Yes we have a couple of hog rescue nearby, all recommended by the society so no problem there. It's just that the size of this one would have ment it was born mid winter to still be that small now, it's only half the size of the night visitor, and that one is not a big male either.
That is a mystery purplerallim - sorry I don't know the answer. I don't know what would have caused the deaths but your rescue centre should be able to tell you.
Here we managed to over winter one or two because it was so mild and they religiously came every night for food from the bowl even on the coldest nights. We had one run over at the end of our driveway on Tuesday - really sad because we definitely had some mating going on prior to it's death.
That is sad @Guernsey Donkey2 after getting them through the winter.
The December one was under weight and dehydrated, the latter is odd as water is always available. But it didn't have the weight to get through the winter and was clearly starving . Today's one just is small was seen drinking and didn't seem as skinny, it walked past the food, and was just wandering around.
When they're out in the daytime, that's a sign that something is wrong . Even if they appear to be a good size, if they are wandering around or sitting in the middle of the lawn, say. The only situation that is an exception is if you see a hedgehog moving with purpose, possibly carrying bedding or even babies. Female hogs sometimes do this during the day if they've been disturbed, then they can move the nest.
Put out the feeding station and camera last night, and there was our first visitor at about 10pm . Three visits in all, fairly sure it was the same one each time
That's good news AnniD and purplerallim - sad to see any dead hogs, but somehow reassuring to know that your regular visitor has survived. I bought some expensive hog pate a few weeks ago - what a waste of money. We have had at least 2 hogs visiting the feeding station but they didn't even bother to sniff the pate. Just before I went to bed I emptied the foods (as I always do), and chucked the pate into the field, then noticed the cat eating it this morning - glad it didn't go to waste but won't bother buying any again.
I've never heard of hog pate before @Guernsey Donkey2 I won't be trying my hogs with it in case they get ideas above their (feeding) station. (Sorry 😊) Bog standard dog food and cat biscuits is all they get. Mind you, having said that, it must be one type of dog food, nothing else is acceptable apparently !
Info from my local rescue, now that hedgehogs are starting to reappear, hopefully it's of use.
With hedgehogs coming out of hibernation they will be starting to fatten themselves up ready for the breeding season, if a hedgehog is visiting your garden at night, is active and acting normally but is just small please do not take the hedgehog in! If you want to help it please provide food ( cat food both wet and dry) and water.
Weight on its own is not an issue at this time of the year because it is getting warmer and natural food is increasing, taking a hedgehog into captivity causes stress and health issues! They are better off in the wild where they belong.
Hedgehogs do not need routine worming and should only be treated for parasites if they are showing symptoms of a burden as they naturally carry internal parasites and they control them.
Symptoms that would indicate treatment is required would be that it’s out in the day, underweight, dehydrated, slow moving and egg shaped.
Very good info @AnniD 🙂 It surprised me just how much the hogs were out this winter, probably because it has had mild patches of weather. Not so much plate clearing of food now but that is because natural food is about as well, but this next week is going to have cold nights here so wild food may just become a bit thinner on the ground so feeding is essential.
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The December one was under weight and dehydrated, the latter is odd as water is always available. But it didn't have the weight to get through the winter and was clearly starving . Today's one just is small was seen drinking and didn't seem as skinny, it walked past the food, and was just wandering around.
I won't be trying my hogs with it in case they get ideas above their (feeding) station. (Sorry 😊)
Bog standard dog food and cat biscuits is all they get. Mind you, having said that, it must be one type of dog food, nothing else is acceptable apparently !
With hedgehogs coming out of hibernation they will be starting to fatten themselves up ready for the breeding season, if a hedgehog is visiting your garden at night, is active and acting normally but is just small please do not take the hedgehog in! If you want to help it please provide food ( cat food both wet and dry) and water.
Weight on its own is not an issue at this time of the year because it is getting warmer and natural food is increasing, taking a hedgehog into captivity causes stress and health issues! They are better off in the wild where they belong.
Hedgehogs do not need routine worming and should only be treated for parasites if they are showing symptoms of a burden as they naturally carry internal parasites and they control them.
Symptoms that would indicate treatment is required would be that it’s out in the day, underweight, dehydrated, slow moving and egg shaped.