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Home Forums Hedgehog signs and sightings New House – how long? Reply To: New House – how long?

#15691
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Nic

Hi Lucypuss

Sometimes people are lucky and a hog moves almost straight in to a hog house. But some don’t show much interest until the box has become part of the landscape. So it’s a bit of a ‘how long is a piece of string’ question!

You might encourage the hog to use the box if you put lots of suitable nest building material nearby – leaves, long grasses, etc. Hogs usually like to make their own nests inside the box, but you might like to put, just a little bit inside to give them the idea. If a male decides to use the box, they may not stay in it more than a few days at this time of year. It depends a bit on individual hogs, but moving nests is a good way to avoid a build up of parasites. You might be lucky and a female might have her young there.

I would be inclined not to try to encourage a hog in with food – rattie is just as likely to follow that too. Also, although hogs love them, mealworms are not good for them – it’s to do with the phosphorous and calcium levels which can lead to a deficiency in calcium. Also they do not have much nutritional value. So best avoided.

Good luck. Hope you get a tenant in the box soon.

Hedgehog