FEEDING HEDGEHOGS

Hi Karen and all,

This is an old post on feeding hedgehogs, thanks Karen. 

But I wanted to add a post about it, as some confusion has just cropped up recently for me, now that I am getting involved in the world of wild Hedgehogs.

Just on the hedgehog eating nuts thing.

I'm seeing this alot there seems to be loads of conflicting advice out there between what Online & Retail outlet Pet shops are saying versus Hedgehogs Conservationists and Vets.

I'm talking about the fact that people are being sold branded Hedgehog / Wildlife food mix that may not be actually suitable for Hedgehogs?

Vets say a definite NO to nuts, especially Peanuts! As they have to deal with the aftermath of having to remove a nut stuck in the roof of the Hedgehogs mouths...it can cause terrible infection, canker sores make them unable to eat, sickness from bacteria build up, low weight, and eventually death if it is not removed.

According to a number of websites who deal with the conservation and welfare of Hedgehogs in summary :

What can hedgehogs definitely can’t eat:
Allium vegetables (onion, garlic, etc)
Avocados
Chocolate
Citrus fruits
Grapes and raisins
Insects bought from fishing shops or found from the wild
Meat (canned, fried, processed, raw, or seasoned)
Milk and dairy products
Mushrooms
Nuts and seeds
Potatoes
Pineapple

But yet there is loads of pet food selling sites claiming these ARE the foods that Hedghogs eat and they are selling bags of wildlife feeding mixes claiming to be the perfect combination suitable for hedgehogs, badger and foxes.... and they include the whole nuts, including peanuts, raisins and seeds too. 

Personally, I would trust the Hedgehog conservation & welfare sites over the retail outlets/pet shops selling these mixes to the uninformed public for profit.

Not to mention the fact that baby birds can choke on whole nuts too. It just seems very wrong that they are included in these mixes when there is lots evidence and photo graphical proof that they may be detrimental to smaller wildlife, not just Hedgehogs.

At the very least the nuts should be broken down into tiny pieces I would have thought?.

I would be heartbroken if I thought something I put out for these little guys were inadvertently hurting them. Its really bothering me though - People put their trust in pet shops and sites selling these products - I think it is very irresponsible.

So, I suppose I just want to say to anyone looking in here doing their own bit of research -  "buyer beware ". 

Yes...Mealworms and insects too!!

In fairness, it's natural to think those type of foods would suitable, but I was amazed when I read the various stories about teeth decay due to the sultanas.

These mixes can also cause dangerously high phosphorus levels and weaken bone structure. Shocking!!!

I have since noticed that there are people calling out the sellers now via the reviews Amazon (just as an example shop - I'm not targeting Amazon specificly, but they do sell a lot of these mixes in various brands to the unsuspecting public!).

So thankfully people are starting to push back. I hope people read the reviews first!

But so many still see the pretty Hedgehog on the colourful packaging and naturally assume the manufacturer know what they are doing and put their trust in them.

Can't believe it's allowed???

People buy a few bags and donate these branded Hedgehog mixes to the local Hedgehogs reserves thinking they are doing good, but the workers there have to embarrassingly inform these generous people and decline the food....or they end up just throwing the bags out. What a waste for all involved!

Ive read some people take them and use them in bird feeders instead.

Anyway....I think the point is well made now...watch out for those fancy Hedgehog mixes....they're are not suitable for these little guys.

Yes...alot of places still selling those netted peanut/fat ball chains....

I do buy those as they are in my local Lidl, but always take them out of the nets and put then in the fat ball cage thingy.

Spikes starter pack be fine Sammi, You can have idea what your hog likes them.
out of the spike foods our hogs like the "Semi Moist" the most, They prefer the dry cat biscuits over the spike dry ones to be honest!
I feed them Purina One Turkey or Purina One Chicken for cats you can get these from any supermarket its just good quality cat dry food.

Ours recently really enjoy wet cat food so I put that out aswell, Its all trail and error for you see what they prefer.
Just avoid things like sunflower hearts, nuts, mealworms they aren't good for them, Any hog food with these in isn't a good hog food! You can't go wrong with Spike's though.

Great news Sammi, hope everything goes well for your - you really do deserve some this year.