Feathered and four-legged friends live next to many of us in close proximity. It so happened that people willingly share their shelter with canaries and parrots, dogs and cats, decorative rodents and ferrets. But, is there a place next to a person for hedgehogs - nimble prickly forest dwellers? Some experts argue that hedgehogs can be kept at home and the neighborhood with them brings a lot of pleasant moments. You and I prefer to check everything and not take a word, therefore, before we manage to find the answer to the question - whether there will be a neighborhood of hedgehogs with us, we suggest learning a lot of interesting and useful information about these creatures, as well as what conditions need to be created for them in your home, so that they feel comfortable in it ...

hedgehog in the house

We are used to the fact that hedgehogs are forest dwellers, and it is difficult for us to imagine that they can live next to us in an apartment or in a house. However, with proper care, affection and care, these prickly creatures can become cute pets. Although Nature created these animals so that they live separately from humans, but you and I are lovers of the exotic and everything unusual, therefore, it is not surprising that the idea of ​​taming a hedgehog came to our minds.

By the way, where are you going to take this hedgehog from? We would not recommend that you take a wild forest dweller into your home, as it may be infected with helminth eggs or may be a carrier of leptospirosis, an acute infectious disease caused by leptospira. This disease affects the capillaries of the liver, kidneys, muscles, intoxication occurs in the body, accompanied by undulating attacks of fever. All this can “reward” you with a cute hedgehog that you found in the forest or in the park. That's why,

it is better to buy this animal in a pet store, where you can ask the seller not only the origin of this creature (as experience shows, the offspring of domesticated and healthy hedgehogs very quickly get used to hands and caress, and become really tame), but also require a veterinary opinion on that the hedgehog is absolutely healthy.

Why is this needed? In addition to worms and leptospirosis, cases of rabies are often recorded among hedgehogs ...

If you find an injured hedgehog in a park or in the woods - before you bring it home - take the poor fellow to a veterinarian, and only then make a decision whether to keep it or not.

hedgehog breeds

If you heeded our advice and went to the pet store for a hedgehog, and not to the nearest forest, park or bird market, then it will be useful for you to know that there are several genera and breeds of hedgehogs. They differ both in appearance of representatives of their kind, and in their size, features of maintenance and diet. Therefore, it is very important to know what kind of hedgehog you are buying.

For reference, we will only say that the genus African hedgehogs include Algerian, Somali, South African and white-bellied hedgehogs. These are exotic heat-loving creatures that need special climatic conditions - high air temperature and high humidity. To the genus Steppe hedgehogs include Chinese and Dahurian hedgehogs- here you will also need special climatic conditions of detention - high air temperature and average humidity. Ah, to the genus Eurasian hedgehogs include Eastern European, Amur, common and european hedgehogs– they feel comfortable in our environment. More exotic species of hedgehogs belong to the genus Eared hedgehogs are Indian, collared, blue-bellied, dark needle, Ethiopian eared hedgehogs ...

Where to keep a hedgehog in the house

Hedgehog cage filler

So, you are going to bring a hedgehog into the house or have already brought a prickly pet. First of all, he needs a shelter or his small house in your big house. We would not recommend that you release a new pet to walk around the apartment, left to itself. Too many dangers lie in wait for the hedgehog - he can get tangled in the wires, get stuck under the sofa, ruin your things or simply run away. So, it is better to keep a hedgehog in his cage - it can be metal, it can be wooden, the main thing is that the cage has a retractable tray, this will make it easier for you to clean up after your pet.

The dimensions of the cage should be spacious enough and not restrict the hedgehog's freedom of movement, since in Nature these creatures are very nimble and active, and often in a cramped cage they become lethargic and even start to get sick.

Some owners of hedgehogs keep the latter in an empty aquarium, but we would not advise doing this - this is more of a temporary option for overexposure, but a glass house is not suitable for permanent residence, since the climate that occurs behind solid glass can be fatal for your hedgehog, this is negative will affect his health and he may start to get sick.

In the hedgehog's cage, in order for him to be comfortable, there should be a filler - straw or sawdust, plastic bowls for food and drinking bowls.

The cage will need to be cleaned and cleaned regularly, then a specific smell will not be heard in your house, which will give out what kind of pet lives in it.

As for the choice of a place for the cage - then put it away from drafts, electrical and gas appliances, you should not put it on the windowsill in direct sunlight.

How to feed a hedgehog at home

Hedgehogs are small predators

We all remember children's fairy tales in which the hedgehog is a kind character who eats apples and mushrooms. This is a light version of the truth. The fact is that, by their nature, hedgehogs are real carnivorous predators (what a surprise), and in nature they eat meat and insects, respectively, the main part of their diet at home should be chopped raw meat.

In nature, hedgehogs also readily eat caterpillars, snails, beetles, earthworms - you can add these natural "foods" to your hedgehog's diet. An alternative to beetles and worms can be a bloodworm. Some owners feed their ex-forest dwellers with mice and chickens, but in principle there is no particular need for this, because if you include insects, meat, boiled liver and fish in your hedgehog's diet, with such a diet he will get everything he needs. necessary for health and development.

