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Hobby Forum Index » Pets » Hedgehog FAQ [1/7] - About the Hedgehog FAQ...
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| Brian MacNamara... |
 Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:08 pm |
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Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part1
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 22 August 2008
Version: 3.113
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 1 of 7) -- ABOUT THE HEDGEHOG FAQ
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnamara at (no spam) hedgehoghollow.com)
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6]
for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for
all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my
wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite
limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify,
all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only
accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness
of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that
it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice
from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1],
or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian
who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THE HEDGEHOG FAQ FILES
Part I: ABOUT THE HEDGEHOG FAQ (this file)
0. *** About this FAQ ***
<0.1> Notes on formatting
<0.2> Where to get the Hedgehog FAQ
<0.3> Goal of this FAQ
<0.4> Credits and editor's notes
<0.5> Information I would like to track down and add -- please help!
<0.6> Copyright and redistribution information
1. *** Revision history of this file ***
Part II: FINDING MORE INFORMATION
2. *** Where to get more information ***
<2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?
<2.2> Is there any other information available on-line?
<2.3> International Hedgehog Registry
<2.4> Hedgehogs Welfare Society
<2.5> International Hedgehog Association
<2.6> Canadian Hedgehog Association
<2.7> Other hedgehog organizations
<2.8> Miscellaneous hedgehog stuff and sources
Part III: INTRO TO HEDGEHOGS AS PETS
3. *** Introduction to pet hedgehogs ***
<3.1> What are hedgehogs? Should I get one? What's good and bad
about them as pets?
<3.2> Where are pet hedgehogs illegal?
<3.3> Are hedgehogs wild animals?
<3.4> What's the average hedgehog lifespan?
<3.5> I'm allergic to cats. Will I be allergic to hedgehogs?
<3.6> Do hedgehogs smell?
<3.7> Do hedgehogs have tails?
<3.8> Hedgehog monikers -- what do I call a hedgehog?
<3.9> Her-hog or Him-hog? What sex is Prickles?
4. *** Getting a pet hedgehog ***
<4.1> Which types/colours are there? Male or female? What age?
<4.2> How many should I get?
<4.3> What to look for in a hedgehog / How to choose a hedgehog
<4.4> How can I find a hedgehog breeder/contact in my area?
<4.5> When Hedgie comes home
<4.6> Hedgehog handling / socializing
<4.7> How can I introduce my hedgehog to my (dog/cat/bird/fish/
rabbit/etc.) with the least trouble?
Part IV: HEDGEHOGS AS PETS
5. *** Things you'll need ***
<5.1> What will I need to take care of my new hedgehog?
<5.2> Do I need a cage? How should I set it up?
<5.3> The pet store uses wood shavings as bedding. Should I?
<5.4> Litter boxes and what kind of litter should I use?
<5.5> I'm having problems litter-training my hedgehog. What should
I be doing?
<5.6> Hedgehogs and wheels
<5.7> Making your own wheel
<5.8> Any suggestions on toys?
6. *** Basic hedgehog care and training ***
<6.1> How can I best hedgehogproof my home?
<6.2> What should I feed my hedgehog?
<6.3> Commercial hedgehog foods and nutrition
<6.4> What are good treats?
<6.5> Any suggestions on bathing, cleaning ears, and clipping nails?
<6.6> Biting and nipping
<6.7> HELP, my hedgehog is LOST! (or Hedgehog Hide-and-Seek)
Part V: HEDGEHOG CARE AND UNDERSTANDING
7. *** Things hedgehogs say and do ***
<7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it?
<7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal?
<7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating?
<7.4> My hedgehog sneezes. What should I do?
<7.5> My hedgehog's gone ballistic? Is this normal?
<7.6> Basic hedgehog repertoire
8. *** Basic health care ***
<8.1> What health risks should I worry about?
<8.2> Mites (or mites, not?)
<8.3> Tattered or ragged ears
<8.4> Hedgehog first-aid kit
<8.5> Do I need to spay/neuter my pet?
<8.6> Vaccinations, etc.
9. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***
<9.1> Various hedgehog health issues
<9.2> My hedgehog's had funny-looking stools for a couple of days.
What's wrong?
<9.3> My hedgehog's not eating. What should I do?
<9.4> How did I get fleas in my home? How can I get rid of
them?
<9.5> Wobbly hedgehogs
Part VI: ADVANCED TOPICS IN HEDGEHOGGERY
10. *** Breeding, babies, and advanced issues ***
<10.1> Breeding
<10.2> General care for babies
<10.3> Hand feeding baby hedgehogs
<10.4> Colours, types, and species
Part VII: WILD HEDGEHOGS
11. *** Finding Information ***
<11.1> Intro to wild hedgehogs
<11.2> What hedgehog books are there?
<11.3> Is there information available on-line?
<11.4> Wild Hedgehog Organizations
<11.5> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources
12. *** Care and Helping ***
<12.1> The hedgehog calendar
<12.2> Caring for visiting hedgehogs
<12.3> Feeding and caring for orphan baby hedgehogs
<12.4> Hedgehog housing
<12.5> Hedgehogizing your garden
<12.6> Wild hedgehog health
<12.7> Dangers to wild hedgehogs
<12.8> Watching out for hibernating hedgehogs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0. *** About this FAQ ***
------------------------------
Subject: <0.1> Notes on formatting
The answers in these files are given in a ``digest format,'' which should
make it easier for you to scan through them for the information you want.
Each question begins with a line of hyphens, followed by its number and
the question itself, as given in the Table of Contents above. In many
newsreaders, including rn, trn, and strn, you can jump from one
question to the next by hitting CONTROL-G. You can also look for a
particular answer by searching for its number or for words from the
question.
There are also some formatting aspects which may appear odd at first,
such as indents and combinations of tabs and spaces. These are used to
automatically convert the FAQ into HTML format, using a utility program I
created for this. Unfortunately, it's not very adaptable to other FAQs as it
was written in some haste, but it does do a reasonable job on the Hedgehog
FAQ.
Cross-references to other questions are in square brackets; for
example, [2.2] means that more information may be found in section
2.2.
Anti-SPAM measures. Unfortuantely, email addresses within the FAQ appear to
be favorite targets for SPAMmers. As a result, I've added "REMOVE_TO_SEND"
to each email address in the text based (posted) FAQ.
For example, if an email address is hedgehog at burrow.com, it would show
as being hedgehogREMOVE_TO_SEND at burrow.com.
Also, I've changed the web based version to display correctly (visually), but
uses another anti-SPAM machanism to prevent the addresses from being searched.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.2> Where to get the Hedgehog FAQ
This FAQ is posted once a month (usually on or around the 20th) to the
rec.pets, rec.answers, and news.answers newsgroups. It is also available by
anonymous FTP from the main news.answers repository:
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/rec.pets/
(That is, ftp to rtfm.mit.edu and cd into the directory
pub/usenet-by-group/rec.pets). The files themselves are called:
Hedgehog_FAQ_[1_7]_-_About_the_Hedgehog_FAQ
Hedgehog_FAQ_[2_7]_-_Finding_more_information
Hedgehog_FAQ_[3_7]_-_Intro_to_Hedgehogs_as_pets
Hedgehog_FAQ_[4_7]_-_Hedgehogs_as_pets
Hedgehog_FAQ_[5_7]_-_Care_and_Understanding
Hedgehog_FAQ_[6_7]_-_Advanced_Topics_in_Hedgehoggery
Hedgehog_FAQ_[7_7]_-_Wild_Hedgehogs
It's also always available from my hedgehog web page at:
http://HedgehogHollow.com/
Finally, Dr. Tetsuro Oka, DMV, has translated the one version of the FAQ into
Japanese, which can be accessed at:
http://member.nifty.ne.jp/exoticpet/
Please note that the address, above, is new (Oct, 1999), and Dr. Tetsuro Oka
informs me that he is working on an updated translation of the FAQ.
If you cannot ftp and have no WWW access, send me email
(macnamara at (no spam) hedgehoghollow.com) and I'll be glad to email you a copy.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.3> Goal of this FAQ
This FAQ is intended to cover many of the basic questions about hedgehogs.
It's somewhat unusual in that it deals both with pet (African Pigmy)
hedgehogs, and with wild hedgehogs (primarily European, but also African).
Most of the FAQ is aimed primarily at pet hedgehogs, largely because that is
the information I have to draw on. I hope to continue to extend the coverage
of the FAQ to address both groups reasonably, and since there is considerable
crossover in how the information applies, much of what is said about one
group is applicable to the other, with a little common sense used in the
interpretation.
The number of books and other sources for information is finally expanding to
a reasonable quantity, however, there is still relatively little information
available on caring for and understanding hedgehogs, at least compared to
most animals. While this FAQ does not intend to be an in-depth dissertation
on hedgehogs, it is expected to provide some basic information, and to be a
source for new information as it is learned, rather than waiting for the next
book to be published.
I should also point out that I expect to keep the comments fairly light, so
as not to make the bulk of this FAQ qualify as a cure for insomnia. If you
start to find it boring, tell me -- I probably fell asleep while typing that
section, and messed up on the what I was saying.
I do have to admit to one pang of guilt. When I discovered there was so very
little information on looking after hedgehogs, I desperately wanted a FAQ to
refer to. Since there wasn't one (Sorry Nathan, I didn't even know about
your efforts then) I figured the best way to get all the information I wanted
was to write the FAQ, and hope the comments it managed to get would provide
all the missing bits and pieces. 'Nuff said, let's get on with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.4> Credits and editor's notes
I can take credit for only a relatively small part of the contents of this
FAQ. Most of the useful information deserves thanks to others. I have tried
to give credit to the right person in the right place by indenting specific
comments by others and citing the authors. My real contribution has been to
cobble together the many useful pieces of information on hedgehogs that have
appeared on the Internet, and elsewhere, into a single source.
