I have been lucky enough to have hogs for the last five years or so, they sleep at the bottom of the garden in a ready built home and under a shrub,,.I put plenty of leaves in the autumn as near as I can and they reward me by coming every night just outside the patio doors to eat leftover bird food, ie mealy worm raisins sunflower hearts suit , plus dried cat food .one year I had mum and three babes, lovely.
All credit to you Hartleyhare. I was delighted to have two hogs in the garden a couple of nights ago, a courting couple I think, I have had singletons before but not for 2-3 years. I had left over peanuts which I had dropped under the hedge basically so the pigeons didn't get it so following comments above I assume the hogs hoovered them up. I didn't want to put meaty pet food down as I worried about rats so some good suggestions for alternatives thank you.
I haven't seen mine since I last posted about the possibility that I had a little house which I had spotted in the garden and learned from Dove that it was in fact a hibernaculum - well today in a garden centre I spotted one made of wire and artificial leaves it was moulded pretty much into the shape of what I had seen in the garden - domed squarish/oval in shape, narrowing into a small neck for an entrance. I was tempted to take a photo, I didn't but I was quite excited to see such a range for wildlife in the shop ( it was just under 20 euros). As the birds have such a huge appetite at the moment I enjoyed stocking up from an amazing variety of nuts, seeds, fat balls and....having finally got over myself ...managed to bring home a tub of mealy worms for my resident robins. But is it true though that they lie low in the summer because they are more vulnerable? Perhaps it would be dangerous for them if I were to tempt them out of shelter? Maybe they only need our help in winter. It was just something I read when it crossed my mind that I hadn't seen them for a while. And when they were here they didn't seem to enjoy the fat balls as much as the other small birds and that's why I wanted to ensure I had something they liked that was nutritious.
Me neither flowering rose - I love them though and would dearly like to encourage them into my garden too, but I fear there isn't enough space or food for them there...and next door both sides have dogs, so can't build any fence hedgehog holes.
I think this site is wonderful and read it wistfully, imaging the day I can have a hedgehog or two passing through.
I haven't seen mine since I last posted about the possibility that I had a little house which I had spotted in the garden and learned from Dove that it was in fact a hibernaculum - well today in a garden centre I spotted one made of wire and artificial leaves it was moulded pretty much into the shape of what I had seen in the garden - domed squarish/oval in shape, narrowing into a small neck for an entrance. I was tempted to take a photo, I didn't but I was quite excited to see such a range for wildlife in the shop ( it was just under 20 euros). As the birds have such a huge appetite at the moment I enjoyed stocking up from an amazing variety of nuts, seeds, fat balls and....having finally got over myself ...managed to bring home a tub of mealy worms for my resident robins. But is it true though that they lie low in the summer because they are more vulnerable? Perhaps it would be dangerous for them if I were to tempt them out of shelter? Maybe they only need our help in winter. It was just something I read when it crossed my mind that I hadn't seen them for a while. And when they were here they didn't seem to enjoy the fat balls as much as the other small birds and that's why I wanted to ensure I had something they liked that was nutritious.
I think the hog house you are referring to is a Hogitat. Truthfully they are really not the best houses to buy, the design is not the best for a hog and they are not weatherproof at all. I bouoght one and quickly abandoned it. The Chapelwood is another bad design, entrance is too large and its badly constructed so leaks. Its possible to weatherproof it though and make entrance smaller. I use mine as an indoor house now. There are much better houses available for only just a little more than the price of a Hogitat. I have 2 Ark Wildlife houses and they are a brilliant design and very sturdy. However, all hog houses regardless of design or make will need additional weathproofing, roof felting or pond liner. The design you should be looking for is a house that has an entrance corridor leading to a separate sleeping chamber. The 'door ' to the entrance corridor should not be too big as predators may be able to get in. I'll take a pic of my houses and post on here for you and others to look at. There are other houses of course that or of equal quality.Long term I think its best to spend more on a house that will last longer given our climate.
Hedgehogs do not lie low in summer, their abscence from your garden is usually down to making babies activities . ALso during summer there are more natural foods around for them so they are not so dependant on foods provided by us. But I am not sure if you are referring to hogs or Robins in your post ?
I wanted to write something about slugs/snails, internal parasites and hogs, just to go into it in a little more depth so as to share my knowledge ( such as it is ). and eduacte people about this. Somewhat busy at present so will do it later.
