I found a small hedgehog wandering around the garden on Sunday. At only 215g weight he spent the night in the front room under a towel with dog food and water.
The local rescue centre took him this lunchtime so fingers crossed.
Well, after an apparent absence of visitors I had stopped putting the food out as we were getting visited by a rat. However a couple of mornings ago when letting Dudley the dog out for his early morning ablutions we were greeted with a hog on the lawn. Definitely not Horace, quite a bit smaller and maybe the one who visited just before Xmas. Anyway I put some food out and sure enough he / she is visiting. Not a big chap by any means but obviously coping. I actually put tow bowls of food out (only one in sight of the camera) and both were devoured. I will switch the camera to the other location tonight but expect it to be the same hog.
Just up the road we noticed a flat hog in the road a couple of days back which again suggests they are moving around. Hope it wasn't Horace but I have my suspicions it might have been
Our hogs seemed to disappear around November time - presumably to hibernate even though it wasn't particularly cold - around 10 degrees + at night.
Worryingly one has appeared tonight for the first time this year - which I duly fed, although I wasn't sure if I should be encouraging it to be out on what is one of the coldest nights of the year. Did I do the right thing to feed it - it only ate a couple of spoonfuls of hog food.
Our hogs seemed to disappear around November time - presumably to hibernate even though it wasn't particularly cold - around 10 degrees + at night.
Worryingly one has appeared tonight for the first time this year - which I duly fed, although I wasn't sure if I should be encouraging it to be out on what is one of the coldest nights of the year. Did I do the right thing to feed it - it only ate a couple of spoonfuls of hog food.
One of mine has visited pretty much every night through the winter. Interesting to watch that they spend nearly as much time drinking water as they do eating the food.
Hello, new to the site. Is there a way of searching posts on threads to see if there are things already said as I usually come to a conversation late and I don't like to labour a point or repeat good advice.
Thanks I love gardening and all things nature. Am full of anecdotes and some new and not so new ideas.
Hedgehogs love to hibernate under leaves. I usually allow leaves to accumulate in several places against a wall or shrub as the wind blows them, then I prop a piece of wood so it effectively forms a lean to trapping enough leaves and leaving enough space so the hog can get in. Works like a dream. Don't usually feed them but will try a few cat/dog biscuits.
The search facility on here is acknowledged to be 'not great' ......... don't worry about repeating stuff ... we're not the sort of forumites that jump on people and say 'someone's already said that' ... and anyway, some things bear repeating ad infinitum, especially about protecting our wildlife.
Join in and enjoy!
Chat threads are in the Potting Shed
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
GD, keep feeding - he/she is probably confused due to the mild January and as we know hibernation is not a constant state, they can appear for food and then disappear the next week. It really is vital to provide fresh water indeed, for all garden animals. I think the hogs desire comes mainly from the dryness of the biscuits.
Thanks for all your re-assuring advice - I will continue to feed it/them at this time of year and we have dishes of water around the garden for them to use. Fortunately it was a large hog, which did re-assure me somewhat.
Yes, welcome aboard Mason - it is good to have you here and we look forward to your stories, and advice on various topics.
Posts
I found a small hedgehog wandering around the garden on Sunday. At only 215g weight he spent the night in the front room under a towel with dog food and water.
The local rescue centre took him this lunchtime so fingers crossed.
Well done you, Tootsietim... let's hope the little spud makes it.
Well, after an apparent absence of visitors I had stopped putting the food out as we were getting visited by a rat. However a couple of mornings ago when letting Dudley the dog out for his early morning ablutions we were greeted with a hog on the lawn. Definitely not Horace, quite a bit smaller and maybe the one who visited just before Xmas. Anyway I put some food out and sure enough he / she is visiting. Not a big chap by any means but obviously coping. I actually put tow bowls of food out (only one in sight of the camera) and both were devoured. I will switch the camera to the other location tonight but expect it to be the same hog.
Just up the road we noticed a flat hog in the road a couple of days back which again suggests they are moving around. Hope it wasn't Horace but I have my suspicions it might have been
Our hogs seemed to disappear around November time - presumably to hibernate even though it wasn't particularly cold - around 10 degrees + at night.
Worryingly one has appeared tonight for the first time this year - which I duly fed, although I wasn't sure if I should be encouraging it to be out on what is one of the coldest nights of the year. Did I do the right thing to feed it - it only ate a couple of spoonfuls of hog food.
I think you did the right thing, GD...it was up and about regardless, so at least it's had a meal, which could make all the difference.
I put fresh food and water out for mine yesterday, just incase they turn up.
One of mine has visited pretty much every night through the winter. Interesting to watch that they spend nearly as much time drinking water as they do eating the food.
Hello, new to the site. Is there a way of searching posts on threads to see if there are things already said as I usually come to a conversation late and I don't like to labour a point or repeat good advice.
Thanks I love gardening and all things nature. Am full of anecdotes and some new and not so new ideas.
Hedgehogs love to hibernate under leaves. I usually allow leaves to accumulate in several places against a wall or shrub as the wind blows them, then I prop a piece of wood so it effectively forms a lean to trapping enough leaves and leaving enough space so the hog can get in. Works like a dream. Don't usually feed them but will try a few cat/dog biscuits.
Hi Mason ... welcome aboard
The search facility on here is acknowledged to be 'not great' ......... don't worry about repeating stuff ... we're not the sort of forumites that jump on people and say 'someone's already said that' ... and anyway, some things bear repeating ad infinitum, especially about protecting our wildlife.
Join in and enjoy!
Chat threads are in the Potting Shed
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Welcome Mason
we're glad to have you here.
GD, keep feeding - he/she is probably confused due to the mild January and as we know hibernation is not a constant state, they can appear for food and then disappear the next week. It really is vital to provide fresh water indeed, for all garden animals. I think the hogs desire comes mainly from the dryness of the biscuits.
Thanks for all your re-assuring advice - I will continue to feed it/them at this time of year and we have dishes of water around the garden for them to use. Fortunately it was a large hog, which did re-assure me somewhat.
Yes, welcome aboard Mason - it is good to have you here and we look forward to your stories, and advice on various topics.