With this latest version (3.X), I think the FAQ, and myself, have finally
reached the point where we both know something about hedgehogs, at last. As
part of this rewrite, I've tried to blend in many of the comments that people
have provided, and in some cases, I may have dropped actual quotes from the
FAQ. I want to apologize to those of you whose information has now become
part of the prose, rather than a separate quotation. I've done this to try
and make the information flow better for the reader, and I can promise it has
not been done lightly.
Of all the contributors, I would like to extend a special thanks to Nathan
Tenny whose unofficial hedgehog FAQ formed the foundation for the information
below. Nathan deserves the lion's share of the inspiration on this FAQ, and
should be considered the father of the hedgehog FAQ. Thanks Nathan -- you
saved my first version from just being filled with hedgehog anecdotes,
instead of good information.
I would also like to thank Katherine Long for the encouragement to actually
pull this together, and Pamela Greene for allowing me to use the ferret FAQ
as a guide for the topics and sections below, and many other useful tidbits
of FAQ formatting.
I have a special thanks for Cathy A. Johnson-Delaney, DVM, who as one of the
first few veterinarians who has owned (or is that owned by?) hedgehogs, has
provided some medical info for the FAQ. Thanks for the help Cathy, and for
making me feel a lot better about this pile of babbling.
Thanks to Peter Captijn, who almost single handedly kick-started me into
finally adding the information on European hedgehogs that I've been meaning
to for ages (and who actually contributed most of it) -- may your garden be
overrun by prickly little visitors.
And next to David Mantle for sending me an absolutely amazing wealth of
information on European hedgehogs that will take me a while to wade through
and incorporate all the wonderful tidbits into the FAQ.
Sort of a quick separate thanks to all the hedgehog-happy readers of the
rec.pets newsgroup, and the hedgehog listservers, who have unknowingly added
volumes to this FAQ, and especially to Patty-Anne Lea for boosting my ego
above and beyond measure and letting me know for sure that this creation is
appreciated.
In a general sense, I would like to thank all the people at the N.A.H.A.,
HI, and the IHR for their help and encouragement.
I want to extend many thanks to the contributors who all deserve a round of
applause for what they have contributed: Melanie A. Abell; Ron Adrezin;
Andrew Albinger; Debbie Allen; Jeffery Allen; Debbie Andelin; Tammy Baer;
Lance Barlow; Brenda Basinger; Michael Bell; D. Bishop; Shirley Ann Blakeney;
Dick Brisky, Matt and Renee Butcher; Tom Buzzwo; Eloise Campbell; Christi
Cantrell; Travis Carter; Chingur/Lani Richey; chvall; Teresa Claudino; Wayne
W. Clendenin; Kathleen Close; Jazmyn Concolor; Bill Corner; CowFanatic;
Peyton M. Creadick; John R. Daily; Del, Marcin Dobrucki; Doug Dorer and Mary
Anne; Dave Ehrnstein; Elizabeth Galante; Robyn Gorton; Tex Green; Leslie H.;
Michael Hainsworth; Lynn Hallquist; Sophie Hannan, Kim Heys; Kelly A. Hodge;
John Horton; Stefan Hossack; Steph Hyne; Penny Jackson; Laura Jefferson;
Jerry; Julihana; Melissa Kallick, Marcia Kautz; Kay of Hedgehog Helpline;
Anders Kemi and Siw Bjorkgren; Kirby J. Kerr; Lisa Ladouceur; LeAnne and
Adrian; Julie Leir-Van Sickle and Glen Van Sickle; Zack Lessley; John Lester;
George Lewis; Terri Lewis; Alicia Look; Peter Mack; Melissa Maloney; Rachel
Markey; John F. Masinter; Sharon Massena; Donald Martin; Janet Martin; Mike
McGary; Gerald McKiness; Antigone Means; Melissa and Heather; Melissa-Lee;
Jan Micheel; Elizabeth Jane Monroe; Julie Moor; Tiffany Mross; Willard B.
``Skip'' Nelson, DVM; Mary Novak; John Ofner; Dr. Tetsuro Oka, DVM; Ligia
Ortega; Tim Pearson; Christine Porter; Pam Powers; Vanessa Purvis; Dr. Nigel
Reeve; Todd Reeves; Paul Ritchey; Cindy Rosa, Lisa Rowe; Rick Russell;
Seabury Salmon; Jon Santarelli; Richard Saunders; Matt Scott, Sigrun
Seetrevik; Sheri; Michael Simla; Jon Simmons; Craig Simpson; Shelley Small;
Wendi Smit; Bryan H. Smith; Alexis Sneller; Elyse Spaite; Randy Starcher; Ken
Steigenberger; Pat Storer; Chuck Stoup; Doyle Stradling; Susan & Chia; H.
Swaggert; Teresa; Tirya; Dan Tishman; Barry Turner; Steve Turpin; Anja van
der Werf; Ian Van Natter; Jesse and Kris Welsh; Tom Weston; Kyrstin Westwind;
Linda Wheatley; Janet Willacy; Johnny M. Williams; Dominique Winther; Woobie;
Dawn Wrobel, Jennifer Young-Watson; Kathy and Donald Zepp; and Znofyl; and
last but not least, my resident editor-in-quills and copy-girl Nookie, and
the late, dear Velcro, Sprocket, Hocus, Pocus, Quibble, Bramble, Skewer,
Popeye, Quiver, Pepper, Mimosa, Chestnut, Neon, Nettles, and Noelle.
One last thank you that deserves separate note is to my wife, Betty Gunn for
happily sharing and encouraging my hedgehog addiction, presenting me with
Velcro, and for repeatedly translating this whole thing into English, from
what ends up being little more than a mish-mash of spelling mistakes and
punctuation that bears no resemblance to any language from this planet.
If there is anyone I have missed, you have my apologies, and please let me
know. I hope that the list above will continue to grow over the coming
years.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.5> Information I would like to track down and add -- please help!
This is your chance to help add things to the FAQ. Some of the specific
information I'm trying to track down is listed below, but please don't limit
yourselves to this -- I'm very open minded about taking any kind of
information I can get a hold of.
New or changing information on any hedgehog related organizations and
charities, clubs, and rescue organizations. This is a permanent request.
Further information on places where hedgehogs are not legal as pets,
or changes that make them legal where they were not.
More information on hedgehogs as pets in other parts of the world, and the
types (species) kept as pets in various places.
Any questions you think the FAQ should answer or discuss -- even if
(especially if?) you don't know the answer.
Information on books about and products for hedgehogs.
Information about hedgehog food. What brands/types are available and
where.
Additional information useful to people dealing with wild hedgehogs,
especially those in Europe.
Updated information on current veterinary literature sources for
section [8.6].
Information on hedgehog health problems and treatments.
Some of the things I hope to add over the upcoming releases are:
(I'm still trying to finish tidying up all the changes in the V3.X
rewrite of the FAQ -- as soon as I can start to look forward, again,
I'll add some meaningful plans, here).
------------------------------
Subject: <0.6> Copyright and redistribution information
This compilation, is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara.
It may be freely distributed by electronic, paper, or other means,
provided that it is distributed in its entirety, including this notice,
and that no fee is charged apart from the actual costs of distribution.
(For-profit service providers such as CompuServe and America Online
are granted permission to distribute the files provided that no
additional fee beyond standard connection-time charges is levied.)
Those portions of this file written by others remain the property of
their respective authors.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. *** Revision history of this file ***
------------------------------
Subject: Revision history
The most accurate description of the version of this FAQ is the date
at the top. For really minor changes, I won't necessarily change the
version number, but I'll always change the date.
Version 3.113 - 22 August 2008
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes  ), [1.] (as ever),
Version 3.112 - 22 July 2008
No changes this month.
Version 3.111 - 21 June 2008
No changes this month.
Version 3.110 - 24 May 2008
No changes this month.
Version 3.109 - 24 April 2008
No changes this month.
Version 3.108 - 26 March 2008
No changes this month.
Version 3.107 - 26 February 2008
Revised sections [0.4] (more great contributors), [1.] (always), [5.4]
(added note on using firewood pellets as litter), [6.2] (added suggestion to
beware of cottage cheese and kitten food, and warnings on Ferret food being
too high in fat), [6.5] (added idea on nail clipping).
Version 3.106 - 23 January 2008
Revised sections [0.6] (update copyright), [1.] (always), [10.1] (added
a large section on birthing and dealing with rejected babies and bad
hedgie moms).
Version 3.105 - 22 December 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.104 - 24 November 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.103 - 23 October 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.102 - 23 September 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.101 - 25 August 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.100 - 27 July 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.99 - 21 June 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.98 - 20 May 2007
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributions), [1.] (always), [6.2] (added
numerous nutritional entries), [6.3] (added numerous nutritional entries).
Version 3.97 - 22 April 2007
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.1] (removed Sharon Massena's info as
she is no longer in the hedgehog business), [2.7] (removed out of date
contact info for Hedgehogs NW), [2.8] (removed S.M. info), [6.3] (removed
S.M. info).
Version 3.96 - 25 March 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.95 - 27 February 2007
No changes this month.
Version 3.94 - 24 January 2007
Revised sections [0.6] (update copyright), [1.] (always), [6.3] (added
info on Sunseed Hedgehog Formula food).