Thank you for all that information Hartleyhare - I must admit I did consider buying the house, then I thought if the hedgehog had managed to build such a good one him/herself it would probably be more benefit to ensure that the garden was as friendly and safe as possible to overwinter in. I love the fact that the hedgehog can make a far superior house than we can
I did jump subject a bit - I was talking about the robins lying low but you answered the question that should have been asked at the start and I am delighted to know that my hedgehog is creating its little family and that's why he has not been out and about much.
Thank you again for this information and if ever you do have the time to write about slugs and snails etc I would really appreciate it as I'm sure many others like me would.
Posts
You may find this interesting http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/help-hedgehogs.html
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have been lucky enough to have hogs for the last five years or so, they sleep at the bottom of the garden in a ready built home and under a shrub,,.I put plenty of leaves in the autumn as near as I can and they reward me by coming every night just outside the patio doors to eat leftover bird food, ie mealy worm raisins sunflower hearts suit , plus dried cat food .one year I had mum and three babes, lovely.
All credit to you Hartleyhare. I was delighted to have two hogs in the garden a couple of nights ago, a courting couple I think, I have had singletons before but not for 2-3 years. I had left over peanuts which I had dropped under the hedge basically so the pigeons didn't get it so following comments above I assume the hogs hoovered them up. I didn't want to put meaty pet food down as I worried about rats so some good suggestions for alternatives thank you.
I haven't seen mine since I last posted about the possibility that I had a little house which I had spotted in the garden and learned from Dove that it was in fact a hibernaculum - well today in a garden centre I spotted one made of wire and artificial leaves it was moulded pretty much into the shape of what I had seen in the garden - domed squarish/oval in shape, narrowing into a small neck for an entrance. I was tempted to take a photo, I didn't but I was quite excited to see such a range for wildlife in the shop ( it was just under 20 euros). As the birds have such a huge appetite at the moment I enjoyed stocking up from an amazing variety of nuts, seeds, fat balls and....having finally got over myself ...managed to bring home a tub of mealy worms for my resident robins. But is it true though that they lie low in the summer because they are more vulnerable? Perhaps it would be dangerous for them if I were to tempt them out of shelter? Maybe they only need our help in winter. It was just something I read when it crossed my mind that I hadn't seen them for a while. And when they were here they didn't seem to enjoy the fat balls as much as the other small birds and that's why I wanted to ensure I had something they liked that was nutritious.
Me neither flowering rose - I love them though and would dearly like to encourage them into my garden too, but I fear there isn't enough space or food for them there...and next door both sides have dogs, so can't build any fence hedgehog holes.
I think this site is wonderful and read it wistfully, imaging the day I can have a hedgehog or two passing through.
http://www.hedgehogstreet.org
What a lovely job you have, OP!
I think the hog house you are referring to is a Hogitat. Truthfully they are really not the best houses to buy, the design is not the best for a hog and they are not weatherproof at all. I bouoght one and quickly abandoned it. The Chapelwood is another bad design, entrance is too large and its badly constructed so leaks. Its possible to weatherproof it though and make entrance smaller. I use mine as an indoor house now. There are much better houses available for only just a little more than the price of a Hogitat. I have 2 Ark Wildlife houses and they are a brilliant design and very sturdy. However, all hog houses regardless of design or make will need additional weathproofing, roof felting or pond liner. The design you should be looking for is a house that has an entrance corridor leading to a separate sleeping chamber. The 'door ' to the entrance corridor should not be too big as predators may be able to get in. I'll take a pic of my houses and post on here for you and others to look at. There are other houses of course that or of equal quality.Long term I think its best to spend more on a house that will last longer given our climate.
Hedgehogs do not lie low in summer, their abscence from your garden is usually down to making babies activities
. ALso during summer there are more natural foods around for them so they are not so dependant on foods provided by us. But I am not sure if you are referring to hogs or Robins in your post ?
I wanted to write something about slugs/snails, internal parasites and hogs, just to go into it in a little more depth so as to share my knowledge ( such as it is ). and eduacte people about this. Somewhat busy at present so will do it later.
Thank you for all that information Hartleyhare - I must admit I did consider buying the house, then I thought if the hedgehog had managed to build such a good one him/herself it would probably be more benefit to ensure that the garden was as friendly and safe as possible to overwinter in. I love the fact that the hedgehog can make a far superior house than we can
I did jump subject a bit - I was talking about the robins lying low but you answered the question that should have been asked at the start and I am delighted to know that my hedgehog is creating its little family and that's why he has not been out and about much.
Thank you again for this information and if ever you do have the time to write about slugs and snails etc I would really appreciate it as I'm sure many others like me would.