Question about Hibernation

[Silly_Quilly]

2 times this week my hedgehogs have attempted hibernation. Rosie has a fleece pocket bed but prefers to sleep out in the open with a tp tube on her head. She never used to do this but just started in the past couple of weeks when they moved into their new cage.

Brandy also was tightly balled and wouldn't unball until she warmed up a little. Rosie on the other hand was laying flat (due to being asleep with the tube on her head) and she wouldn't ball up. I could feel that her belly was ice cold.

See, the new cage is quite airy since it's a C&C. I use vinyl flooring as their floors and they are kept bare since they don't make a whole lot of mess.

My heater has been kept turned up. Although that seems to help them some, it is sometimes too warm for me to sleep.

Do you think that by using fleece or vellux liners, plus giving them rags and whatnot to sleep in, will help them to stop attempting hibernation?

The end of their cage has a little section that is full of shredded paper and has a little doorway for them to get into it. If I switch that to a pile of rags they should keep warmer that way i'm guessing.

So, will the liners help? The floors are a little cool since the air can get under them and all through the cage.

Input would be greatly appreciated. I'm really pressed for cash right now because i've been out of work due to an injury.. plus with Christmas... so if I can avoid having to buy heating sources, that would really help me out.

Thanks

[Sassy]

Do you have a heating pad that you could put under the cage?

[Nancy]

Vinyl flooring is very cold no matter how warm the environment is. The only way to get around that is to cover them with a liner and to add a heat source underneath such as a heating pad.

The C&C cages are really nice do nothing to hold heat in and they do not keep out drafts. I think your best bet is some fleece liners and bedding and an electric heater to get the air temperature up. :)

[Ododad]

Are they getting at least 12 hrs of light a day?

[Silly_Quilly]

Sassy, No I dont have a heating pad... and I really dont have the money to buy one or two right now... that is why I was looking for other ways to keep them warm.

Ododad, yes they are. I open my binds in the morning when I wake up and the natural light comes in throughout the day. I have my overhead light on at night for quite a while too. So they are getting plenty of light for sure.

[Nancy]

A heating pad is only good if the environment is already just about warm enough. In an open cage you would have to have the air temperature warm.

A bin style cage would hold in some of the heating pads heat and the air temperature could be a bit cooler but not much.

Really you need to buy a space heater of some sort. Just remember that if they get cold and end up sick you will spend way more at the vets than you would buying a heater. :)

[Ododad]

If you already have some velux, I would cut some blankets up for them. Odo and Marco prefer to burrow into their Aspen shavings under a velux blanket that I cut up for them. When I check under them, where their belly is is always warm. I think that the velux is light and airy for them but also traps in body heat. I just know that both of them always sleep under their velux liners, burrowed into the aspen shavings. Is there any drafts in the room? What air temp. do you usually keep it at? What if you taped some cardboard on the sides of their cages, something to keep out drafts but still let it venalate? (sp?) I know this is not helping you much, I wish I had more experience to help you with. I hope you get it figured out.

[Schmuzzle's Mom]

If I remember about the pics you showed, at least one hog is on the floor. This could be very drafty for them and would contribute to the hibernation attempts. I agree that you need to raise the temp in the whole room to a more agreeable temp. What about raising the temp for them and having a fan blowing on you at night? Or put a hot water bottle filled with cool water in bed with you to keep you cooler but their room warmer?

I totally agree that having them attempt hibernation is not good and could lead to more problems that will cost more than a heating source. What about asking for money or hedgie supplies for yourself for Christmas instead of other things......then everyone is happy, hedgies and all?

Or do what Nancy suggested in keeping them in a tub or sterilite container to keep them warmer. I'm sure they love the new big and airy cage and I know we were all jealous when we saw it, but if it is not working for them then you need to look at other options for their health.

Just a suggestion. Hope you have better luck keeping those kids warm. :)

[Silly_Quilly]

My mom suggested a space heater also. She said they aren't terribly expensive either.

I have taken out the shredded paper from their play area and replaced it with a pile of rags. That should be nice and toasty for them. I also went through our enormous box of rags and pulled out all of the sweatshirt material. I will be starting some patchwork cage liners tomorrow. That should also help.

I have the heat turned up and they have been fine since. I will just have to grin and bear it I guess. It's not really that hot most of the time, just when the sun beams in the window it gets to be a little too warm. When I sleep at night, and during the day I have been putting a towel against the bottom of the door to keep the cooler air from coming in under the door.

Rosie is the one that attempted hibernation the most and she is not the one on the floor. I was kind of surprised by that actually.

I'm about to go to bed now. I will check on them in the morning and see if they're still warm. They've been fine since yesterday morning... so hopefully these changes will keep up for the better:)

Thanks for your help guys. I will be getting a space heater as soon as I can. I know how expensive vet trips can be. I have spent $1000s on my rats in the past 6 years... hopefully the hedgies will be a little easier on the wallet then the ratties have been. LOL

[Hedge_girl]

I'm pretty sure I've seen nifty space heaters with temperature control (set the actual temperature, not an arbitrary "heat" setting) for about $20 at Walmart. I've been considering investing in one as well.