I spotted a medium sized hedgehog in the garden a few weeks ago in daylight and since then, have been feeding it daily.
I have constructed a weatherproof type of box on it's side to keep the tray of food dry (an old green waste box) and I am now up to a large tin of cat food per day.
It doesn't much like the jelly so I try and remove that, and also it has a handful of hedgehog pellets a day too.
I have been wondering why it hasn't hibernated yet and have visions of an obese hedgehog waddling breathlessly through the hedge.
I sat here working a few moments ago and looked out of the window....
There was a fat, male Muntjac deer happily eating the food!
I have heard what I thought was an odd noise, not really a bird, but something similar while it's still been dark in the mornings, so I have an answer to that as well.
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Fri 16 Nov 12 at 12:13
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>> I have been wondering why it hasn't hibernated yet
Probably because some soft s0d is feeding it. Hibernation is for animals who can't find sufficient food during winter. Give them sufficient food and they might not be inclined to hibernate.
I'm no expert though, just talking off the top of my head.
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Your cats will get fleas off the hedghog...
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The deer will get flees from the cats.
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Here we are Alanovic, straight from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society!
>>Hedgehogs under a year old need to be at least 500-600gms in order to have sufficient fat reserves to successfully hibernate. Older hedgehogs will need to be heavier than this. If they are not large enough or well enough to hibernate then they will not. Those seen out late in the year will need extra help to give them a chance to survive. This may just be in the form of extra food being put out in the garden <<
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Fri 16 Nov 12 at 13:49
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Is your hedgehog under 600gms? If so, and it's eating a large tin of cat food per day, that's some appetite! It's eating it's own body weight every day.
:-)
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I suspect it is not the sole consumer...
Does it have other spiny friends or family, or are you perhaps feeding all the neighbourhood wildlife?
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>>are you perhaps feeding all the neighbourhood wildlife?
Mr PDA's tame and is thus spared Pat's culinary skills.
;>)
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>> >>are you perhaps feeding all the neighbourhood wildlife?
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>> Mr PDA's tame and is thus spared Pat's culinary skills.
Dont bother with dinner dear, I shall be home late again, damn traffic.
( phew )
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He's just said that to me...he's queueing to get through the Dartford Tunnel!
I know he's telling the truth, I had a look on the Highways Agency live cameras and saw him in the queue.
Pat
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You'll have gotten him a smartphone soon and enabled Latitude on it!
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>> I suspect it is not the sole consumer...
>>
>> Does it have other spiny friends or family, or are you perhaps feeding all the
>> neighbourhood wildlife?
>>
I suspect Pat has inadvertently attracted a fox, who has stumbled upon an off-guard hedgehog noshing a dish of cat food. Hedgie for mains, whiskas for pud. Yum yum.
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The Muntjack was eating it when I saw it......
Pat
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The Muntjack was eating the hedgehog?
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gawd blimey, that must be like eating a brillo pad.
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Tha cat food silly,eating the hedgehog would make his mouth bleed.
Pat
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>> Tha cat food silly,eating the hedgehog would make his mouth bleed.
>>
>> Pat
You'd think that, wouldn't you, but I used to have a labrador/boxer cross who was utterly adept at killing and shredding hedgehogs. Often was the time I'd have to wander the garden picking up bits of bristle and tiny little organs. The dog never had a mark on its mouth.
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It is odd because tose same Labradors can often carry an egg without breaking it.
Still my favourite dog and I love it when their tails wag in circles!
Pat
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>> It is odd because tose same Labradors can often carry an egg without breaking it.
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>> Still my favourite dog and I love it when their tails wag in circles!
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>> Pat
The egg however will be very very wet
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But Doggy wet kisses are lovely:)
Pat
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Depending on where the dog's snout has been in the preceding 5 minutes Pat!
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Yes........
Thanks for that thought Meldrew:)
Hope the Ospreys come back soon, I miss them and the NTU Falcons.
Pat
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One of mine, a Retriever, doesn't kill them or intentionally harm them, but if it can it will catch one and run around with it in the mouth in a ball. Again seemingly without damage.
