Hedgehog house feeding

[hollydog86]

I have a wooden hedgehog house, nearby to a feeding station for my hedgehogs, we have cats which regularly visit our garden, (we see them on our camera) The hedgehog house was only put in place in the spring, so I have recently started putting a bowl of food in the house, as well as the bowls of food and water in the feeding station, all the food I put out has been taken. Should I continue to feed them in the house, or would it be best just to leave the food in the feeding station? I am hoping that the hedgehogs will take up residence in house in the Autumn, I thought the bowls of food may entice them to investigate it. I must admit I was surprised how quickly they found the feeding station, I have just used a plastic storage box with a suitable size hole cut in the side, but it is plenty big enough for 3 food/water bowls and two large hedgehogs to feed together at the same time.

[Nic]

Hi hollydog86

I use ordinary hog boxes to put food in. Last autumn a hog decided to make a nest in one of them (on top of the food!). He didn’t hibernate, but used the nest for short stays. This year two hogs seem to be taking it in turns to sleep, overday, in another box I have been using for feeding. So it doesn’t seem to make much difference. But it is really personal choice.

Normally, I would suggest if you want a hog to use a box as a nest box that you locate it in a more secluded part of your garden. Some hogs may be put off using it if it’s too close to the feeding area, if there are lots of hogs coming and going. Also if a hog has babies, food nearby may attract unwanted visitors.

You might be interested in the results of a recent hog house survey:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/the-hedgehog-housing-census-results-are-in/

[Author]

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