Just had my RHS wild in the garden August email through saying it was a good time to start feeding hedgehogs as the young ones are about. Haven't seen a hedgehog in our garden for 16 years but as my son had built a house for them out of old wood so I thought I would give it a go. In Tescos (of all places)by chance I saw a bag of hedgehog food and on a whim purchased it......and would you Adam and Eve it saw my first hedgehog this evening!!! Talk about coincidence. We immediately opened the food and put it near the base of the hedge where we had seen him/her. Bold as brass the hedgehog came out and started eating. We are absolutely thrilled and it looks as though hedgehog food is going on my shopping list
I have only ever seen 1 live hedgehog where I live and this was about 5 years ago it was trying to get into our lean to in the winter I think it was too light to hibernatappear do have badgers though and apparently they don't mix!
I opened the back door just before 9pm tonight to find a little hedgehog beneath the sunflower seed feeder. he scooted off. I am so pleased because after I found the dead one a few weeks back, I thought that was that. I put out Bakers meaty meals (beefy dried chunks) for the fox, but I think the hedgehog probably has some too. If I put it out too early, the magpies eat it.The backdoor vole likes them too, and the wood mouse.
garden bird supplies (online) sells 4kg packs of hedgehog food, but I suspect they will be happy with cat or dog food. Tesco keeps sending me vouchers for dog stuff. I think they must think I own one.(got to keep the fox family happy)
I got mine in a large Tescos in the pet aisle near the bird food - called The Right food for...hedgehogs - approved by wildlife hospitals etc. Says you can leave it out for a few days - looks like dried cat food but smells completely different. I'm sure chains like Peta at Home etc do it too.
Garden centres often have hedgehog food along with the wild bird food.
Magpies come after the food we put out so we put it underneath shallow-ish wooden boxes with one end cut out (the sort of boxes you can get from the greengrocer).
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Just had my RHS wild in the garden August email through saying it was a good time to start feeding hedgehogs as the young ones are about. Haven't seen a hedgehog in our garden for 16 years but as my son had built a house for them out of old wood so I thought I would give it a go. In Tescos (of all places)by chance I saw a bag of hedgehog food and on a whim purchased it......and would you Adam and Eve it saw my first hedgehog this evening!!! Talk about coincidence. We immediately opened the food and put it near the base of the hedge where we had seen him/her. Bold as brass the hedgehog came out and started eating. We are absolutely thrilled and it looks as though hedgehog food is going on my shopping list
I find that they also really appreciate a shallow bowl of fresh water put out each evening.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm piling up lots of logs and making a nice quiet corner of the garden and hoping my little hoggie will come back again and visit.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
were thinking of putting a tent on the lawn and let them all have the house ( not the fish) and aint this moving a Pain,
Cheers Alan
I have only ever seen 1 live hedgehog where I live and this was about 5 years ago it was trying to get into our lean to in the winter I think it was too light to hibernatappear do have badgers though and apparently they don't mix!
Since I posted my message above, I am thrilled to report that I have two
hedgehogs regularly visiting my garden. I've started feeding them with tinned
chicken dog food and they love it, but I'm worried about what to do when I go
away for a few days, as they come every evening now for their supper and may
give up if they don't find any food for a few days. Would it be ok for me to leave
little dishes of dry hedgehog food hidden around the garden for them to find or would this attract rodents?
Also where do you buy dried hedgehog food please - can
you get it in pet shops?
I will be very grateful for any help you can give me.
I opened the back door just before 9pm tonight to find a little hedgehog beneath the sunflower seed feeder. he scooted off. I am so pleased because after I found the dead one a few weeks back, I thought that was that. I put out Bakers meaty meals (beefy dried chunks) for the fox, but I think the hedgehog probably has some too. If I put it out too early, the magpies eat it.The backdoor vole likes them too, and the wood mouse.
garden bird supplies (online) sells 4kg packs of hedgehog food, but I suspect they will be happy with cat or dog food. Tesco keeps sending me vouchers for dog stuff. I think they must think I own one.(got to keep the fox family happy)
I got mine in a large Tescos in the pet aisle near the bird food - called The Right food for...hedgehogs - approved by wildlife hospitals etc. Says you can leave it out for a few days - looks like dried cat food but smells completely different. I'm sure chains like Peta at Home etc do it too.
Many thanks for that Daintiness - I'll get some tomorrow!
Garden centres often have hedgehog food along with the wild bird food.
Magpies come after the food we put out so we put it underneath shallow-ish wooden boxes with one end cut out (the sort of boxes you can get from the greengrocer).
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.