The other dog has tried, but frankly he can't walk and bark at the same time, never mind handle a hedgehog.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Fri 16 Nov 12 at 16:34
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That's lovely:)
But it proves cats are nicer than people.
No problems with shape, colour, breed, appearance.....!
Pat
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I thought I read somewhere that hedgehogs aren't supposed to be given cat food ?
Or was it that cats don't like mashed up worms and slugs?
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I don't think anyone told the Hedgehogs. Ones in our garden can sometimes be seen eating the contents of the cat bowl, or the stale contents of the dish that we've thrown across the lawn when putting fresh food out for the cat.
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Hedgehogs really like dog poo and a bit of road-kill. One of nature"s street cleaners. I suspect that's why they often are found near roads.
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I now have another problem!
While trying to squash the whole of my garden into an 8'x6' greenhouse yesterday to keep it over the winter, we found burrows/tunnels under the sides from outside to inside.
They are about 3'' diameter and I can't find any evidence of anything living in there apart from my resident frog.
Any ideas?
Pat
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Ratty +1 !
They think that "Big Cheese" all weather Bait-blocks are to die for! - £~11 for v2 x 36 block packs on Ebay!
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There we have a problem..what about the cats and if they catch a poisoned rat that's slowly dying?
Whatever we do has to be absolutely cat (and frog) proof.
Pat
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Bar stool, torch, shotgun.
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Mark, before your return, I nearly got lynched here for even suggesting that solution to my mole problem...
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>> I nearly got lynched here
I'm here to share the burden....
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Jasper Carrot...yes, that does fit the picture I have of you in my mind Mark!
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Mon 19 Nov 12 at 16:06
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>>that does fit the picture I have of you in my mind Mark!
Check your e-mail.
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>>Check your e-mail.<<
Nothing yet!
Pat
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>> Bar stool, torch, shotgun.
>>
+ greenhouse= ?
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Rat poison will kill a cat. Even eating a poisoned rat can be enough. As long as rats are not entering your house don't worry too much. Stop up the holes and ensure that no food source is available such as seeds, bird food etc. They will find a new home
Rats are part of the ecosystem in the same way hedgehogs are.
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Thanks CG, I had a feeling that may be the situation.
I'm not prepared to risk the cats or other wildlife to get rid of them. There is nothing in the greenhouse other than duttings and plants but it is heated so I suspect that might be the reason they have come in. We did stop up the tunnel with a brick but they may well tunnel under that.
I shall go in there whistling loudly in future:)
Pat
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If you had proper cats, there wouldn't be any rats. Kick the lazy bleeders out and get some worthy of the name "CAT"
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>> If you had proper cats, there wouldn't be any rats.
Wot he said.
We used to get loads of rats around the cul-de-sac I live in (we're near to farm buildings) but since the 4 or 5 stray cats have been around we've not seen any. Even the traps we used to set (covered with a wooden box with hole at each end so only vermin could get in) are now redundant.
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Hang on minute, all three of them are around 16 and 17 years old.
That equates to 119 in human terms...how would you like to be kicked out to run after something at that age?
Pat
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Try lawnmower exhaust down a hoover flex into the burrows. It works well on moles too.
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Will it work with an electric lawnmower?
Pat
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>> Will it work with an electric lawnmower?
>>
>> Pat
If its a rotary one, yes, its a bit like Kermit in a Blender.
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>> >> Will it work with an electric lawnmower?
>> >>
>> >> Pat
>>
>> If its a rotary one, yes, its a bit like Kermit in a Blender.
The original Green issue.
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>>how would you like to be kicked out to run after something at that age?
Ask him in a couple more years.
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>> >>how would you like to be kicked out to run after something at that age?
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>> Ask him in a couple more years.
Ask my wife! Is there a dignitas for cats?
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>>Is there a dignitas for cats?
Apparently so.
www.flickr.com/photos/foilman/4946404012/
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You can see the track left on the roller by the one before.
