vital element of a hedgehog’s diet, but it isn’t the only thing required by a hedgehog.

How To Feed Baby Hedgehogs?

It’s easy to learn how to feed a hedgehog, so don’t be afraid. Many breeders, owners, and rescue centers practice this every day all over the world. You can do it! It doesn’t imply that they’re defective if they were rejected as a hoglet. It’s possible their mother was overwhelmed.

How Much Do Baby Hedgehogs Eat?

You’ll need to set an alarm to wake you at night and give you notice of some sort throughout the day. Because food is so essential for a baby hedgehog at this age, failing to feed him would be disastrous. Hoglets require a feeding schedule of 1-3 ml every two hours, or on-demand, from the start of their lives until the second week.

What Are The Natural Predators of Baby Hedgehogs?

Hedgehogs have sharp, hooked spines all over their bodies to defend themselves against predators by curling into a ball when threatened, making them appear to be a very unpalatable meal.

How Do Hedgehogs Protect Themselves From Predators?

A hedgehog’s quills are his spines, and he knows how to use them. When they sense danger, their quills go up in a hurry. The hedgehog has muscles on either side of his body that aid in the deployment of his spines. The quills Crisscross and interlock with one another.

How to keep a baby hedgehog alive?

In this circumstance, you need to act quickly if the baby hedgehog is to survive. Begin by lining a cardboard box with a soft towel. Place a hot water bottle inside the box (or a plastic bottle filled with warm water) and wrap it in another towel.

What to do if you find a baby hedgehog?

If you find a baby hedgehog in your garden, be prepared to take responsibility and call someone with the right experience for help.

How many hoglets are in a litter?

The average litter is four to five hoglets. While hedgehogs can have bigger litters than this, having a larger litter can reduce the hoglet’s chances of surviving through to adulthood. When baby hedgehogs are born, they are incredibly small, just 25 grams or one ounce in weight and they have no visible spines.

What happens when a hedgehog's nest is disturbed?

In this circumstance, the mother may abandon or even eat her young. However, if a nest is disturbed when the hoglets are a little older, the mother may move them to a new nest.

What do hedgehogs do during pregnancy?

During her pregnancy, the female hedgehog will go about building a nest to nurse her babies. Once the hedgehog babies have been born, the mother will forage and return to feed her young while they are too small to leave the nest.

Why do hedgehogs struggle to get milk?

As a result, the hedgehog mother may struggle to get enough food herself to produce the milk she needs to feed her hedgehog babies.

What are hedgehogs prey to?

In the wild, hedgehogs are prey to a variety of predators. Badgers, birds, and foxes are predators adult hedgehogs face in the wild. These predators are a bigger threat for hoglets, and they may also be attacked or injured by cats and dogs in your garden.

What are the food sources of hedgehogs?

Slugs. Millipedes. Worms are an important food source for hedgehogs. Credit: Buiten-Beeld / Alamy Stock Photo. Hogs hunt by snuffling through the undergrowth, using their keen sense of smell and hearing to catch any prey they disturb. While invertebrates are top of the menu, hedgehogs are opportunistic eaters.

How big of a space do hedgehogs need?

A space of just 13 x 13cm is enough for any hog to get in and out of your garden. Hedgehogs also need sheltered spaces to sleep during the day and hibernate through the winter. Overgrown patches, compost heaps and log piles can all be used by resting hogs. Another option is to buy or build a hedgehog house.

Why are hedgehogs declining?

Carrion, fallen fruit and the eggs of ground-nesting birds may all be taken should a hog come across them. It’s thought a lack of food may be a factor in the hedgehog’s decline. This is because invertebrate numbers have been reduced by agricultural intensification and pesticide use .

Do hedgehogs eat cat food?

As opportunistic eaters, hedgehogs will readily consume food left out in your garden. The best foods to provide are: As well as providing food, you can put out a shallow dish of water to ensure any visiting hogs stay hydrated. Hedgehogs will readily eat meat-based cat food.

What do hedgehogs eat?

The hedgehog is an omnivore and feeds on a variety of insects and small animals, as well as plants, berries, and vegetables. Some of the foods they like to eat in the wild are as follows.

Is dry cat food good for cats?

Dry cat food is an excellent second choice, and many people recommend using cat food as their main food source due to its availability and high-quality ingredients. The thing to remember when buying cat food is to use a brand that has about 35% protein and 15% fat. You also want to make sure the first ingredient is chicken and not a meat byproduct or a carbohydrate.

Can hedgehogs be pets?

