Okay, Marie talked me into it :lol: I'm getting a hedgie from her and so is Corine! Neither of us have ever had a hedgie before and we are both really excited. What we need to know is some basic ins and outs of hedgie ownership. What kind of cages do you all use or have made (including pics) What foods you provide, toys, enrichment, bedding, bathing, and of course, the best ways to handle them without getting poked! :lol:
Corine will be keeping hers in the computer room away from Messiah (Orion's brother) and Cheyenne (she's at that age where she's into everything) and it seems to be the warmest room in the house. Nice and quiet during the day and where she spends her evenings.
At first I was thinking of keeping mine in the chin room, but after much researching, I know now it'll be too cold for him in there. So, chances are he'll be in the living room near the bunnies. It's quiet during the day too, so he'll be able to get his sleep and it's nice and warm both summer and winter.
Okay, so let me have it! Give me your suggestions and advice
I keep my hedgies in simple cages with plastic bottoms and wire tops; one level; in a room that stays 75-80 degrees. These cages are very easy to clean and there is no danger of falling if they do move around. They have shirts and igloos to snuggle inside, food bowls, and a wheel which is only placed in the cage at night. For bedding I use Carefresh.
For playtime they have the run of a large wire playpen (purchased at Wal-Mart) with many toys inside (paper tubes, wood toys, stuffed balls, etc.)
As a staple food, I mix a soft insectivore diet, Pretty Pets hedgehog food, and a pinch of ultra-blend fruit and veggie mix. I also provide a variety of cooked meats, fruits, and vegetables on occasion. A couple of times a week I will also give either mealworms or canned crickets as a treat.
I used a T-shirt to pick up my hedgies when I first got them. Now I just slide my hands underneath their bellies, make sure their feet are firmly on my hands, and draw them close to me.
I clean poopy feet as needed I just let them run over a very wet washcloth and this does a great job.
I use a food mixture:
Blue Buffalo Adult Lite
Maxx Catt Roasted Chicken Flavor
Purina Indoor Formula
and 8in1 Hedgehog Food
For treats we offer:
Salmon, Albacore Tuna in Spring Water, chicken, turkey and veal baby food, when we have chicken I boil a piece and cut it up for the hedgies. They love peaches, apples, sweet potatoes, grapes, bananas. My sister in laws hedgies love boiled egg (only the white)
We alternate the bedding between vellux liners and aspen shavings.
For cages we have the medium guinea pig cage made by superpet, we got them at petsmart for around $35.00. They have a igloo and hedgie bags (you can make these)
we bought the little cat balls with bells inside they love to push them around.
A wheel is a MUST...
Bath time we use baby wash baby bath and dry then wrap in a warm towel. I give baths as needed not on a weekly basis.
Poop boots: when the hedgies have poop boots we take a shallow lid (old one that is not used anymore) put warm water in it and let them walk around for a few minutes then clean it off.
We take the hedgies out in the evening and let them run around on our bed, (my SIL bought a small plastic pool that she uses for play time) we usually let them play for about 30 minutes or so.
*edited to add* I forgot to mention they love the Gerber Meat Sticks
I have a plastic container that I keep mine in.It has the wheels on it and runs around $10.00 at Wal-mart.I was going to get a cage but my sister had 2 she wasn't using so she gave them to me.The walls are high enough and straight to where she can't get out.
I use the kiln dried pine.
I mix the purina indoor formula and the cat lover's soul food for her.I also give her a mealie every couple of days.Along with Albacore Tuna in Spring Water, chicken, turkey and veal baby food.She also loves bananas,apples,grapes and carrots.
My girl has a fleece cover that she gets under and that is what I picked her up with when I first got her.
I use Johnsons baby shampoo for her and dry her off and pupt her in a towel.I use a toothbrush for washing her quills.She does love the water.
I haven't tried the meat sticks but will get some for her.
Thanks for your advice everyone!! I'm so excited about the hedgie!! My 7 year old looked at the pics of the hedgie babies and said they looked "dangerous" because of the quills :lol:
:woohoo: Congrates on the Hedgie Baby !!!! Maria's hold ours until Kimmers gets back to the states..I cant wait until we met her I'm sooo gealous I want my hedge baby now :lol:
oh no, i was logged in as Jules_77 when iposted that. oopsies(she and i are friends, she was over at my house yesterday) sorry for any confusion julie!!
Congrats Mandie!! I'm sure you'll love your little guys!! :woohoo:
Here are some of my recomendations:
Feeding a mix of cat food & hedgie food is most recommended by hedgie owners & breeders. The ingredients in quality cat food is better than a lot of the hedgehog foods. Hedgies need a high protein, low fat diet. Good quality cat food is an excellent diet for hedgies.
Hedgie foods like 8 in 1 and Spikes Delight are "good" hedgie foods.
Some good cat foods are Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, Nutrience, Premium L'Avian & Wellness. Stay away from Iams (I've read it can cause liver problems in hedgies).
So the bottom line is...it's best to mix good quality cat food & good quality hedgie food. I mix 8 in 1 & Nutrience. With fresh fruit & veggies & mealworms.
Hedgies can have lots of different veggies & fruits too. Avoid stuff that has high fat, high sugar & high salt. Louie loves boiled chicken and small apple chunks. Some hedgies enjoy baby food (from a jar).
And don't forget about mealworms & crickets. Louie LOVES mealworms...he will literally run to get one when I offer it! Mealies & crickets are only used as treats though. They are not the main diet.
For the cage....I would recommend 2 Sterlite containers (most people use these) that you can connect with a PVC tube. Try to stay away from glass aquariums unless you're going to go with a big 55 gallon or bigger one. They need to have a lot of ventilation. The bigger the containers the better but go with what you can fit (& afford!) in your office. Youv'e seen Louie's cage which was really easy to make but not that cheap (about $125)...he has plenty of room to run & play.
For bedding I use Cellsorb Plus and it works great. I would HIGHLY recommend this. It's amazing stuff. http://www.cell-sorb-plus.com/ Most hedgie owners use this stuff and swear by it.
yay! im sooo happy for you! I free feed oreo, but i have to use parrot or bird food bowls that clip to the side or he'll dump it all over. I feed him l'avian Plus hedgie food. I just found "healthy toppings" at petco. They are packs of dried fruit you mix in their food, or feed plain. Oreo loves the papya and mixed fruit ones!
Here is his cage. I put left over vinyl tiles on the floor. It's a rabbit cage so i had to cover all of the wire floor. I switch his hedgie bags and nest boxes around.
He has a solid wheel. He loves mealies. I made a velux baggy with snaps or velcro at an open end that I put disposable handwarmers in to keep him warm. He can move it around if he's too hot or cold so its really great. He snuggles and treats little stuffed mice like his babies! soooo.. cute!! I used a spatula to get him out at first. He's quilling and really cranky! I give him warm baths with a tiny bit of olive oil to make him feel better. good luck!!
Hello if you have any questions feel free to ask as the first link Jules gave was for my cages. They work very well and for a cage aprox. 48x54" it costs like 45 bucs.
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