It's pretty much a production line operation, not much dignity.
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I tried not to think that.....
Pat
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Hey, market demand is market demand.
Nobody will pay for individual service these days.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Tue 20 Nov 12 at 13:31
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"Hang on minute, all three of them are around 16 and 17 years old."
Good ages for cats but they do seem to be living much longer these days. 10 years or so was considered a good innings for a cat at one time but a combination of a better diet vaccinations against common diseases, regularly worming and central heating seems to have done wonders and I know of a couple of cats that are now over twenty.
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>> they do seem to be living much longer these days.
>>
There's a feline pension and care timebomb.
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No hope of them taking a later retirement though.
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>> "Hang on minute, all three of them are around 16 and 17 years old."
>>
>> Good ages for cats but they do seem to be living much longer these days.
>> 10 years or so was considered a good innings for a cat at one time
>> but a combination of a better diet vaccinations against common diseases, regularly worming and central
>> heating seems to have done wonders and I know of a couple of cats that
>> are now over twenty.
>>
We adopted 2 from Cats Protection last month to replace our much missed moggy who was hit by a car earlier in the year. We chose (or rather they chose us !) a 10 1/2 & an 11 1/2 "pair" and I was expecting them to sleep most of the time however it is more like having 2 turbo charged kittens.
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We got a BOGOF deal with ours skip, because they had been to gether all their lives and needed to be kept together.
One day, we'll be able to have a dog too....
Pat
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>> We got a BOGOF deal with ours skip, because they had been to gether all
>> their lives and needed to be kept together.
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>> One day, we'll be able to have a dog too....
>>
>> Pat
>>
The 2 we got had gone in there together and couldn't be separated .
I miss not having a dog, but it would have to be left for 9 hours a day during the week at the moment and that is too long a time to leave a mutt.
Andy
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It certainly is and the reason why we had cats when we were both lorry driving but now I'm here a lot of the time we don't think it's fair to the cats to intruduce a dog to them at this late stage in their lives.
It won't be a puppy, because everyone loves a puppy, it will be a 3 legged, one eyed homeless mutt from the Dogs Trust I suspect!
...with incredibly sad eyes.
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 07:54
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>> It won't be a puppy, because everyone loves a puppy, it will be a 3
>> legged, one eyed homeless mutt from the Dogs Trust I suspect!
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>> ...with incredibly sad eyes.
>>
>> Pat
>>
That's the sort I will get Pat.
We had chosen several pairs of 2-3 year old cats off of the Cats Protection web site to go and look at, but when we got there Jasper who is a 10 year old black male came running to the front of his pen as we walked past wanting to be stroked and every time we tried to walk off kept meowing until we went back and I couldn't leave him there.
Andy
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>> ...with incredibly sad eyes.
Every dog can turn on the incredibly sad eyes at any time they like. Don't fall for that one.
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We have these just a mile os so from us and go down regularly on a wet day ( when no-one else wants to go out) to visit the dogs and cats just to brighten their day up and I know the sad eyes look!
www.rspca.org.uk/inyourarea/petsearch?
Have a look at the dogs at Block Fen.
Pat
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Well the typical large glut of Staffies dumped or taken away from owners who think they are Pitbulls.
Leaves
Ben - the Doberman x. Great confident looking dog.
Albert - the RR. Bit apprehensive is Albert.
Izzy - the Husky. Clearly an absolute nightmare, not for home use.
Heidi - Very nervous dog, a biter.
Bobby the Border collie. They come in two models, he is the mad uncontrollable model that needs to be on a farm herding sheep.
Rocky the GSD. Clearly an absolute nightmare for the average home, big and strong. But much can be done with him, look at those ears and tail sticking up - Keen, Interested, inquisitive, fiercely loyal, young enough to be trained, he would be in the boot of the lancer in an instant.
Narla - feel sorry for her, clearly a great dog with lots of potential, but that hip dysplacia is a real downer.
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Meant to edit
When FiFi goes I shall need another house dog. I would love a pup, so cute, so rewarding. But I cant justify one, when there are dogs around that need a new home.