Version 3.93 - 25 December 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.92 - 25 November 2006
No changes this month, but for those of you who live around wild hedgies,
please keep an eye open for hungry young hedgeogs still trying to put on
some winter fat, and maybe give them a hand. :-)
Version 3.91 - 21 October 2006
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (always), [2.2] (added
Hedgehog Central, Hedgehog World, and Chins & Quills Forum site), [11.4]
(added Mrs. Tiggywinkle's Hospital website)
Version 3.90 - 23 September 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.89 - 23 August 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.88 - 24 July 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.87 - 20 June 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.86 - 22 May 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.85 - 22 April 2006
No changes this month.
Version 3.84 - 21 March 2006
No changes this month, but Posting is working again, at last.
February's did go out, eventually, and hopefully March's will mark
the return to a regular posting schedule.
Version 3.83 - 25 February 2006
Note: I am still working on getting USENET posting to work, again -
unfortunately this is not as easy as it should be when authorization
is required, Hopefully, sometime before the March update, the Febuary
version will get posted.
Version 3.82 - 22 January 2006
Revised sections [0.6] (another year passes), [1.] (always)
Note: Due to my present ISP dropping USENET support without notice, I'm
presently unable to post the FAQ to the newsgroups. I'm looking at
various USENET providers as a solution, and hopefully this will be
resoved fairly soon.
Version 3.81 - 21 December 2005
No changes this month. Best wishes and Happy Snuffles for the Holidays.
Version 3.80 - 23 November 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.79 - 23 October 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.78 - 25 September 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.77 - 25 August 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.76 - 26 July 2005
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (always), [10.3] (added
warnings about KMR with hoglets and alternate suggestions).
Version 3.75 - 20 June 2005
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (always), [2.6] (added
section on Canadian Hedgehog Association, and renumbered 2.6-2.7 to
2.7-2.8 to accomidate).
Version 3.74 - 24 May 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.73 - 20 April 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.72 - 22 March 2005
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes ), [1.] (as ever),
Version 3.71 - 26 February 2005
No changes this month.
Version 3.70 - 21 January 2005
Revised sections [0.6] (update copyright), [1.] (always).
Version 3.69 - 20 December 2004
Revised sections [0.1] (notes on anti-SPAM formatting for email addresses),
Changes to all sections to modify email addresses to make them SPAM
resistant. Note for text versions you must remove the "REMOVE_TO_SEND"
from emails to allow them to work.
Version 3.68 - 27 November 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.67 - 26 October 2004
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributions), [1.] (always), [6.3] (added
Exotic Nutrition Pet. Co. and some notes).
Version 3.66 - 25 September 2004
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes and  ), [1.] (always).
Version 3.65 - 25 August 2004
No changes this month due to computer problems. I just hope things work
well enough to post the FAQ.
Version 3.64 - 26 July 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.63 - 22 June 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.62 - 24 May 2004
Revised sections [1.] (always), [11.3] (updated CHPS web site - at last).
Version 3.61 - 20 April 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.60 - 21 March 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.59 - 29 February 2004
No changes this month.
Version 3.58 - 25 January 2004
Revised sections [0.6] (update copyright), [1.] (always).
Version 3.57 - 27 December 2003
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (always), [3.2] (status
for Wyoming - hedgehogs are allowed).
Version 3.56 - 24 November 2003
No changes this month..
Version 3.55 - 26 October 2003
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes ), [1.] (always).
Version 3.54 - 25 September 2003
No changes this month.
Version 3.53 - 27 August 2003
No changes this month.
Version 3.52 - 26 July 2003
Revised sections [1.] (always), [6.3] (added Brown's Nutrition Plus
premium diet Hedgehog food)
Version 3.51 - 25 June 2003
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors and staff changes ),
[1.] (always), [3.2] (status for Quebec has changed - hedgehogs are
allowed as pets).
Version 3.50 - 25 May 2003
No changes this month.
Version 3.49 - 25 April 2003
No changes this month.
Version 3.48 - 23 March 2003
No changes this month.
Version 3.47 - 22 February 2003
Revised sections [0.4] (contributors), [1.] (always), [2.1] (Updated links
and prices for RZU2U).
Version 3.46 - 27 January 2003
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes and ), [0.6] (Where did the
year go?), [1.] (always), [6.3] (Updated address for ABC Inc).
Version 3.45 - 28 December 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.44 - 25 November 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.43 - 27 October 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.42 - 29 September 2002
No changes this month due to changing ISPs, OSs, etc.
Version 3.41 - 25 August 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.40 - 23 July 2002
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes ), [1.] (as ever), [2.5] (updated
IH`A' information including change from Club to Association throughout)
Version 3.39 - 25 June 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.38 - 25 May 2002
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (as ever), [6.2] (a
caution on dead insects/mealworms potentially causing illness).
Version 3.37 - 25 April 2002
No changes this month.
Version 3.36 - 27 March 2002
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.4] (now the Hedgehog Welfare Society,
and Carolina Hedgehog Society).
Version 3.35 - 25 February 2002
No real changes due to the staff changes (both sad and happy).
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes), [1.] (always), [3.2] (added
indications that hhogs might now be illegal in Pennsylvania).
Version 3.34 - 22 January 2002
Revised sections [0.6] (Happy New Year), [1.] (always).
Version 3.33 - 23 December 2001
No changes this month.
Version 3.32 - 25 November 2001
No changes this month.
Version 3.31 - 25 October 2001
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (as ever), [3.2] (Pet AP
hedgies in Finland), [5.8] (hedgie stairs).
Version 3.30 - 27 September 2001
No changes this month. Duck and Snuffle...
(Cool weather is coming -- keep your hedgies warm)
Version 3.29 - 27 August 2001
No changes this month.
Version 3.28 - 24 July 2001
No changes this month due to hedgie problems. Sorry.
Version 3.27 - 20 Jun 2001
No changes this month due to moving (my world is made of boxes).
Version 3.26 - 26 May 2001
No changes this month due to moving.
Version 3.25 - 26 April 2001
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributions), [1.] (always), [2.8] (added
theferretstore.com to sources).
Version 3.24 - 25 March 2001
No changes.
Version 3.23 - 24 February 2001
Revised sections [0.4] (staff changes), [1.] (always).
Due to the `staff changes' I was not up doing much else this month --
sorry.
Version 3.22 - 29 January 2001
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.4] (Hedgehogs International have ceased
operations), various changes throughout to remove references to section
2.4.
My apologies for not getting to the other updates that people have sent me
over the past few months. I hope to get to some of them for February.
Version 3.21 - 26 December 2000
No changes.
Version 3.20 - 26 November 2000
No changes.
Version 3.19 - 24 October 2000
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.2] (added note on HedgehogHollow being
closed for reconstruction), [2.4] (updated info for Hedgehog
International), [9.5] (added additional info on wobbly hedgehogs).
Version 3.18 - 24 September 2000
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.2] (more mailing list changes), [2.4]
(updated addresses for Hedgehog International).
Version 3.17 - 20 August 2000
No changes.
Version 3.16 - 24 July 2000
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (always), [2.3]
(updated HHog Registry info).
Version 3.15 - 25 June 2000
No changes.
Version 3.14 - 24 May 2000
Revised sections [1.] (as ever), [2.2] (HH Mailing list has closed, but
added info on newish list, PigPogLives)
Version 3.13 - 24 April 2000
No changes.
Version 3.12 - 23 March 2000
No changes.
Version 3.11 - 26 February 2000
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributors), [1.] (as ever), [11.5] (Added
info on CJ Wildbird nest boxes and wild hh food).
Version 3.10 - 23 January 2000
Revised sections [0.6] (updated copyright), [1.] (right here), [6.3]
(fixed address for ABC).
Version 3.9 - 26 December 1999
No changes this month -- I've been busy with work and the holidays.
Sorry.
Version 3.8 - 25 November 1999
Delayed again. This time of all things the cause was due in part to
fixing earthquake induced computer problems (unfortunately, I'm not
making this one up :-})
Changed to HI throughout, and Renumbered sections 2.5-2.6 to allow room
to add IHC as [2.5].
Revised sections [0.2] (new address for Japanese translation), [0.4]
(hedgie staff changes), [1.] (still), [2.2] (adjusted AOL chat information
and removed Lance Barlow's chat which seems to be gone), [2.4] (changed
to HI), [6.3] (changes to food availability).
Version 3.7 - 27 October 1999
No changes this month due to hedgie problems. Sorry.
Version 3.6 - 25 September 1999
Whoops, missed the date! Sorry the changes and posting are late. I've
been busy with a new job.
Revised sections [0.4] (more contributers), [1.] (this message), [2.3]
(updated branch info for IHR), [2.4] (brief update name), [9.1] (added
notes on Uterine tumours).
Version 3.5 - 23 August 1999
No real changes, again, this month due to editor changing jobs. Hopefully
this will mean more time for the FAQ in the coming months.
Please note: at this time, only the HedgehogHollow.COM addresses for both
the FAQ and myself continue to work. Email sent to my previous addresses
at PCI will not be able to reach me. Also, I regret that I have been
mostly offline over the previous month or so, and I am far behind on
email. I hope that I will be able to catch up, starting soon, though
this will depend on how much time and effort my new job will absorb.
Revised sections [1.] (this message).
Version 3.4 - 24 July 1999
No real changes this month due to editor being completely overloaded
at work.
Revised sections [1.] (this message).
Version 3.3 - 20 June 1999
Changed sender to reflect coming from hedgehoghollow.com domain.
Revised sections [0.4] (more kind contributors), [1.] (always), [3.2]
(revised info on Maine and PEI).
Version 3.2 - 20 May 1999
Revised sections [0.2] (ftp access from main news repository, only),
[1.] (always).
Few changes due to editor being busy changing ISPs.
