Man eating monster.

[Kirk]

OK, it's really a hedgehog . Just when darkish the thing sounds like it has come for you .
Any ideas on dried, or moist, food for one?
Do not want to put "wet" out cat food.
There is a large tray of water, birds use it to bathe in and neighbour has one as well at ground level so water is not a problem.

Next is to work out where it is living, could be in mine as it is a mess and I suppoe I could have elephants in there as well.

[Scarlet]

You can feed cat biscuits (not fish flavours) cheese, boiled eggs, raisins, nuts.
Feeding Hedgehogs » Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue

Slug pellets can kill them so make sure you & your neighbours don't use them. We have hedgehogs and see them often in summer evenings but I've never come across where they sleep.

[Kirk]

Had a google and seems that cat biscuits (fishless) are OK, with or without other items.
Have peanuts for the birds so put a couple of handfulls out tonight.
Cheese seems odd as they also say no milk.

Used to be easy when neighbour had a cat as I used to keep food for the cat.

So tomorrow it looks like visit a supermarket or two, or up to the place that sells the dried stuff loose. Can always get some dried mealworms there as well. Suspect that that place is a better option.

[Scarlet]

I've always got a few tins of dog meat - that's what I use to feed "mine" . Mealworms are really expensive. I've never seen hedgehog food for sale, I was quite surprised when I read that! I often have a few damaged eggs and they go down well with any animal. I scramble mine in the microwave.

[Nicos]

When we reared rescue hedgehogs we were told to give them jelly cat food ( not fish nor gravy based meat) and dog biscuits.
They adore live mealworms (and live maggots from pet stores/ fishing supplies)

Lots of fresh water too!

Oh and yes...they don't half make a noise when they're mating...looks like yours are hoping to have a second litter!
If so, now is a good time to develop and enhance your hedgehog caff to impress future clientele

[Kirk]

Not had one (that I know of) in the garden for a couple of years. Equally I have not been stood outside doing nothing either for some time.

Previous one was not tame but didn't really care about you, it would happily wander round near you and once literally walked over my bare foot. It was going in a straight line, my foot was in the way so walk over the obstruction (foot). Walking round the foot seemed not to be a consideration.

The jelly food I know is OK but the dried stuff is easier for me to keep. So up to the loose food place later this morning to see what they have.

[PyreneesPlot]

A few gardens ago we saw one most days as it always crossed the garden at wine o'clock, even if we were standing right there - they really don't walk around!
We have a good number here and often hear the snuffling even over the sound of the TV (or Mr PP's snores).

[Nicos]

How lovely PP!

Meant to say that the biscuits are good for their teeth as they have to crunch through them.
Apparently a lot of pet and long term rescue hedgehogs are now getting problems with their teeth from eating soft foods all the time

[Nicos]

If you do get the chance to handle a hegehog( carefully!...ouch!) it's always really helpful to them to check them over for ticks and remove them.

[PyreneesPlot]

If you do get the chance to handle a hegehog( carefully!...ouch!) it's always really helpful to them to check them over for ticks and remove them.

Thanks for that. We're expert tick removers so will give that a go thanks, if we can do it without stressing the animal.

[Scarlet]

A few gardens ago we saw one most days as it always crossed the garden at wine o'clock, even if we were standing right there - they really don't walk around.

Wine o'clock is when we see or hear ours!

[Nicos]

OMG!!!..we have wine o'clock here too!

All our French neighbours call it 'Quarter to' ( well- in French of course

Makes for a very pleasant half hour or so

[PyreneesPlot]

Gin o'clock on Sundays

[Kirk]

Purina Turkey, Chicken and Duck flavour it seems was much appreciated.
It also ate quite a few of the suet pellets I had thrown out for the blackbird earlier.
Followed by sticking it's head in the water for a guzzle.

Not a large one it seems, so will put a handfull of food out for it nightly (water is always there).

Will get other bits for it to eat/try. At least the place with the loose food means I can get a little to try and they have a large range of slightly unusual items.