So, think carefully about what you will feed the hedgehog - you will not succeed in making him a complete vegetarian. But, here you can offer him a mixture of grated carrots, crushed crackers, egg powder, low-fat cottage cheese and hard-boiled eggs instead of one of the feedings (hedgehogs eat 2-3 times a day).

As for dairy products, hedgehogs also love them. Their special favorite delicacy is white bread soaked in milk. You can occasionally pamper your pet with such milk cuisine, but you should not abuse such a dish, as many hedgehogs get diarrhea from fresh and fatty milk.

Do not forget also that in the cage the hedgehog always has a container with clean and fresh water, which you will change daily.

The right diet for your hedgehog will be the key to his health and long life.

Vitamins for the hedgehog

If the hedgehog's diet is balanced and varied, then it does not need additional vitamins. However, you can still consult your veterinarian about this.

How to feed a little hedgehog

If you find a small blind hedgehog in a park or forest, do not rush to take it home. Watch the baby, maybe his mother will show up after all. If this did not happen, and the little hedgehog is a complete orphan, then, in order to save him, the poor one will definitely die, you will have to take him home and artificially feed him. For this, a pipette or a baby nipple is suitable. Every 2-3 hours you will need to give your baby boiled milk diluted with water in a ratio of 2 to 1. You can also give special baby formulas, or dilute condensed milk with water. Feed the hedgehog only fresh and warmed up to a temperature of 30-40 degrees with a mixture. Make sure the baby doesn't choke. At first, such a new way of feeding can cause you difficulties - the hedgehog may turn away, not take the pacifier, but as soon as hunger takes its toll, the baby will definitely adapt to the new way of feeding.

After the hedgehog is fed, he will need to massage his tummy, for this, stroke him with your fingertips from top to bottom.

When the baby is 3-4 weeks old, his first teeth will erupt, you can transfer him to meat and mixed food - start giving him lean minced meat mixed with a hard-boiled egg, you can also give porridge cooked in milk.

As soon as additional food appears in the hedgehog's diet, the dairy diet begins to be reduced and gradually reduced to a minimum. The transition should be completed when the hedgehog weighs 250-300 grams.

Features of the behavior of hedgehogs

hedgehogs love to swim

In order for you to better understand your pet, it will be useful for you to know interesting information about the behavior of these creatures.

First of all, hedgehogs are solitary animals, so if you have several hedgehogs, keep them in different cages to avoid conflict situations and bloodshed. The exception is young offspring and heterosexual couples, especially during the breeding season. As for breeding hedgehogs in captivity, this is a rather complicated process that rarely gives positive results if you have not had experience with anything like this before.

In nature, the period of hollow activity in hedgehogs begins in the spring, after they wake up.

hibernation in hedgehogs

Yes, yes, these creatures hibernate every autumn, after they have accumulated a sufficient amount of fat reserves (the weight of the hedgehog must be at least 750 grams, otherwise it will not wake up). So, starting from the middle of summer, the hedgehog should be transferred to an enhanced diet, so that by the end of October - by the beginning of November he is ready to fall asleep. The fact that the pet is going to hibernate will tell you his behavior - he will become lethargic, fall into a state of stupor.

The owner should provide his sleeping hedgehog with proper hibernation conditions by placing him in a room where the air temperature will not exceed 5 degrees above zero Celsius. To make the hedgehog comfortable, he should arrange a bedroom made of straw, hay, sawdust - in such a nest the hedgehog will sleep until spring.

If you do not provide him with a transition to hibernation, then the animal may become weak and die by spring. By the way, in extreme conditions hibernation in a hedgehog can last up to 200 days.

The nature and habits of hedgehogs

Hedgehog can become a pet

Domestic hedgehogs are unusually active creatures, and the period of their activity falls at night. So, be prepared for the fact that your pet will sleep all day, and in the evening and at night it will interfere with you. In order to somehow change the course of his biological clock, you can try to artificially darken him in the middle of the day, and vice versa - leave a backlight at night.

With proper care and proper care, your pet will definitely become tame, learn to respond to its name, and you can let it go for a walk around the apartment. True, before doing this, make sure that the doors in the room are closed, there are no other pets in it, and all potentially dangerous places are neutralized - there are no wires, slots. But, even in this case, you should not take your eyes off the hedgehog, as he will very quickly find something to do with himself - perhaps he will like your path, and he will decide to borrow part of it for his nest.

Hedgehog health care

Feverfew will help the hedgehog to pickle fleas - just sprinkle the animal with this powder, avoiding contact with the eyes, nose and mouth. It is preliminary recommended to bathe the hedgehog in warm water - it is noteworthy that, once in the aquatic environment, the pet fully opens up and you can wash its paws and abdomen.

Like all mammals that live near us in our homes, hedgehogs can and should be vaccinated. This should be done annually, vaccinating against leptospirosis, rabies, canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis and parainfluenza. For vaccination, you will need to contact the nearest veterinary clinic.

Video about domestic hedgehogs