Version 3.1 - 20 Apr 1999
Revised sections [1.] (always), [2.2] (adjusted AOL chat information),
[8.2] (added caution about alcohol based flea/tick spays, including
Adams), [9.1] (stressed dangers of sunflower seeds, which like peanuts
get caught in hedgie mouths, with sometimes deadly results).
Version 3.0 - 02 Mar 1999
It's done, at last. My apologies for the delays in getting V3.0 of
the FAQ together -- it was a much bigger job than I anticipated.
This release constitutes a major rewrite and reorganization of the
FAQ. The first in over 3 years, and 45 monthly updates. The changes
are extensive enough that I've removed the revision history between
V2.0 and V3.0 as the contents were meaningless relative to the `new'
FAQ. Only the major versions are shown until updates begin, again.
Version 2.0 - 17 Apr 1995
Renumbered sections 1 and 2 reversing them to allow for split-up, and
because it made more sense to me.
Split FAQ into multiple pieces to try and avoid newsreader size limitations.
Version 1.0 - 10 Jan 1995
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
--
Brian MacNamara - macnamara at (no spam) HedgehogHollow.COM
Hedgehog Hollow: http://HedgehogHollow.COM/ |
|
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| Back to top |
|
| Brian MacNamara... |
| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:08 pm |
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Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part2
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 22 August 2008
Version: 3.113
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 2 of 7) -- FINDING MORE INFORMATION
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnamara at (no spam) hedgehoghollow.com)
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6]
for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for
all seven parts is given in part I.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my
wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite
limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify,
all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only
accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness
of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that
it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice
from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1],
or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian
who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
2. *** Where to get more information ***
<2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?
<2.2> Is there any other information available on-line?
<2.3> International Hedgehog Registry
<2.4> Hedgehogs Welfare Society
<2.5> International Hedgehog Association
<2.6> Canadian Hedgehog Association
<2.7> Other hedgehog organizations
<2.8> Miscellaneous hedgehog stuff and sources
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. *** Where to get more information ***
------------------------------
Subject: <2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?
For a long time there was only a single tome available on our prickly little
friends, which was often referred to as ``The Hedgehog Book.'' With the
increasing popularity of hedgehogs, a number of books are now available.
There still seems to be little information on hedgehogs in print, especially
compared to most other animals, but this, fortunately, appears to be rapidly
changing. Also, many, but not all, of the books that are commonly available
contain outdated information.
As of spring 1997 there are two new complementary books now out that have
virtually made all the previous offerings obsolete.
The first of these additions, is _The Hedgehog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy,
Healthy Pet_ by Dawn Wrobel and Dr. Susan Brown, DVM. It is published by the
Howell Book House, and is available in pet stores that carry their Happy,
Healthy Pet series. It is also available through the Spike and Friends
Catalog [2.8]. For those of you who want to order it, the ISBN number is
0-87605-501-3, and it is listed as having a price of $12.95 USD, or $17.95
CDN.
Having had the luxury of seeing some of the preliminary text (thanks Dawn!),
I had high expectations for the book, and when I got to see it, I was quite
amazed at how far it exceeded my imagination. Simply put, this is a great
book, and one that no hedgehog owner should be without. It is full of great
tips, ideas and great knowledge, accompanied by some fantastic pictures. The
medical chapter by Dr. Susan Brown is more than worth the price in itself,
not that the rest of the book wouldn't be a bargain even without it.
Dawn's book is targeted at the pet owner, rather than the breeder, as has
been the case all too often in the past, and in this respect it succeeds
brilliantly.
The other great tome that was published about the same time as the one above,
is _The Pygmy Hedgehog a Perfect Pet_ by Sharon Massena with Bryan Smith.
Having now had the chance to see this book, I can attest that it is more than
worthwhile as well. The best part about it, is that rather than being
another great hedgehog book, it is complementary to books like Dawn Wrobel's,
by addressing many different areas. Here is the information I have on it:
The ISBN # is 0-9655629-1-3
The list price is $16.00 US and $19.00 CDN + post.
80 pages, soft cover, gloss pages with b/w and full colour photos.
Contains limited standard info and full colour pics many of the
standardized colours. Also has club and show information.
-- Bryan Smith
I should probably add a disclaimer here -- I have had numerous conversations
with Dawn and Bryan, and a bias in favour of either book could easily be
assigned to this. In the case of Dawn's book, I read the advance text she
sent with the intent to essentially critique it -- expecting it to already be
dated in many ways (as most books have been by the time they get to print) or
just a rehash of what has gone before, and I came away honestly impressed.
Having now seen Sharon's and Bryan's book, the same feelings apply. I'm sure
that I could nit-pick in minor places, but at most that's what it would be,
nit-picking about things that don't matter. We finally have very good,
up-to-date books that can go a very long ways towards giving people the
information they need about keeping hedgehogs as pets, and providing them
happy healthy lives.
Going back a bit now, the book, often called ``The Hedgehog Book,'' is
actually titled _Everything You Wanted to Know About Hedgehogs But you didn't
know who to ask_ by Pat Storer. This was one of the first books available on
pet hedgehogs.
Pat Storer has two books available on hedgehogs, and while there is
considerable crossover between the two, her newer book _Hedgehogs As Pets_
(my thanks to John Ofner for my copy) is targeted more at pet owners, while
the original ``Everything...'' is more oriented towards breeders. These
books are, for all intents and purposes, the original formal tomes on pet
hedgehogs, and having one or the other was virtually a must for any hedgehog
keeper (keepee?). While they don't cover absolutely everything, and they are
becoming a bit dated, now, they do provide a lot of very good information.
Both books cover areas of the other to some extent, so a pet owner looking
for basics on breeding will find it in _Hedgehogs As Pets_, while a breeder
can also find pet level information in ``Everything...''
Probably the most essential thing both offer is a reference section on
hedgehog health, body chemistry norms, and drugs (including quantities) that
have been safely used to treat hedgehog maladies. Given that relatively few
veterinarians in North America have even heard of hedgehogs as pets, let
alone ever treated them, taking one of these books with you to a vet in time
of emergency could easily be a life saving act.
That's the good news; the problem is that these books are generally only
available directly from Pat Storer herself, although the Ain't No Creek Ranch
[2.8] also carries them. In any case, here are the details:
Everything You Wanted to Know About Hedgehogs
But you didn't know who to ask
Third Edition
Written and Compiled by Pat Storer
Country Storer Enterprises, Publisher
P.O. Box 160
Columbus, Texas 78934
USA
Fax: (409) 732-9417
email: rzu2uREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) intertex.net
www: http://www.rzu2u.com/
Single Copies (In U.S.): $29.00 US dollars + shipping
by 4th Class Mail
Please note that Pat Storer no longer takes orders by telephone,
but she does by fax, and now has email access.
And,
Hedgehogs As Pets
First Edition
By Pat Storer
Country Storer Enterprises, Publisher
P.O. Box 160
Columbus, Texas 78934
USA
Fax: (409) 732-9417
email: rzu2uREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) intertex.net
www: http://www.rzu2u.com/
Single Copies (In U.S.): $22.00 US dollars + shipping
by 4th Class Mail
Pat Storer now takes credit cards, but money orders are fine too. The prices
and info above is up to date as of July 1997, thanks to Pat Storer herself.
There is one minor correction to ``Everything...'' that should be noted:
The correct number for Rainbow Mealworms (mentioned in Storer's
book) is 310-635-1494.
-- Katherine Long
Other books on pet hedgehogs are also available and can be found at some book
stores, or by contacting the publishers directly. I've listed the
information I have on them below. The first is with thanks to Elizabeth Jane
Monroe and Znofyl.
African Pygmy Hedgehogs as your New Pet
Dennis Kelsey-Wood, pics. by Ralph Lermayer
copyright 1995
distributed by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.,
One T.F.H. Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753
or National Book Network, Inc.
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
or in Canada, H & L Pet Supplies Inc.,
27 Kingston Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario N2B 2T6
and other places. ISBN # is 079380192-3
Abstract: ``This book represents the culmination of years of research by
dedicated hedgehog breeders. Dennis Kelsey-Wood has compiled, through
intense research, interviews, and study, what I feel is the finest, most
accurate, and complete gathering of hedgehog facts on husbandry,
breeding, and care that has ever been assembled in one book. From its
accurate text to its superb photos, it is destined to become a classic
and will no doubt be the standard for anyone interested in these
fascinating animals. Enjoy it and Happy Hedgehoggin!''
Ralph M. Lermayer, [former - ed.] President, North American Hedgehog
Association [now defunct - ed.]
For anyone having a hard time finding it, you can call TFH directly
at 1-908-988-8400, ext. 117 and order it from their customer service
department.
This is a good book, especially for beginners (which is really where it is
directed). It does not contain the health standards, and medicine usage
that are in other books, listed above, and is to my mind a good supplement,
but not a replacement for them -- especially if your veterinarian is not
well acquainted with hedgehogs. I found it to be good reading, but it
always seemed to avoid a direct answer to most questions, lacking in real
detail. I must admit, however, that the pictures alone were both great
entertainment, and very useful, giving an excellent glimpse of what a
healthy hedgehog should look like. I'm still trying to figure out how the
photographers managed to avoid getting blurred pictures of all those busy
noses.
Dennis Kelsey-Wood has also released a second book (1996) called _Hedgehogs
Today_. It can be ordered from TFH, etc., as with his earlier book.
Hedgehogs Today
Dennis Kelsey-Wood
copyright 1996
distributed by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.,
One T.F.H. Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753
ISBN # is 0-7938-0103-6
The information above came to me by way of Brenda Basinger.
Having had a chance to look at this book, I have to say the quality of the
photos is excellent. That, however, is about the only good thing I can say.
