We were just setting off to see Mom yesterday afternoon when we saw this little feller sitting on the front lawn. Not much shelter in our drive so we took him around the back garden. It looked like rain so Tone put an old box by the back gate with some straw in and a couple of old orange boxs in front to stop the wind and rain getting in. We got some cat food on the way home and put it by the box. When we got home we couldn't see the babby anywhere. Tone came up with the tea this morning and said that the food had gone and the little luv had taken residence in his wee hoosy. I'm over the moon anyone would think that I'd had a real babby
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s121/shirlton/hedgehog002.jpg)
I think im right that if its a youngster and its not made a certain weight it should not be allowed to hibernate and it wont make it through the winter ????????
Its not a baby hedgehog its quite big. Perhaps the size of the box and the way I spoke about it gave the wrong impression
Aaaawwwwww :)
double Aaaawwwww! :D
You could weigh it if you want to be sure it has sufficient fat reserves. Most organisations caring for hegehogs get their weight up to 600 grams before allowing them to hibernate but anything over 450 grams should be ok.
Oh I want one !!! ;D ;D ;D Well done lady! :)
Hope he makes it. Keep us posted Shirl.
Lucky you, it's been ages since I saw one!
I do really hope he is OK,I rescued a poorly one a while ago,sadly even with a lot of care he did not make it.
Wonderful to see him,when they are out in the day it is never a good sign so keep your eye on him. :)
Its tipping down here and he or she is sitting at the entrance of the box just looking out. We are going to weigh him sometime today and I am going to get in touch with Tiggywinkles cos they had a baby hog off us a couple of years ago to feed up and return to the wild
We've got tiddly-tiny ones through the winter before now, feeding them peanuts, and they slept in the dog kennel filled with straw. Haven't seen one about for a while though.
This from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/FAQS/faq.htm):
QuoteHow heavy does a hedgehog need to be to hibernate successfully?
Hedgehogs under a year old need to be at least 500-600gms in order to have sufficient fat reserves to successfully hibernate. Older hedgehogs will need to be heavier than this. If they are not large enough or well enough to hibernate then they will not. Those seen out late in the year will need extra help to give them a chance to survive. This may just be in the form of extra food being put out in the garden or some, especially those seen out in the day, may need to be brought inside and over wintered. If you have any doubts or concerns always seek advice from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society or a local hedgehog rehabilitator.
What a lovely story Shirl - he couldn't have found a better home!
well done Tone & Shirl!!
How gorgous looks like he knew where to find a good home & loving foster parents.
Shirl he shouldn't be awake during the day. There might be something wrong, is his breathing OK. I saw one a few weeks ago on a grass verge. I screached at John to stop. The local vet had a look & gave him ABs but I couldn't get him to uncurl so I took him to the local wildlife rescue & he died. He was covered in tics & they affected his lungs.
Bless him,,,,, keep us posted.....
I just Googled and we can buy them here as pets, start at about $100.........qahtan
According to an old gyppo honest hard working tax paying travellers recipe you can cover them in clay and bake them in the embers of the fire. I bet it tastes like chicken, everything else does.
I'll get my coat.
Topic Summary
Posted by: ACE Posted on: Yesterday at 20:48:35
Insert Quote
According to an old gyppo honest hard working tax paying travellers recipe you can cover them in clay and bake them in the embers of the fire. I bet it tastes like chicken, everything else does.
I'll get my coat.
I should if I were you Ace ;D ;D ;D
Tony came down this morning and opened the back door to see if it was in the box and it came running up the garden path. Looked later and it was in the box all snuggled up. Its eating and breathing ok. Didn't realise that they could move so bloomin fast.
I am so glad he appears to be ok Shirl.
Do you remember little Zig,He broke my heart. :)
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,52467.0.html
Just looked back at the pics of little Zig Betula. This little one seems full of beans. I have just been reading up on them and have the number of the W.mids. rescue. If we cannot manage to meet his needs then we will take him to them but I would rather like to keep him or her.
Sorry Shirl i thought it was a youngster :)
Wonder if it has been hand reared at some point and thats why it seeks humans out ??
We used to have 2 hedgepiggies here but not seen them in ages :( I would love to offer a home to a couple that are to be released but our area is just not safe for them :(
Phoned Tiggywinkles about the hedgehog and they advised me to take him to the rescue center in Aldridge where we took the last one we found.They said that it would have to be brought inside for the winter because it was obviously too small to hibernate. Apparently the reason why it was out in the daytime is because it was hungry.
It was time to make a decision best for the animal or best for us. Needless to say the animal won so is now on its way to Aldridge to receive expert treatment.Praps we will get an adult one one day who knows
Did the right thing, well done :) :) :)
Tony has just come back from the rescue center and they said that the hoggie was good weight and very fiesty. They are going to call it Shirley so that I will be able to phone and see how she's doing. They will look after her inside until the Spring. They even ask if you want to go when they return them to the wild. Its on the way to Moms care home so we will probably go. Alls well that ends well eh!
Oh what a shame it would be lovely to have had shirley :) still around your end shirl.
Sure it is for the best :)
I hope that bloke at the rescue centre never had a gold earring ;)
What?
If you carry on at this rate Ace, and you will end up doing community service at your nearest hedgehog rescue centre ;D ;D
Actually there was a young chap there doing community service ;D
Will you take the little chap a christmas stocking?
He will be asleep all over Christmas. (It's all right for some!!) ;D ;D
Wether she will be asleep will depend on her weight. If not then she will be kept inside until the Spring.
Tone and I usually keep our heads down over Christmas but our son and his oh will be arriving on christmas day from Co, Durham
good to hear a happy ending! I bet your tickled they named her Shirley ;D
It was my Tony's idea.How sweet ;D
well then that deserves another aaaawwwwwww :D
Came across this accidently when looking for something else.. did you ever see her again XX Jeannine
I'm afraid not Jeannine. We did leave our phone number with them so that they could get in touch when they were stting her free but we didn't hear from them I'm not worried as they are a a very busy rescue.