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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 15, 2019 6:58:39 GMT
Sadly nothing to report this morning with regards to the hog house:-/ but plenty of visits to the food station
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 15, 2019 10:53:30 GMT
Always the case when you are ready for something to happen Karen I'm sure you'll see it napping soon though if its been in there atleast once!
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Post by natalie on Sept 15, 2019 22:01:30 GMT
Paul the spikes moist food you recommended brought an hedgehog to my garden thank you so so much for the suggestion ๐๐๐
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Post by matt on Sept 16, 2019 10:58:50 GMT
Right, I have just ordered some of the semi-moist as well thanks to you Paul! No idea whether or not we have any visitors overnight, but hopefully we will find out soon, and the hedgehogs stay active long enough before going into hibernation.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 16, 2019 12:01:41 GMT
Natalie, That is BRILLIANT! i'm glad you've got one in the garden! Matt, Good luck, If they have access to get into your garden they will come.
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Post by matt on Sept 16, 2019 21:26:40 GMT
OK got the camera configured and pointing at a plate of dog biscuits for now, whilst I wait for the proper hedgehog food to arrive. Within in an hour I had 20 pictures of a cat that I have never seen before! I shoed it off but it has been back already and will probably eat all the food. Any ideas for how to deal with this? I'm hoping the hedgehogs get a chance, also I don't want to feed the local cats with the hedgehog food when it arrives!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 16, 2019 22:26:34 GMT
Have a look on youtube for "Hedgehog feeding stations" Matt, Alot show you how to do cat proof ones, Its basically just a large plastic container you can buy from supermarkets for few pound. I think Karen as done a feed station like this so she will be able to tell you if its cat proof or not.
quick youtube / google search will help you out and give you idea though, Good luck with sorting it out! Let us know the finished results.
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Post by matt on Sept 17, 2019 7:31:43 GMT
Thanks Paul. Just a cat and a large slug (I think!) last night, but I'll look into making a proper feeding box. Think I'll get the nest boxes done first though..
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 17, 2019 8:27:05 GMT
Hi Matt, I just used a plastic storage box, cut a hole 5inx5in , can be tricky, as some of the plastic boxes are brittle, covered the edges of the hole with duck tape to make them smooth. To keep the cats out place a brick either across the front of the entrance about 5 inches away from hole or alternatively, just inside from the entrance, again about 5 inches in, this will stop/prevent an animal which needs to turn its body from entering. It has worked a treat my cat has not been able to enter it but hogs come and go happily, also keeps the food dry.
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 17, 2019 8:39:02 GMT
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Post by YorksherLass on Sept 17, 2019 9:27:37 GMT
Great piccies Karen & what a good idea of yours to think of that - necessaties are the mother of invention, as the saying goes!
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 17, 2019 9:58:12 GMT
Thanks yorkshire lass but I cant take credit as I saw it on the web!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 17, 2019 11:40:33 GMT
We now have 6 hogs Amazing how its built from just 1! Here's a picture of our smallest he's a little hoglet been coming for 2 weeks now, Isn't shy at all lets me pick him up and waits for his food happily eats while I am around! As you can see from the picture he fits in my hand with room left that is how small he really is he's my fav
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Post by YorksherLass on Sept 18, 2019 8:37:32 GMT
for the photo Paul, he is SO cute & lovely - you are SO lucky!
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 18, 2019 12:22:45 GMT
He is smashing! Have you weighed him Paul? They need to be a certain weight before hibernation begins, so they have the reserves to get through, I am thinking of weighing my little one. I think the lowest weight is 650grams. ut I have to admit I am a little reluctant to get hands on so to speak
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 18, 2019 13:08:51 GMT
No not weighted up yet Karen, He feels like a decent weight he's not too light. I'll probably weight him in mid October and see what he is at, If he isn't a good enough weight i'll take him our local hedgehog place and they give you him back after he is fattened up. I have read that hibernation takes place starting November, If it is a mild winter it can happen as late as December or January though. So i'll give check him in few weeks so if I can build him up myself first, He eats alot so shouldn't be hard! He's a cheeky little thing though I put the food down and he walks right over and starts eating, All the bigger hogs curl in a ball but not him maybe he's just got no fear with his young age. He's so loveable though
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 18, 2019 14:00:07 GMT
We have a place close by too that does the same, they do a great job. He sounds a real character, it could be his young age, sounds like a friend for life
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 19, 2019 8:02:09 GMT
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 19, 2019 9:52:35 GMT
Oh isn't little Lola a babe Lola the napper
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 19, 2019 10:33:06 GMT
She is a babe. I nearly moved the camera back to the outside too as she hadnt visited and I missed seeing them.
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Post by Amanda on Sept 19, 2019 21:11:22 GMT
There are some super photos of the hoggies What are you putting in the box, hay or straw? I canโt wait to put my box out tomorrow once the camera is in it. I see hedgehogs most nights in the front and back garden, so hopefully my house will be used.
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 19, 2019 21:40:39 GMT
I use straw Amanda, I dont think they are too fussy, I have heard it is good to leave lots of natural nesting material for them to gather themselves, leaves etc
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 19, 2019 22:40:47 GMT
I use Hay in all mine, Just find it to be softer than the straw. But either be fine Amanda! Good luck with your hog box, If you have plenty hogs in the area but ready for the fights over the box! I went from 1 hog house to 4 within the space of 3 weeks for this reason.
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Post by karenupnorth on Sept 20, 2019 7:08:37 GMT
Little Lola had another 1 hour power nap last night! Around about the same time too, 12.30am to 1.30am.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Sept 20, 2019 21:20:15 GMT
Officially just got our 7th hog in the garden Itโs once again a little hoglet itโs came with our usual hoglet both feeding together! Iโm over the moon hopefully more little ones to come
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