The book is full of contradictions, and just plain bad advice. It goes on to
suggest that you should ``always use a glove'' to hold a hedgehog (which
captions a picture of a person holding one in bare hands). It also suggests
that a temperature range of from 60-75 degrees F, or 16-24 degrees C is okay,
when many hedgehogs will become unhealthy or even go into semi hibernation at
anything much below 70F/22C. It shows multiple hedgehogs being kept in a
Tupperware container barely big enough to squeeze them into (although it says
it's not big enough for a ``long term home'' -- it's clearly not big enough
for anything more than carrying them across the room. Finally, its listing
of states where hedgehogs are not allowed is totally misleading, and was
clearly the result of only the briefest research. The book even shows
feeding of raw eggs to hedgehogs -- something that can all too easily result
in salmonella [6.2].
While there certainly are good points to this book, including excellent photos
showing how a healthy hedgehog should appear, the sheer weight of bad
information means I cannot recommend this as much beyond a photo album, and
definitely not as a starting point for beginners.
Information on another book, which is now widely available, was sent to me by
Tirya:
Hedgehogs: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual
by Matthew M. Vriends, Ph.D.
pub: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
ISBN: 0-8120-1141-4
Barron's Price: $5.95 US
Barron's has published numerous other pet books in their series, and
they all seem to be well-received and easily available in pet shops.
It's geared primarily towards the African, though it has a chapter on
the European as kind of a compare/contrast thing. It also has a
chapter on breeding by Pat Storer. A lot of good pictures and
information, in an easy-to-read style, plus a chapter on ``Understanding
Hedgehogs'' covering body language and sounds. While it's by no means
all-inclusive (is there a hedgie book yet that is?) it's a good read.
-- Tirya
The book contains some medical information that complements other books quite
well, but, does not replace them. However, some of the information is
seriously outdated, and other parts contradict statements made elsewhere in
the book. The chapter by Pat Storer is taken almost verbatim out of her
books, but is a worthwhile addition to any hedgehog library, and if taken as
a whole, the book is quite good, and is, at the price, probably where most
new hedgehog keepers will start.
For people seeking more in depth information on hedgehogs in general,
including species, natural habitats, and research, another book, which came
out in 1994, thoroughly addresses many of these issues.
Hedgehogs
by Nigel Reeve
ISBN 0-85661-081-X
T & A D Poyser Ltd.
24-28 Oval Road
London NW1 7DX
In published form, this book is probably the best source of true, scientific
information on all types of hedgehogs. Beyond this point, you probably need
to read scientific papers (30 pages of references to which are at the back of
this book, which gives you some clue to Dr. Reeve's efforts at research).
While it does focus primarily on hedgehogs in the wild, it does provide some
very useful insights into what makes our little friends tick. I find myself
turning more and more to this book, all the time -- especially when someone
asks me a detailed question. Unlike many scientific books, this one shows
the author had a real interest and excitement in his chosen topic of
research, rather than limiting himself to dry phrasing, an entertaining sense
of humour and wit shows through.
The book can be hard to come by in North America (the publisher does not
import it here), but it is available through the Exclusively Hedgehogs
catalog [2.8], and the Spike and Friends Collection [2.8].
While I am at it, Richard Saunders passed along word of another book that he
found. This one appears to possibly be a local effort by a hedgehog breeder
on the west coast of Canada, but just in case, here is the information that
is available:
Hedgehogs
Hedgehog Handbook
- Everything You Need To Know To Raise Happy Healthy Hedgehogs
Written & Illustrated by Joan Baydala (Copyright, 1994)
The small paperback book (64 pages) indicated Joan Baydala is located in
Kelowna, B.C. The book doesn't indicate a publisher or any ISBN
reference.
Outline of the book is:
A Brief History (page 1-10)
Survival In The Wild (11-1
Selecting Your Hedgehog (20-26)
Housing (27-34)
Care and Management (35-46)
Breeding (47-56)
Allergies (57)
A Few Last Words (58-59)
References (60)
Index (61-64)
Another resource for hedgehog information is the ``Exotic Market Review.''
This is a journal about exotic animals and pets, and is primarily intended for
breeders. It contains articles on innumerable different animals that most of
us will never have heard of, but also contains an abundance of info on
hedgehogs. Subscription rates are $10.00/yr. in the U.S., $30.00/US/yr. for
Canada, and $60.00/US/yr. foreign. They can be contacted at:
EXOTIC Market Review
P.O. Box 1203
Bowie, Texas 76230
USA
phone: 1-800-460-3107
In addition to the books and journal, above, which are directly aimed at pet
hedgehogs, there are a number of books on European (or all types of)
hedgehogs which can be useful for pet owners and hedgehog lovers of all
types. I would suggest looking at the listings in section [11.2] for other
books which might be of interest.
One final tidbit I can't resist adding. I have heard of a number of new
hedgehog books that are in the works and (hopefully) due out over the coming
year or two. Information on hedgehogs promises to continue to be
forthcoming.
------------------------------
Subject: <2.2> Is there any other information available on-line?
Discussions of hedgehogs often come up in the rec.pets and on the
alt.fan.hedgehogs and alt.pets.hedgehogs Usenet newsgroups. The FAQ ``Fleas,
Ticks and Your Pet'' is distributed on rec.pets, as well as listed in [9.4].
Several bulletin board systems keep pet FAQs and discussions, as does the
CompuServe Small Mammals forum.
I maintain a set of Hedgehog WWW pages that can be accessed at:
http://HedgehogHollow.COM/
(Please Note: most my site is currently closed while under reconstruction --
I hope to have it reopened shortly, with the many out of date entries brought
up to date.)
Among the things available off my pages are links to all other hedgehog pages
I have found, and an HTMLized version of the FAQ.
Here are a couple of hedgehog sites to get you started searching through
the Web. These are not the only sites, nor are they definitive, but are
meant as a starting point to get you going:
http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/
http://www.hedgehogworld.com/
Thanks to Rachel Markley for suggesting I add these here. I expect to add
additional sites to the list as time goes on. I would also suggest you
make good use of your favorite search engine to find hedgehog sites as the
web changes too rapidly for FAQ published monthly to try to keep abrest of
what's happening.
The list of hedgehog web pages is growing rapidly -- I've been trying to keep
pointers to many of them off my own web page, but by now I'm starting to miss
many, I'm sure. Feel free to email me if you have one to add to my list of
pointers, or if you find one of my links doesn't work -- I am running way
behind on checking, lately. :-}
After several changes in location over the years, the original Hedgehog
Mailing List has, unfortunately, closed down. Many thanks to all the folks
who looked after it through the years.
There are, however, a couple of hedgehog mailing lists that are up and
active. Fist, is the Hedgehog Help list, and as the name implies is meant
for hedgehog help topics. Both an individual message version and a digest
version of this list, are available. One caution: this list is subject to
censorship by the list moderator, and not everyone can freely post to it.
You can join the regular (individual message) version by sending email to
the address:
hedgehog_help-subscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Or for the digest version, subscribe as above then send email to the
following address to switch to the digest:
hedgehog_help-digestREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
You can switch back to the individual (normal) version, by sending email to:
hedgehog_help-normalREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
And, of course, to unsubscribe, use the address:
hedgehog_help-unsubscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Last, and far from least, to send a message to the list, simply send it to:
hedgehog_helpREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Alternately, there is the PigPogLives mailing list. I have heard that the
PogPogLives list may have closed, but I have not confirmed this as yet. The
instructions for accessing PigPogLives are almost identical to the Hedgehog
Help list:
You can join the regular (individual message) version by sending email to
the address:
pigpoglives-subscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Or for the digest version, subscribe as above then send email to the
following address to switch to the digest:
pigpoglives-digestREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
You can switch back to the individual (normal) version, by sending email to:
pigpoglives-normalREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
And, of course, to unsubscribe, use the address:
pigpoglives-unsubscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Last, and far from least, to send a message to the list, I believe the
address is:
pigpoglivesREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) onelist.com
Next, another new list that looks very promising is the Hedgehogfun group.
Joining this list is probably most easily done through the web at:
http://www.egroups.com/invite/Hedgehogfun
and click the ``JOIN'' button. One caveat -- this appears to be a very busy
webserver, as I've had trouble connecting, although the list, itself seems to
be fine.
I believe you can also subscribe to this list by sending an email to:
Hedgehogfun-subscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) egroups.com
Probably with the word ``subscribe'' as the text of the message.
The list will send you a confirmation message, which you need to reply to.
To post messages to the list, send them to:
HedgehogfunREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) egroups.com
To unsubscribe, send a message to:
Hedgehogfun-unsubscribeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) egroups.com
likely with the word ``unsubscribe'' as the text of the message.
My thanks to Pam (Russo) Powers for keeping me up on the info for the AOL
hedgehog chat session.
The AOL hedgehog chat is on Thursday's at 7:00 P.M. EST
We love to have new people stopping by.
The chat is located in the Critter Chat room, located in the Pet Care
Forum, keyword-Pet Care.
Dick Brisky of Brisky Pet Products is setting up yet another web based chat
off the YAHOO site.
I wanted to let everyone know that I will be setting up a chat area at
YAHOO ( http://chat.yahoo.com/ ) the first Wednesday of each month, from
7PM to 8PM Eastern. If you're interested in learning more about our pet
food products or in sharing any ideas or thoughts, stop in.
To log-in you need to set-up an account there first (free), so stop by a
couple of hours early if you don't have an account. After that all you
have to do is search the ROOMS list for a room labeled BRISKY PET
PRODUCTS and click in.
