How do you take care of a baby hedgehog?

How do you take care of a baby hedgehog?

It’s important after about four weeks to provide the hoglets with an additional food supply since they will be suckling less. You can give them wet cat food or dry kitten food soaked with water to make things easy on them. After seven weeks, it’s ok to remove the baby hedgehogs from their mom’s care.

When can you touch baby hedgehogs?

Baby 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.

What do you feed a newborn hedgehog?

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.

How hard is it to take care of a baby hedgehog?

Hedgehogs can be a fun and low-maintenance pet for your household, but they do need some special care. They have sharp quills that can make handling difficult. Consistent and proper daily handling will help them relax and feel comfortable with you.

Should baby hedgehogs be out during the day?

Hedgehogs are nocturnal and only come out at night. Generally, any hedgehog out during the day is probably in trouble and will need to be picked up and taken to a wildlife rescue centre.

How do you keep baby hedgehogs warm?

Place the hedgehog on the wrapped hot water bottle. Cover it with a small blanket, such as a dry face cloth, folded over, to prevent heat from escaping.

How fast do baby hedgehogs grow?

A hoglet will typically have doubled its birth weight in the first seven days and will be about ten-times its birth weight by six weeks old. Indeed, the hoglets are considered fully weaned by six to eight weeks old, with the adult dentition complete by four months.

How big is a 2 month old hedgehog?

Hedgehog Size and Growth Chart

Why do hedgehogs abandon their babies?

How long do juvenile hedgehogs stay with their mum? Hedgehog mums will feed their babies for up to eight weeks and then will leave them to fend for themselves. If the nest is disturbed during these first few weeks, then the mum may abandon or eat her babies, so you really do need to leave them well alone.

How much should a baby hedgehog eat?

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 baby hedgehogs drink?

Baby hedgehogs begin life by drinking solely their mother’s milk, as do most other mammals. If a mother’s milk is unavailable, substitute fluids, such as puppy or goat’s milk, can be given. A baby hedgehog will begin to eat solid food at 3-4 weeks old.

What do you do with baby hedgehogs?

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.

Are African pygmy hedgehogs easy to care for?

Adult Size: The African pygmy hedgehog’s body is 5 to 8 inches long and can weigh between 1/2 to 1 1/2 pounds. Difficulty of Care: Intermediate. Although they’re low maintenance, Africa pygmy hedgehogs are solitary animals and don’t crave human interaction. They take time to get used to humans.

What is the scientific name of the African pygmy hedgehog?

With the scientific name Atelerix Albiventris, the African Pygmy hedgehog is a hybrid of the white-bellied and the Algerian hedgehog and is the most popular species of hedgehog to keep as a pet. They are named ‘pygmy’ due to their small size.

Can African pygmy hedgehogs eat mealworms?

African pygmy hedgehogs love mealworms. But when using them as a snack, make sure this source of food is also fed a quality diet (fruit, vegetables, and dog food) before giving them to your hedgehog. This process called “gut-loading” operates off the same principle as “you are what you eat,” assuring proper nutrition.

How do you take care of a hedgehog?

Fresh water should be provided daily. I use a dish and fill it daily to make sure the water is fresh. I prefer not to use a water bottle as a hedgehog can chip or break its teeth on the spout and they can be tricky to properly clean and disinfect.