Hedgehogs are not commonly kept as pets, and many new parents may not have a clear idea of what types of foods are best to feed them and what foods you should avoid. We’ve researched this topic well and own several hedgehogs ourselves. We will list as many foods that they can eat as we can, as well as tell you a little about them and how to find them.

Can you feed hedgehogs live insects?

Before feeding many insects to your hedgehog, we strongly recommend gut loading the insects. Gut loading is a process where you feed your insect’s nutritional meals for a few days to pack it with nutrients, which allows the insects to transfer the nutrition to your pet. Gut loading is another good reason to feed your hedgehog live insects when possible.

Is chicken good for babies?

Chicken, as well as several other flavors, make a great snack. It’s difficult to find out the percentages of protein and fat, so it’s best to relegate baby food to the snack or occasional meal.

Do hedgehogs need water?

All life needs plenty of clean water to stay healthy, and the hedgehog is no different. We recommend you always keep a constant flow of clean water within the hedgehogs reach so they can stay hydrated at will, reducing urinary tract infections and other problems associated with dehydration.

What to feed a hedgehog?

Meats. Try to get lean cuts of the following meats , and only give them to your hedgehog as a snack a few times a week. It’s best if you buy the meats raw and cook them yourself, as precooked meats are often full of salt and other ingredients that are bad for your pet’s health. Chicken. Salmon.

What are some good treats for hedgehogs?

Healthy Treats for Hedgehogs. Hedgehogs have a broad palate, so there’s a wide variety of foods that can be served as a treat. Many veggies or fruits make excellent treats, as they’re loaded with nutrition and delicious.

How much water should a hedgehog drink?

A healthy hedgehog should drink somewhere in the vicinity of 1 ½ to 2 ½ tablespoons of water every day. As a result, your hedgehog must have access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times.

Why does my hedgehog stop eating?

Featured Image Credit: szabfer, Pixabay. There are many reasons that a hedgehog might stop eating. Many of them have to do with stress, but others could be signs of disease or illness. Don’t be alarmed if your hedgehog doesn’t eat when you first bring them home or if you move to a new place.

What does it mean when a hedgehog has a blockage?

They may have an intestinal blockage, an upset stomach, problems with their teeth and gums, or a more serious disease, like cancer. If you’ve tried to solve the problem yourself to no avail, take your hedgehog to the vet as soon as possible.

Why won't my hedgehog eat?

If you suspect that your hedgehog’s refusal to eat is due to environmental factors rather than health problems, you can try to remedy the problem yourself. You can also try to tempt your hedgehog to eat by offering them high-value foods, like baby food or other beloved treats.

What could be affecting my hedgehog's appetite?

Other things that could be affecting your pet’s appetite include loneliness or discomfort due to temperature . You should do everything in your power to make sure your hedgehog is comfortable, and that may include changing the ambient temperature in their tank or getting them a friend.

How to keep a baby hedgehog warm?

It has mild light and will also keep the baby hedgehog warm enough. Lay comfortable bedding such as a vet bed that looks like a decoy sheepskin. It is the most viable option because it’s soft, able to absorb moisture. Plus, you will find no difficulty in keeping it clean.

What color are hedgehogs when they are born?

Baby hedgehogs are pinkish when born and with quills beneath its skin, which take some time to show. In the initial days, the quills are white. Plus, the baby’s eyes remain closed for a few days. You don’t need to do much if the mother is around. A baby hedgehog nourishes on mother’s milk in the initial weeks.

Why is my hedgehog dropping green?

If your baby hedgehog is producing a green, slimy unpleasant dropping along with blood then it could be a digestive disorder.

What diseases can a hedgehog get?

Diarrhea, loss of weight and balance, pale mucosa, bleeding from the bowel or mouth, cramps, listlessness or swollen legs are some other diseases that can hit a baby hedgehog if proper care is not given. If you notice weakness or strange behavior from the hoglet then waste no time and rush it to a vet.

How to keep a hedgehog from moving?

They are not flammable and you’d be able to see the hoglet at all times. Install a desk lamp on top but make sure that it throws light on just one end of the box so that the baby hedgehog can move to the other side of the box if it feels too hot.

How to keep a hoglet warm?

A hoglet will not survive very cold weather. Its immune system is too weak to bear even the slightest bit of cold. Therefore, take a water bottle and fill it with warm water. Wrap it in two towels and place it under the hoglet to keep it warm. Do not forget to wrap it nicely because direct contact can burn their skin.

How long does it take for a hedgehog to wean?

After Three Weeks: it is weaned and may move around. Fourth Week: The mother begins to take the baby outside on foraging trips. After reaching the age of 5-6 weeks, the baby hedgehog begins to put on weight rapidly. In fact, it gains 10x more compared to the weight when it was born.