How much to feed?

[steeljd]

Hi everyone!
I'm a newbie so please bear with me if this is a question that has already been answered!!!
About how much do you feed your hedgehogs? Mine is still a baby (born June 30th)
I tend to just put a cup or so in his bowl and it usually takes him a couple nites to finish it. So I was kind of wondering about a measured amount...it must be the chemist in me!!!!
Thanks!!!!
Steeljd

[paris26]

Hi there~
I feed all of my hogs in 1/8 cup increments (~2 tablespoons per hog) Most of my hogs have a few kibbles left in the morning so I know that I'm not overfeeding and food isn't getting wasted.
Every hog is different

[Nancy]

I free feed and give probably about 1/4 cup per night. Some get a bit more. I always make sure I give enough that they don't run out but that there isn't a huge amount left in the bowl. I keep the bowl at the same amount and dump everything every 3rd night and give a clean bowl and fresh food.
:)

[tijya]

I free feed as well, and tend to put in more than what I think she will eat. I like to be sure she won't run out, as some days she seems to eat more than others.

[razzle]

I always keep a bowl of kibble & water at all times for Razzle. I don't measure the food, but put a small "scoop" in every night...if I were to measure it, I'd say it's probably 1/3 cup? The food & water gets renewed every night no matter what is left. And there is always food left, so quite a bit gets wasted. :S Still haven't figured out the appropriate amount to minimize waste! But in addition to the kibble are treats, and of course, those get gobbled up first!

[tijya]

Ya, it doesn't take long for the treats to disappear!

[yourmine]

After many days of counting kibble and keeping a close eye on my 2 hedgies (I know, WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much free time!) I determined that mine are just too tired (or lazy) to get up durring the day to eat. So, I stopped leaving kibble down for them durring the day. Each night, mine get aprox. 2 tbsp. of kibble (a mix of 3-4 different cat foods) a small (dime sized) piece of scrambled egg, and a treat food (like 1/2 tsp. of non-fat cottage cheese, a couple of peas, or some other veggie they like). Zeek also gets 2-3 small meal worms each day. (Zoe seems to be anti-bug and we've yet to find an appropriate treat for her.)

P.S.- There is generally still some kibble left in the bowl when I wake up, so I toss it. If my little ones seem to decide they don't want to eat kibble and only eat the treats (which they do occasionally) I stop giving them everything but the kibble untill we have established a heathy eating pattern again.

[tijya]

I find as well that Jyra doesn't each anything during the day, but I leave it out. There are days/evenings that she gets up earlier than others, and we may not be home for it...so this way I know she has food if she wants it. And really, its less work for me to go in and take it out. I put in more than what I know she will eat because she is a growing girl, and the amount changes everday. Some more some less. It's just easier to put in extra and not bother with it.

[steeljd]

Thanks for all the responses guys!!!
Hmmm...sounds about right..He always seems to eat a little and then have some left. I've not tried a lot of treats yet...(HATE going to the grocery store so I've been putting off going! )
He does scarf up his crickets !! He ate part of a mealworm the first time he got those and thenran around awhile before coming back to eat the rest of them!! I don't think he cares for hardboiled eggs much...he self annointed over the first banana I gave him!!!
I was worried about the correct amount I guess becasue I don't want him to get overweight...I'm used to my Male Black Lab, Steeler...he will scarf up food all day if you keep giving it to him!!! He's a little piggy! Weighs 96 pounds but the vet says he's not fat!!!
Crazy animals!!!
Thanks again for all the replies guys!!! I really enjoy this forum!!!
Jennifer

[steeljd]

WOW Teasels mom and Paris26!!! You guys have LOTS of chins and hedgies!!! Where on earth do you keep them all? I'm considering getting a chin...need to read all the info here about them!!
I actually found this site because I wanted a chin and then fell in love with the hedgies too!!! Just happened that the breeder of the hedgie got back to me before the chin breeeder did!!!
My boyfriend thinks I'm a little loopy for wanting all these pets (also have two black labs and two bettas)
Can't get enough though!!!