- Dick Brisky
I know from my own dealings with Dick Brisky, that he is honestly interested
in things which will improve pet foods and products, and has always been very
open with any information he has had. This should prove to be a good
variation on the other forums.
For those of you with ICQ access, Lisa Rowe, has set up an ICQ Hedgehog chat
room. You can get more information about it at:
http://www.webvoodoo.com/hedgies/
I've been given a pointer to a new forum that deals with hedgehogs (and
chinchillas) at:
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/
Thanks to Rachel Markey for this pointer.
------------------------------
Subject: <2.3> International Hedgehog Registry
Jennifer Young-Watson, with help from Antigone Means, has set up the
International Hedgehog Registry, to try and help track all pet hedgehogs.
Here's an excerpt from the registry information:
This registry is setting out to register all the [pet] African Pygmy
Hedgehogs. We want to do this to a) take a census of all the Hedgehogs
that are out there b) to cut down on unwanted inbreeding by unknowing
breeders and c) to help track behavoral and genetic traits.
This is a great chance for your pets to help add to our knowledge about
hedgehogs, so please do register. Registration is free, although for $10.00
U.S. they do provide a really nice registration certificate, should you want
one.
You can get more information, and register online at their web page:
(Note: new address as of June 2000 -- thanks to Jeffery Allen)
http://www.hedgehogregistry.com/
or by mail to:
IHR Headquarters
Jennifer Young-Watson
P.O. Box 9880
Canoga Park, CA 91309-0880
USA
email: hedgiesregREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) earthlink.net (new as of Oct. 1998)
Other branches exist at:
IHR Southern Branch
Antigone (Tig) Means
Littlerock, AR
USA
email: nannyoggREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) mailcity.com
IHR Eastern Branch
Vera C. Rhoades
Trenton, NJ
USA
email: dreamcatcherhedgehogsREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) erols.com
------------------------------
Subject: <2.4> Hedgehogs Welfare Society
The Hedgehog Welfare Society is a relatively new, and active group that has
come about. Unlike many of the earlier organizations, this one seems to be
focused more on proper care, and welfare. You can contact them at:
The Hedgehog Welfare Society
5308 21st Ave SW
Seattle, WA, 98106
USA
email: infoREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) hedgehogwelfare.org
www: http://www.hedgehogwelfare.org/
From what I can gather, HWS is affiliated with the Carolina Hedgehog Society
(or vice versa) which also appears to be a very interesting group. The CWH
website contains a wealth of excellent information.
www: http://hedgies.com/
My thanks to Dawn Wrobel for putting me onto these organizations.
------------------------------
Subject: <2.5> International Hedgehog Association
The IHA is a registered charitable non-profit organization established with
the purpose of educating the public in the care and betterment of hedgehogs
and to facilitate the rescue, welfare, promotion and care of hedgehogs
everywhere.
The IHA is active in the promotion of hedgehog shows as a means of bringing
together and educating hedgehog lovers and fanciers and encourages and
supports rescue and research activities.
International Hedgehog Association
PO Box 122
Yates Center, KS
USA 66783
Canada and International:
International Hedgehog Association
1070 Lilly Dale RR#1
Belle River, Ontario
Canada
N0R 1A0
email: infoREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) hedgehogclub.com
www: http://hedgehogclub.com/
Individual:............$20.00/year
Family:................$30.00/year
Junior:................$12.00/year (up to 18 years of age)
Breeder:,,,,,,,,,,,,...$40.00/year
Veterinarian/Clinic:...$15.00/year
Lifetime individual....$250.00/lifetime
Lifetime family:.......$350.00/lifetime
Lifetime Breeder:......$450.00/lifetime
------------------------------
Subject: <2.6> Canadian Hedgehog Association
This came as a pleasant surprise to me when I received information about this
organization from Sophie Hannan, the founder and President.
Canadian Hedgehog Associationm Inc.
542 South Black River Road
Black River Bridge, NB
Canada E1N 5T2
email: infoREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) canadianhedgehogassociation.com
www: http://www.canadianhedgehogassociation.com
Individual.............$18.00 CAD/year (over 18 years of age)
Family:................$25.00 CAD/year (2 adults + 4 children)
Youth:.................$12.00 CAD/year (up to 18 years of age)
Breeder:...............$35.00/year (>18months experience breeding)
Aside from this, I know all too little about the CHA, as yet.
------------------------------
Subject: <2.7> Other Hedgehog Organizations
Aside from the IHA [2.5], and the now defunct HI and N.A.H.A. (North American
Hedgehog Association), there exist a number of other organizations dedicated
to hedgehogs. Many of these organizations discussed in this section are
generally involved with wild European hedgehogs, rather than pet hedgehogs.
Within North America, until recently there has been no problem with hedgehogs
not having homes. They were rare enough, that few would wind up at the pound
or unwanted. Unfortunately that is now changing, and Kyrstin Westwind has
started the Hedgehog Rescue organization to help out unwanted, or illegal
hedgehogs. At the present time, it is located in the Northwest United
States, specifically in Oregon, but she hopes that it will become more wide
spread and organized over the coming months.
You can contact Hedgehog Rescue at:
Hedgehog Rescue
11575 SW Pacific Hwy. Box 148
Tigard, OR
97223
USA
phone: (503) 230-1624
email: westwindREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) aracnet.com
Rescued hedgies are given a complete health check by a vet, any needed
treatments are given and they are put on a balanced diet (most of the
hedgies, we see, have been eating store-brand kitten food!) In most cases
the hedgies have not been socialized at all and need to be worked with one
on one for a while. We try to determine if they CAN be socialized or
will always be grumps -- happily, in most cases they DO come around.
On the advice of other rescue groups we have an adoption fee. I had been
resistant to this idea, but it is true that people rarely value ``free
pets'' -- some groups had real horror stories to this affect -- and there
are a LOT of expenses involved in this effort! So for $50 the adoptive
person/family gets a healthy hedgehog that will unball, a list of
resources including how to reach the hedgehog list, FAQ, and other web
pages as well as local vets. We waive all or part of the fee for people
who have experience with hedgehogs, or in cases where they need to pay for
a Delta Dash.
We do screen perspective adoptive homes: making sure they are well
informed about all the pros and cons of life as a hedgie slave and that
there have been no abuse complaints against them in the past. We avoid
giving a female from a ``breeding mill'' to someone who wants to breed
hedgies, because these females tend to have been ``over- bred'' We provide
on-going support and, if at some point the person/family decides hedgies
are not for them -- hasn't happened yet -- we take the hedgie back and find
a new home.
-- Kyrstin Westwind
I've been told by Sharon Massena that ``the 4H group of Hedgehogs Northwest
is doing rescue work. I'm not entirely sure what area this covers, but it
sounds like something that has merit well beyond the nominal Northwest US.
There are also a number of regional and local hedgehog clubs and
organizations appearing throughout North America. One of the largest,
and oldest is Hedgehogs Northwest:
Hedgehogs Northwest is composed of pet lovers, owners, hobbyists and
breeders who are interested in expanding the understanding and knowledge
of hedgehogs. The club sponsored the first hedgehog confirmation show in
the world. We sponsored our first show on October 22, 1995 which was
such a success that we sponsored another March 24, 1996. (These were both
held in Tacoma, Washington). We also do the Puyallup (Washington).
Spring and Fall Fairs as well as other shows to acquaint people with the
specialness of our little friends.
Note: I don't have a current address for Hedeghogs Northwest, although
there is a website to be at:
www: http://www.hedgehogsnw.com/
My thanks to Janet Martin for sending me the info above, and to Sharon
Massena for updates.
More local and regional hedgehog clubs/organizations are forming, some under
the auspices of the IHA [2.5]. You should contact or the IHA for information
about any known clubs or organizations in your area.
In the Netherlands, the organization VEZ is involved with numerous types of
exotic mammals, including hedgehogs:
The VEZ is a Dutch organization of keepers and lovers of exotic mammals.
The main goal of the organization is gathering and spreading information
about these animals and how to take care of them. We coordinate
breeding programs for different kinds of mammals. Members are not only
vets, zoos, breeders with a large stock of animals, genetic experts and
so on, but people with a pair of chinchilla's, a hamster or gerbils are
as important to us.
We publish a magazine, four times a year, in Dutch. In the future we'll
try to add a summary in English at the end of the articles. Members meet
regularly to exchange animals an experience, and to visit zoos in the
Netherlands and abroad.
For some animals, like hedgehogs, sugar gliders and others, we have a
contact person who coordinates the breeding program, can give you basic
information and show you the way in case you need more than that.
Costs:
Membership costs Hfl 50,- excl. bankcosts for foreign countries.
For more information write to:
VEZ
Beetslaan 73
2281 TG Rijswijk
The Netherlands
Contact person for different species of hedgehogs is:
Anja van der Werf
Siriusstraat 16
1622 ZH Hoorn
Tel. 0229-246499
The Netherlands
E-mail address: 101621.2230REMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) CompuServe.COM
-- Anja van der Werf
------------------------------
Subject: <2.8> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources
This section contains information on various hedgehog things and places to
get hedgehog stuff that just doesn't easily fit into any of the more
organized categories.
The first item on our list of interesting stuff is the Spike and Friends
Collection, a catalog of miscellaneous hedgehoggery, and stuff relating to
other exotic pets put out by the ``Ain't No Creek Ranch:''
Ain't No Creek Ranch
2553 W. Offner Road
Beecher, IL
USA 60401-3347
email: SunSpikeREMOVE_TO_SEND at (no spam) aol.com
www: http://www.aintnocreek.com/
Phone: (708) 946-9750
Fax: (708) 534-3277
The Ain't No Creek Ranch accepts MasterCard and Visa to make feeding your
hedgehog habit just that much easier.