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>>>Have a look at the dogs at Block Fen.
I did have a look on their website. We know one of the long term staff there and pass the place most months.
So of 19 dogs 11 are staffs and all the rest larger or working type breeds. So not one of them suitable for the average owner or family home.
Of Ben the Doberman cross they comment he will be fine with children of any age as long as they don't mind be knocked down. That is never acceptable.
I have no idea how the RSPCA can try and punt out these troubled animals with ads that try and add an amusing slant to potentially dangerous habits.
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In reality it really isn't like that Fenlander.
You meet the dog, are fully versed about it and fully vetted, before any decision is made.
We certainly were when we had the three cats.
They don't allow dogs to go to unsuitable homes.
Try becoming a dog walker for them, take some food down to donate, blankets, empty ink cartridges.
....in fact anything positive would help.
Pat
Last edited by: pda on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 18:25
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>>>In reality it really isn't like that Fenlander.
Perhaps not but given the great responsibility required when re-homing working/guarding breeds with poor back stories even a small jokey line about kids needing to put up with a doberman cross knocking them down is out of order.
Sadly I'm no fan of the RSPCA and their methods at times. It costs a staggering £10,000 a week to run block fen and I'm not sure that is money well spent.
I think part of the responsibility of keeping an animal is taking on the agonising decision when it is time to go for either health or behavioural issues. I think in the case of the block fen 19 the time is overdue for many.
Battersea dogs home have a good policy in this respect.
Last edited by: Fenlander on Wed 21 Nov 12 at 19:04
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>> Perhaps not but given the great responsibility required when re-homing working/guarding breeds with poor back
>> stories even a small jokey line about kids needing to put up with a doberman
>> cross knocking them down is out of order.
Some dogs are just clumsy, but before you put a downer on all working breeds remember a Labrador retriever is a large working breed.
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>>remember a Labrador retriever is a large working breed.
And my two have been flattening the children since the beginning. Big dogs knock things flying, they just do. Mine can lay waste to a three year old with their tail. Never mind when they shoulder past one.
Both of mine accelerate pretty well, but their brakes are naff and they can't corner. Many a rabbit has saved its own life with a sharp step to one side.
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>> Mine can lay waste to a three year old with their
>> tail. Never mind when they shoulder past one.
There is only one looser when a child is between the labs nose and the food bowl.
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Fair enough re the lab, they are very even tempered compared to the more assertive types on offer for re-homing. And by and large that is why there are far less labs in the pounds.
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>>even a small jokey line about kids needing to put up with a doberman cross knocking them down is out of order.
<<
Absolutely not.
Surely better to warn first time dog owners that this may happen than have the dog brought back, or worse, beaten because it does.
I'm no lover of the RSPCA's policies but for us, it is on our doorstep, the animals are there and very well cared for, and it provides us, as dog walkers, the loan of a dogs company whenever we fancy a walk ( and some sensible conversation!)
The dogs love it, new people, new games to play in the free running area and we thoroughly enjoy it too.
What's not to like about that?
Pat
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Narla worries me, no-one will want her because of the vets bills....
Busy this weekend but may take a wander down next weekend.
Pat
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Depends how bad it is and how debilitating it is. BUT dysplasia is introduced by inbreeding, and inbreeding brings other pitfalls with it, like epilepsy.
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>> I suspect that's why they often are found near roads.
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Not nearly as often as you see badgers.... yet when I was young the sight of the latter was very rare indeed.
Of course, Mr. Brock is also partial to a bit of fresh hedgehog.
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>> That's lovely:)
>>
>> But it proves cats are nicer than people.
People don't creep into my garden, defecate on the vegetables, then buzz off back to their own patch in the early hours of the morning, at least not in my neighbourhood.
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>>People don't creep into my garden, defecate on the vegetables, then buzz off back to their own patch in the early hours of the morning
That's what you think. They're just sneakier about it.
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Hungry Hedgehog - Alanovich
