Hoglets
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We have a mother and six hoglets in our nesting box. Putting out lots of food and water just hope they all survive the winter.
Hi BabsMaria,
how do you know this? Has she brought them to the feeding station? if the babies are mobile – chances are she will now be thinking of fattening herself up and heading off to hibernate, which may leave you as the contingency plan for them (if hedgehogs have such things). You will need a good quality highly nutritious feed for them, and mother – try and include some wet food if you can for now, along with crunchy hog or cat kibble and fresh water daily. You may well see the babies for the duration of winter, which will give you a chance of assessing their state of growth and health from a distance.
Make sure you know who your local hog carer is in advance (BHPS and hedgehog bottom websites can help locate) and take their advice based on what information you can provide. Don’t risk leaving this to the point that you think you need to capture them – you will need to be prepared with a plan.
Fingers crossed for the little brood – we need all the numbers we can get. They are unlikely to survive without support – so even if you haven’t seen them for a day or two during this time, please continue to put food out and switch to crunchy only, if the weather starts to freeze the food, but hopefully they will have grown and fattened up by then.
Hi Jan-Marie
Mother and young are sleeping together in the nesting box. We are putting three dishes of food out every night, two at the feeding station and one by the nesting box . All dishes empty by the morning. Water is available at all times. Two of the young were out in the day but did not go too far from the nesting box. Will just keep monitoring them, we have a rescue lady about 7miles away if needed for advice etc.she sounds like a good mother – possibly experienced. you sound to have everything in place to support them and a local contact, which is very good news.
Fingers crossed for them all and you! I hope it all works out.
Hi Jan-Marie
Just to let you know four of the young hoglets have been taken to a rescue centre for the winter. The mum and the other two biggest hoglets have moved on.
BarbaraThanks for the update – nice to know what happens in these circumstances. Will you get the hoglets offered back for release if they survive the overwintering in care?
Hi Jan-Marie
Yes we will get them back in the Spring.
One of the other Hoglets is now back feeding so will catch and take it to Deal, Kent to be with the rest.
Unfortunately one of the hoglets was injured by a car before we rescued it, had a broken leg and pelvis so had to be put to sleep.Babs
My hoglets were on the larger side this year than I have had in the past. I did weigh some and they were between 320-380 gr.
Weighed a couple a week or so ago and were 540-560gr. No need to worry this time about them gaining good weight for hibernation. Quite pleased with that.Willpar.
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