Wierd way to get them to unball...

[birdhouse]

I just bought the guy on Monday, so I expected a lot of balling up and such. Each day I would handle him but he was still unsure and would stay in a ball untill I put him on the ground. Well today when he woke up I took him out of his cage and like clock work he balls up.

I have pine bedding, so some of it is stuck in his quills. I took my dust remover spray (canned air) and lightly sprayed him. He instantly unballed and became social! I don't know if it's the lemon scent to the air or the air in general.

[Tampaquillowner]

I would be careful with spraying him with anything. You dont want him to unball because hes even more frightened of the air than of being handled. It takes a LOT of time for these prickly guys to learn to trust us, and spraying him with air may hinder that bond more than strengthen it.

Also you dont know if there are any chemicals in the air you are spraying (forcefully I might add) in his face. You wouldnt put that thing right up to your eye and spray yourself, so whywould you do it to a hedgie.

Not a good idea at all.

Also I dont believe Pine bedding is very good for hedgies. I think it needs to be kiln dried. I dont use shavings, I use liners. They are much easier to keep clean and I dont get hedgies with shaving all over them.

[Kalandra]

Try gently blowing at their face when they are balled up. If they know you, and trust you it seems to help them realize who has picked them up and that they are ok.

[kaiteedyd]

Please dont do that. Those canned air things have chemicals in them! They have something in it that makes air very VERY cold. If you don't believe me turn the can upside down and spray a coin. The coin will become frosted with ice!

[Tab&Chauncy]

Canned air (my dad works on computers a lot so I am VERY familiar with it) has chemical additives, plus leaves the can at a high velocity so it is VERY cold. If you have ever used one of those cans for a little bit, you will notice that frost builds up on the outside of the can. If you look on the back, it also says not to spray it towards anybody's face (including a hedgie, I assume). I was playing like I was going to spray it in my eye one time, and my dad got pretty upset, so I am sure that it can't be all that good. I find, if I tickle Chauncy's belly, he balls up (because normally, he balls up on my finger!) :)

[Tab&Chauncy]

Sorry, I meant he unballs when I tickle his belly! :|

[Bumblebean]

Yeah, canned air is actually a 'huffer', which is something dumb kids inahle to get high. It can stop their heart and kill them, and I wouldn't doubt it could do the same to a hedgehog. I don't think you said you sprayed it in your babies face, just his quills to get the bedding out, but all the same, try using your own breathe from now on, hm? ;)

[Nancy]

I am so glad to see everyone replying to this. I didn't because I would not have been very polite about it.

[birdhouse]

Well thanks for the replys. I'm not spraying him in the face/eyeballs or turning the can upside down and spraying him, so dont get all upset and teary eyed people (Teasels' mom).

This has made him a more social hedgehog. He no longer balls up when I pick him up, he runs around and isn't scared of loud noises/other people and chirps when he eats his food/explores. Not bad for a week, huh?

insert smiley faces here

[teela1342]

Well thanks for the replys. I'm not spraying him in the face/eyeballs or turning the can upside down and spraying him, so dont get all upset and teary eyed people (Teasels' mom).

This has made him a more social hedgehog. He no longer balls up when I pick him up, he runs around and isn't scared of loud noises/other people and chirps when he eats his food/explores. Not bad for a week, huh?

insert smiley faces here

. . .or he is chirping 'cause he is high from huffing canned fumes. :laugh: