Weaning babies

[wyvernrider18]

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There's a baby hedgehog on my college campus that I'm planning on adopting. She's not weaned yet and she just got her yes open more than a week ago. I was wondering what age I should start indroducing solids into her diet and what should i use? Any advice would be helpful.

[Nancy]

Around 4 weeks grind up some of the same kibble mom is eating. Add a bit of water to it so it is a mush. Put it in a shallow easy to reach dish. Once the baby has been eating it for 3-4 days you can leave the pieces a bit larger but still moistened. What I then do is add both moistened kibble and dry kibble that has been broken into smaller pieces. Usually most of the babies will be eating the small dry kibble between 5-6 weeks. I keep them on the small pieces for another few weeks and and then start offering regular sized until I see them eating it normally. :)

[wyvernrider18]

Thanks. Is it okay if i used kitten chow for the baby? They have the mom on a brand of hedgie food that I don't particularly care for. Perhaps i could mix them together?

[illinidairychic]

I tend to give my weanlings a mix that includes kitten chow for the added nutrients. I do work it out of their diet since it's not the best to give them food with that much fat in it when they reach adult ages. Good luck :)

[Nancy]

Oh, I did forget to mention, I use a bit Royal Canin kitten in the mix for mom from 2 weeks prior to delivery on and increase the amount of it in the mix for the babies. I find when the babies go onto the same food that mom has been eating there is no adverse poop reaction. As Sarah says, kitten food does need to be worked out of their diet. Depending on the size of the baby I take them off it anywhere from 10 weeks to 16 weeks. :)

[wyvernrider18]

Thanks guys. I'll probably start her on Purina One kitten chow because my cats eat Purina One brand food, plus it uses real meat in it, so that's a plus. That way I won't have to buy a bunch of differnet foods for different pets. About when should she start teething? That way I can be prepared and not be discouraged should she bite me.

[illinidairychic]

I've noticed it happening around three weeks of age. Trust me you will know when she has some chompers!! I use purina kitten chow and I've never had any problems with it. :)

[wyvernrider18]

She's getting her teeth in now. She gave me a nice healthy bite today and it wasn't just gums. Any suggestions for toys she should chew on?

[illinidairychic]

I've heard you could give them those rubber gnaw bones for dogs but usually they just prefer fingers :)

[wyvernrider18]

The school has a piece of wood in the cage with the mom and baby, but I would think that wood would be too hard on her little hedgie teeth.