If you are into pet hedgehogs or just like hedgehogs in general, their
catalog is really neat! As a quick overview, it contains most of the books
available for pet hedgehogs, T-shirts and sweatshirts, hedgehog toys, and
toy-hedgehogs, hedgehog homes, and numerous other hedgehog novelties and
gifts. They are primarily hedgehog oriented (in fact they breed hedgehogs --
a good sign ), but the catalog also has items that are related to other
exotic pets like ferrets, sugar gliders, rheas, goats, etc.
Here's part of the welcome message from the first catalog to give you a
feeling of what they are all about:
Welcome to the first edition of the Spike and Friends Collection.
This brochure is an outgrowth of our hedgehog mania here at Ain't No
Creek Ranch. In attempting to locate hedgehogabilia for ourselves --
we found a lot of other hedgehog lovers looking for the same things. So
we began accumulating items as well as designing our own. And we've even
included books, toys, and T-shirts for a few other exotic/alternative
animals as well.
Dawn Wrobel
Ain't No Creek Ranch
A second hedgehog catalog is also available, called Exclusively Hedgehogs.
The wonder of this is that there is virtually no overlap in what they carry
with what is in the above catalog. It is indeed a good time for hedgehog
lovers! Like the Spike and Friends Collection, Exclusively Hedgehogs carries
both hedgehog pet supplies and hedgehogabilia, and is available from:
Exclusively Hedgehogs
145 S.E. Ankeny Circle
Portland OR 97233-3121
USA
(503) 253-7388
(503) 255-7176
Among the items carried for pet hedgehogs are hedgehog food and treats, and
Roadrunner Play Safe wheels [I would recommend at least the 11'' and
preferably the 14-inch model for hedgehogs - ed.]. They also carry a large
selection of hedgehog figurines.
As mentioned above, there is virtually no overlap in what is carried by
Exclusively Hedgehogs, and the Ain't No Creek Ranch, which I find quite
amazing, and an incredible bonus to ``hedgehogians'' like myself. If you
already have either catalog, the other it worth getting too.
Here's part of the introduction from their catalog:
Welcome to our updated catalog. We have recently traveled to
England, France and Canada, as well as parts of the United States
in search of new hedgehog items. We are proud to bring you two
new items carried exclusively by us, the Roadrunner wheel and the
hedgehog food. We also found some great gift items imported
directly from England. It would be remiss not to mention the book
by Nigel Reeve. It is also imported directly to Exclusively
Hedgehogs from England.
Happy heggie shopping
Val and Julie
Please note: My earlier suggestion that Exclusively Hedgehogs may have
temporarily put their catalog business `on hold' was an error -- they are
open and active as ever. This was due entirely to my misinterpreting a
message, and not due in any actions or lack of actions on the part of
Exclusively Hedgehogs. My sincere apologies for any confusion this may have
caused.
Susan & Chia sent along the following site as being a great source for
accessories for your hedgie:
http://theferretstore.com/
While nominally for ferrets, the site acknowledges right up front that what
they carry isn't just for ferrets, and a search through their site does
quickly turn up explicit ``Hedgehog'' items, as well as wheels, and other
useful items.
I would also suggest taking a look at section [11.5] for sources of
hedgehogabilia that are more oriented to wild, or European hedgehogs.
Disclaimer: I've had the wonderful opportunity to meet and get to know many
of the people behind the catalogs above, although I have no other connection
with them, as far as the catalogs go, aside from being a very happy customer
in several cases (yes, I admit to being a certifiable hedgehog addict). I
have endevoured to provide an unbiased opinion of their products and
services.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
--
Brian MacNamara - macnamara at (no spam) HedgehogHollow.COM
Hedgehog Hollow: http://HedgehogHollow.COM/ |
|
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| Brian MacNamara... |
| Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:09 pm |
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Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part6
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 22 August 2008
Version: 3.113
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 6 of 7) -- ADVANCED TOPICS IN HEDGEHOGGERY
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnamara at (no spam) hedgehoghollow.com)
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6]
for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for
all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my
wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite
limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify,
all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only
accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness
of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that
it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice
from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1],
or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian
who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
10. *** Breeding, babies, and advanced issues ***
<10.1> Breeding
<10.2> General care for babies
<10.3> Hand feeding baby hedgehogs
<10.4> Colours, types, and species
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
10. *** Breeding, babies, and advanced issues ***
------------------------------
Subject: <10.1> Breeding
Breeding hedgehogs can be both the most rewarding, and the most
heart-wrenching of endeavors. Few activities can come close to matching the
wonders and pleasures of having babies, but at the same time the dangers
involved, and problems that can arise are very great.
I'm not going to try and cover all the basics of animal husbandry, here --
that's a topic better left to many books on the subject. I'm only going to
address hedgehog issues. Besides, if you don't know the basics of husbandry
and breeding, you should not be considering it -- at least not yet.
Baby hedgehogs are nothing short of addictively cute. If you think an adult
can steal your heart, beware that a mother being followed by a litter of
adorable little hoglets is many levels of magnitude cuter. The reason for
this warning is that it can be very easy to fall into the trap of breeding
just to enjoy the babies. There is an immense responsibility that goes with
breeding, and it should not be undertaken lightly -- these are living,
feeling animals, and that thought must always be at the forefront of your
mind.
If you are going to breed, make very very sure of the following, first:
(1) That you are willing to risk losing the mother, due to
complications!
(2) That you can find good, caring homes for ALL the babies. This can
certainly include you, but remember, you may need as many as 8 new
cages or enclosures to keep the results of one litter!
(3) If there are complications with the birth, or problems with the
babies, it might entail some not inconsiderable veterinary bills.
(4) If mom rejects the babies, you might have to take care of them (a
very considerable effort), or have them put to sleep.
Okay, you've considered the points, above, and you want to breed your
hedgehog(s). The following will cover various points of breeding. For
actual caring for the babies (with or without mom), please see sections
[10.2] and [10.3]
[Credit for much of what follows is largely thanks to various breeder
friends that I've met over the past few years, and some of my own,
minor experiences. I hope you will forgive me for not listing you by
name, as the points are `mostly' a blend of all your wisdom! -Ed.]
I would strongly recommend that you seek out an experienced hedgehog breeder
and spend some time talking with him/her. I don't have the experience or the
space to cover all the information that you really should know. Also, having
someone you can turn to with questions will prove more than invaluable.
First, a few guidelines for deciding who, of prickly nature, to put together
for the romantic event. To breed hedgehogs, obviously, the minimum you need
is a male and a female, but there are many other points to consider.
Breeding of ill tempered hedgehogs is not a good idea, breeding of related
hedgehogs can also be a bad idea. Choose the hedgehogs to be bred with some
care. This can be for colour, temperament, or other values, but don't be
indiscriminant.
Females should not be bred before at least 5 months of age, as they have not
finished growing and maturing themselves. Once bred, the hormonal changes
will basically stop further maturation, and the drain on their metabolisms
caused by having babies while still trying to grow themselves, can have
permanent adverse affects on their health.
Males, too, should not be bred before about 4-5 months, although the side
effects are not as problematic for them. The biggest problem is that they
just may not be up to the task, at least as well as they should be.
Also, don't breed a female for the first time, if she is beyond 1.5 years
old. If you do, there is a very good chance that the bones in her pelvic
area will have fused, such that she will not be able to have the babies. If
you are not sure how old she is, but suspect she may be beyond 1.5, don't
risk it!
There is also a point at about 3.5 years of age, when many females become
menopausal. Breeders will often note that litter sizes may taper off as this
age is approached.
Finally, after each litter, it is important to give your female a break to
recover from the effort. I would not recommend any more than 3 litters per
year. Beyond that is going to place an unnecessary drain on the female, and
affect her health (and her ability to produce and care for ongoing litters).
More than this number of litters per year really suggests that you are not
breeding hedgehogs, but trying to run a production line.
Breeding hedgehogs is not difficult, but it does come with a wide variety of
problems. Probably most notable is that mother hedgehogs will tend to eat
the babies if disturbed at all for a few days prior to, and for up to about
10 days after the birth. This can be heartbreaking and very frustrating to
would be breeders.
By our (human) standards, this sort of thing is unthinkable, and very hard to
accept. Before you think too badly of hedgehogs for this, take a look at
their natural environment. In the wild, any kind of disturbance is all but
certainly a predator that WILL eat the babies (mom can and will try to defend
them, but in a burrow, there's only so much she can hope to do). Because
finding enough food and energy to develop the babies is a very difficult
thing in the rather harsh conditions in which our little friends are native,
mother hedgehogs cannot afford to lose all of that. In the end, it's a
matter of survival to ``reabsorb'' the babies, in this way, then to lose all
of that to a passing predator. If all are lost, try again in 3 months. If
losing litters continues to happen, it might be that the female is just not
cut out to be a mom, and it would be better not to breed her.
So, for the actual amourous encounter, what is needed? Actually, not that
much. Simply put the two loverhogs together, sit back, and watch the fun.
Male hedgehogs know what to do (females do as well, but will often play hard
to get). Males will usually squeak very loudly and plaintively when they
encounter a female -- and the actual courtship antics are usually VERY
entertaining.
There are opinions both ways on whose cage (hers or his) to use, but most
breeders seem to prefer to use the male's cage, under the assumption that the
female will be more receptive, and the male will feel less out of place and
more inclined to do his `duty.' It is wise to remove as many items from the
cage as is reasonable, while they are together, such as wheels, extra dens,
and items that make good hiding places for a female who wants to defend her
honour. Even so, you can pretty much count on the entire cage being severely
`redecorated' frequently and often!
