🐾 Maybe the reason I love animals so much, is because the only time they have broken my heart is when theirs has stopped beating.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Hedgehog Babies

HOW DO HEDGEHOGS FEED THEIR YOUNG? 


From birth, the mother feeds her babies with milk. She has four pairs of nipples, which seems more than adequate, even for a large litter. However, the mother herself may be short of food, especially in a spell of dry or cold weather, and so unable to feed her entire family. Approximately one in five of all baby hedgehogs dies before it is old enough to leave the nest. 
Info from "Everything You Want To Know about Hedgehogs - Dilys Breese"
 
A couple of years ago I was lucky enough that Hedgie and Sethlong had a litter of eight babies, all of which survived! I started handling them from an early age, with the result that they even started coming out of the grass whenever I called, curiously peeking to see if I have any of their favourite snacks, meal worms. And as soon as I put the worms into the bowl, they would run over and hastily crunch them all up, snuffling around the bowl to see if they missed any. When they were a couple of months old, I found a lovely home for them in the huge aviary at the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, where they were well fed and safe from the raging winter fires we experience here every year. 

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8 comments:

  1. Maree, what a beautiful story! That must have been quite a sight, seeing all the hedgehogs scurrying over for mealworms!

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    1. They're absolutely gorgeous when they're small Kathryn! I never saw them until they had all their quills, Mama kept them very close and it was great huffing and puffing when I got too close when they were very small. Glad you enjoyed this!

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  2. Lovely first photo. I keep looking out to see whether my locals have started visiting yet this year.

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    1. Thanks John. I always look forward to your videos of Hedgehog visits!

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  3. One of our hedgehogs just gave birth and we dont know which one! There is only one baby. Help!

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    1. Hi Anonymous,

      It is easy to determine who is the mother - the males have a penis which is situated in the middle of their stomach, similar to a dog.

      It is not unusual for Hedgehogs to have only one baby, but there might be some other reason for it. I suggest you take your little Hedgehog to the vet and let him determine whether she has given birth to all the babies and that there aren't any dead ones left inside her.

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  4. If you reply right away - and you can - I will give you my phn number and you can call me please

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    Replies
    1. With pleasure Anonymous - or you can phone me on (011) 952-1538.

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