Discussion
Last year I made a couple of hog houses if the garden, even managed to get one resident to stay which was great. The issue is that we also have a lot of squirrels and a couple of foxes, who frequent the same garden. What can I feed the hedgehogs without the squirrels eating it. I bought a bag of Spikes hog food and it's getting eaten, just not sure by what. Do Squirrels and foxes eat that kind of food?
I did happen to notice when I cleaned the dens out, that there were monkey nut shells hidden away inside.
Any advice greatly received.
I did happen to notice when I cleaned the dens out, that there were monkey nut shells hidden away inside.
Any advice greatly received.
Probably the best way to stop the squirrels or foxes getting it is to have an enclosed feeding station - squirrels aren’t keen on being inside stuff and the fixes won’t fit. That said, stopping squirrels getting food they shouldn’t have has been the lifelong task of a lot of people and they all seem to have failed!
Everything hedgehogs like, one of the others will also have if given a chance
If you went for cat food and a feeding station that’d prob stop it being nicked cos I don’t think squirrels will go for that?
Everything hedgehogs like, one of the others will also have if given a chance
If you went for cat food and a feeding station that’d prob stop it being nicked cos I don’t think squirrels will go for that?
Thanks for the advice, I'll have to see if I can make some kind of covered area to put the food in.
I know squirrels will stop at nothing to get food, but don't know whether the foxes would try and destroy whatever I make just to get at the food. Maybe it will be a case of trial and error
I know squirrels will stop at nothing to get food, but don't know whether the foxes would try and destroy whatever I make just to get at the food. Maybe it will be a case of trial and error
hyphen said:
Why do you need to feed the hedgehogs? Why can they you not leave them alone to forage their own food.
Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
Why would I think of it as a pet?? the whole reason for putting some food down is to try and encourage them to use the den, nothing more. I would like to think that whatever hedgehog hibernated inside was good and healthy, enough fat to last through the winter. Certainly not trying to make a pet out of them!!Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
hyphen said:
Why do you need to feed the hedgehogs? Why can they you not leave them alone to forage their own food.
Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
Numbers are down. Farming/gardening/herbicides/pesticides all play a part, its just a way of trying to redress the balance.Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
Mrs 23 found one by the verge the other day, looked like s trimmer damage to the nose.She took it to the local hedgehog rescue centre, they popped a stich in to help it recover. They're reliant on they're snouts for finding food so hoping this one survives OK.
I'd encourage them into the garden but our terriers worry them.
Pets eh, who'd have em.
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/spikes-hed...
If you have a Pets At Home store near you, they stock it.
If you have a Pets At Home store near you, they stock it.
TR4man said:
https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/spikes-hed...
If you have a Pets At Home store near you, they stock it.
Thank you, this was the food I initially bought, but I'm not sure if the hedgehogs are eating it or the squirrels, it disappears pretty quick. If you have a Pets At Home store near you, they stock it.
We feed hedgehogs every night in our garden. We put out cat biscuits and dog food, and also water. Every night at least one rocks up, plus sometimes a fox and the odd puss. We have had hogs and a fox (and cubs earlier in the year) eating together.
It gets put out as it goes dark and it's always all gone by the morning. I've never seen a squirrel eating the food (and we have a few in the garden) since they are tucked up during the night.
Occasionally we get magpies just as the sun comes up finishing off anything left over.
I know all this as we have a camera that I review in the morning.
It gets put out as it goes dark and it's always all gone by the morning. I've never seen a squirrel eating the food (and we have a few in the garden) since they are tucked up during the night.
Occasionally we get magpies just as the sun comes up finishing off anything left over.
I know all this as we have a camera that I review in the morning.
B&M also sell hedgehog food as well as different wild bird foods.
https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/webbox-wildlif...
https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/webbox-wildlif...
Edited by classicfred on Friday 24th September 03:49
hyphen said:
Why do you need to feed the hedgehogs? Why can they you not leave them alone to forage their own food.
Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
Hedgehogs need all the help they can get, numbers are very very low for many reasons and nearly all mans doing. A bit of food this time of year can make all the difference as to whether they will survive the winter. Giving wildlife a helping hand should be encouraged Its not a pet.
I saw a frog in my garden last week, perhaps it will stay. Perhaps it will leave. Perhaps it will get eaten. That's wildlife.
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