I emailed son at work earlier he said he will sort the compost bins out tonight. I'll move the feeding station onto the lawn when it stops raining. Will let you know how I get on as it may help us all.
Guernsey Donkey2, I'll have to get these into that kind of a routine. I was very unwell with the heat last week and sat by the patio window before son took me to hospital at 3 am along came one of the HG and had a good old feed for around 20 min. Not sure if it was the same one but it came back just after 4am. There is always someone feeding around 8pm and most if not all of the food has gone by the morning. I don't want to stop feeding them as it'll only be about another eight to ten weeks before the go into hibernation again. I also have the problem that they are the moment nesting in the corner that I am waiting to plant a tree in and I don't know who to get them to move and don't want to make them homeless.
I had one - and now I have two hoggies every night, and I put out hedgehog food for them, and they seem to love it. I intend to provide shelter for them to overwinter. Should I get two shelters, or do you think they might share one? And when ought I to set them in place? I'm thinking that, if I put them in place now, they will get used to them, and use them for their winter home.
@shrinking Violet you can put them in place now. Last autumn I made a pile of sticks twigs so that they could shelter. A neighbour gave me a bag of straw to use as bedding. I don't know if a hog used it.
@Shrinking Violet, the more houses the better. They don't like to share ! The best places are sheltered, tucked away. I don't know if you plan to make them, or buy them but some of the ones you see in the shops aren't really suitable. Make sure the entrance isn't too wide so that any predators can get inside. Some info here that you might find useful https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/hedgehog-homes/
Thanks for the helpful advice. I shall look to set up a couple of "homes" for my hoggies. I just can't resist looking out into the garden every evening, just to enjoy their presence. If I can give them a home, then that's the least I can do for the pleasure they give. (All this wildlife is costing a fortune, what with bird seed in ever-increasing quantities as well as hogs. But it is rewarding.)
Shrinking Violet, I've made mine out of off cuts of fencing. I just made a box then put a center piece of wood ruffly half way along leaving a gap so it was like a corridor and a nest chamber. The top is just a flat piece of wood covered with roof felt that had been in the garden and a brick on top to keep the lid on. I put it under the shrubs and added some conifer cutting to hide it for them and left leave straw and shredded paper for her to make a nest. I the left food and water nearby but I have know idea if anyone is in there.
Posts
I intend to provide shelter for them to overwinter. Should I get two shelters, or do you think they might share one?
And when ought I to set them in place? I'm thinking that, if I put them in place now, they will get used to them, and use them for their winter home.
The best places are sheltered, tucked away. I don't know if you plan to make them, or buy them but some of the ones you see in the shops aren't really suitable. Make sure the entrance isn't too wide so that any predators can get inside.
Some info here that you might find useful
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/hedgehog-homes/