Hedgehogs DO have a `heat,' or estrus cycle, and are not entirely induced
ovulators, as had been previously thought. The cycle is typically about 9
days on, followed by 7 days off, but is not absolute.
In order to catch the cycle, many breeders will put the male and female
together for about 4-5 days, separate them for 4 days, then put them back
together for another 4-5 days. Others breeders have suggested using a single
10-day period, while others still will use only a single 3-day get together,
observing the female to see if she is responsive. Experience and trial and
error will likely be your best guides here. If you have spoken to a breeder
with experience, try the schedule that they use, or one of the schedules
mentioned here. In most cases, the pair will get along quite well, but do
watch out as sometimes fights will occur.
Once the romance has passed, it is now time to separate the pair. Now that
mating is over, the father to be, can drop out of the picture, as he plays no
further role in what follows. Keeping the male in with the female when the
babies arrive is virtually guaranteed to have them both eat the babies.
Is your female pregnant? Well, this is another place that I can only offer
theory. Personally, I have gotten it wrong (both ways) far more often than
right! As you might guess, it can be quite difficult to tell if a hedgehog
is pregnant, but there are some clues to look for. Probably one of the best
methods is to weigh her every few days, and watch for a weight gain.
Obviously, this goes part and parcel with an increase in appetite. Next, if
you are very careful, and gentle, you can palpate her abdomen, and you `may'
be able to feel the babies as she gets closer to the birthing date.
Achieving good results with this is very difficult, even for experienced
breeders, so don't be dismayed if you can't tell anything from it. Another
sign to watch out for is that her teats or nipples (which run in two rows
along the sides of her tummy, will become more enlarged, and more obvious.
As time gets closer to the birth, typically within about the last week, there
are a few more signs. One of these to look for is the odour from her urine
often becomes noticably stronger. She may also exhibit signs of `nesting'
where she may make piles of bedding material, or even block up her den
entrance. She will also likely lose appetite in the day or so prior to the
babies being born.
In spite of these signs, it's easy to be wrong in thinking she may be
pregnant when she is not, or that she is not pregnant when she is. Trust me!
This is one place I have AMPLE personal experience to speak from! Because of
this, I strongly recommend that you always assume that she IS pregnant until
WELL past her last possible due date.
Speaking of the due date, the gestation period for hedgehogs is approximately
35 days. I have heard of births happening from about 33 days through to
about 42, so the 35 is not absolute. Most will be within the 34-37 day
range, however.
This generally brings us to the end of the actual breeding topic. I will add
a few further comments, here, as they relate to the mother, and health
issues, but I would direct you to section [10.2] on general care for the
babies which really takes up where this description leaves off.
After the birth, mom's appetite will likely skyrocket. Give her all the
high-quality food she wants. This is not a time for diets, as she is trying
to produce enough milk for her hungry hoglets. She will also go through a
lot more fresh water than normal. Just be careful about disturbances as you
go into her cage to feed or water her. If mom appears overly exhausted, or
wobbly, extra vitamins or supplements, such as KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement)
may help. Also treats (not too much) of cottage cheese or sour cream may
help keep her calcium levels up, as she produces large quantities of hedgehog
milk.
The good news is that there really isn't much for you to do -- it's largely a
case of mom knows best.
Following the birth, keep an eye on the mother for possible complications.
If mom either loses the babies (not that unusual) or seems very inactive,
possibly lying out of her den, and/or not eating, it may be that she has
suffered a problem during birth, or that one or more babies are still caught
inside her. If you think this might be the case, get her to a veterinarian,
quickly -- especially if she lost her babies, and is acting like this. There
is much a vet can do to help in a situation like this, but it is imperitive
that you get her there quickly. The longer the problem exists, the greater
the likelihood that you will lose the mother in addition to the babies.
Recently, Matt Scott sent me a great synopsis of birthing dos and don'ts and
especially on dealing with mothers that attack or reject their babies. It
covers things much better than I could:
Of course the ideal situation is to leave the babies with their mother
as her milk will provide not only the proper balance of nutrients,
protein and fats, but also necessary antibodies to help the babies
fight a world of germs in infections. Now there are good mothers and
bad mothers in this world but sadly it's impossible to know what you
have until the first litter arrives. Good mothers tend to their babies,
nurse them and raise the litter without problems. Bad mothers sometimes
reject and other times attack their babies, but most mothers can be
taught to care for their young.
Minimizing stress before and after birth is paramount. Keep the mother
in a dark, quiet corner covered with a sheet with an abundance of bedding,
food and water so you don't need to enter the cage. If the mother gets
stressed for any reason she can kill the babies, especially if she is
nervous in the first place (a huffy hedgehog). If this happens there are
still some things that can be tried to turn things around. The easiest
approach is to leave the father in the cage with her throughout the
pregnancy and child rearing, often with rodents the father will defend
the babies from a bad mother and persuade her to nurse. Removing the
father should be done immediately after she is impregnated if he is to be
moved, removing him just before birth will stress the mother
significantly. A more time consuming approach is to distract the mother
with a treat she likes (I've heard of jello cubes working well as well as
slices of banana or mango) while the babies are trying to latch on to her
nipples. The idea is that she will care more about the treat than the
babies, feel full so she is not stressed about a lack of food and even
begin to associate suckling with something positive and learn to enjoy it.
Of course, if this doesn't work and she still lunges at them you will
then have to remove the babies for hand feeding.
An alternate approach is to have two pregnant mothers share a cage, one
you know is a good mother and the new/bad mother. If you can time the
29 day gestation periods such that the good mother gives birth a day or
two before the other mother, and the bad mother still turns on her litter,
the good mother will generally defend and adopt the extra babies, nursing
them as her own. The idea here is that the bad mother will have a tutor
on what to do with babies when the hoglets arrive. Next time she has a
litter she will be familiar with how to care for her babies and be able
to do it on her own.
If the babies must be removed then you have quite a handful for the next
few weeks. One thing I learned is that hedgehogs only require 5 to 10%
of their body weight in food each 24 hour period. What this means is a
newborn hedgehog weighing only 10 to 12 grams can have at most 1
milliliter of formula over the entire day, divided into hourly feedings.
This might not seem like very much food, but it is enough to keep them
growing and likely more than they would get from their mom in full day
of suckling. Babies of any species (birds, fish and mammals) are
voracious eaters and commonly eat more than they can handle. In fact,
feeding a newborn hedgehog even a little more than this will cause their
intestines to impact, stomachs to bloat and distend, and their colon to
rupture. Within a couple hours of rupture they will die of septic shock.
This was my error, I was so excited to see them eating and pooping (upon
stimulation of the perianal area with a warm damp cloth as recommended)
that I let them eat until they stopped and it was entirely too much.
They all died of sepsis.
I got these suggestions from Carol Lavery who is very experienced in
breeding many different kinds of rodents and Dr. Ali Ashkar a former
vet and current university professor. I think they are valuable for
someone who might be in a similar position as me in the future.
-- Matt Scott
------------------------------
Subject: <10.2> General care for babies
As the due date approaches, mom will often stop eating the day before, and
will also often go into nesting mode, and may go as far as to wall up her den
against access. It is very important that you do not disturb her for a
couple of days before she is due, and for several days after the babies
arrive. Doing so will often result in the babies being eaten [10.1].
A couple of days before you expect that she is due, it is a good idea to give
her cage a thorough cleaning (without stressing her too much), as you will
not be able to, again, for several days.
The babies will `usually' arrive during the night, and may be announced by a
slight scream or squeak, although I've never heard this, myself. You will
probably be able to hear the babies squeak from the nest, after they have
been born.
Here are some guidelines on dealing with new hoglets. In general, the two
main things are to avoid disturbing them (and mom) and that mother knows
best.
As a reminder, the gestation period is approximately 35 days.
You should avoid disturbing a pregnant female or new mother for about 5 days
before and 5-10 days after the birth. During this time, be careful and quiet
during feeding and cleanup.
The babies will usually announce their presence with squeaks. When you hear
this -- it's time to go into tiptoe mode. The babies can be born over a
period of several hours, and maintaining absolute quiet during this time is
important.
Mom should have a safe, secure-feeling den to have the babies in. This will
help her feel safe and relaxed.
For the first 5-10 days, don't peek! And I mean don't peek!!! After this
time, depending on how mom reacts, you can start handling the babies. If you
do want to check on the babies, do it when mom is out eating, or better yet,
lure her out with a treat, and remove her from the cage for a romp while you
check on the babies. But do wait until the babies are at least 3-5 days old
before doing this. Take your cues from mom. If she gets hostile, vocal, or
visibly upset, by your presence, don't push it. Some mothers are very secure
and don't mind leaving the babies alone for a few minutes, while others get
frantic when separated.
Make sure that mom has as much food as she wants. She will eat a LOT more
than usual at this time. You might even want to supplement her diet with
some cottage cheese, sour cream, or the like, to help boost her calcium
input. This can be especially important for very young (e.g., accidental)
mothers, who are still growing themselves, and who may end up drawing on
their own calcium reserves, that they need for bones and teeth, to produce
enough milk.
If mom does not seem to be eating, put her food dish near the doorway to her
nest box or tube -- she may be reluctant to leave the babies.
Once the babies are born, you might want to pile up the wood shavings under
the end of the tube or nest box where the doorway is, to prevent any babies
from rolling out by mistake. Generally this is not a problem, but if you
find a baby outside the nest, you might want to consider doing this.
If you see a baby out of the nest and away from the rest (some mothers will
take their babies out of the nest, but will keep them together -- this is
normal and depends on the mother), you can put it back with the others by
using a smal | | |