biting

[barton]

do they go through a teething, quilling phase that may make them bite. shes 2.5 months old. shes bites quite a bit. any thoughts?

thanks

[paris26]

I would imagine they go through a teething stage. Is she biting you after you touch something that might smell good to her? What are you trying to redirect the behavior?

[barton]

It seems like she bites when she is hungry...going bathroom...and when there are sounds or movements that i guess startle her, (which means she is biting almost all the time!) i have thought about the smells on my hands but i dont think that is it because i have made efforts to make srue there isnt a smell that is making her do it. its weird if she is on my lap and i try to cuddle her its not going to happen but if i get her in my hands and onto her side and if i start to rub her face then she calms down (she was undernoirished and i had to hand feed her this is the way i would hold her to do it and i would rub her head to stimulate her to eat). and sometimes i find that walking with her in my hands works... i really am hoping this is a phase i have made sure not to put her back when she does it because i dont want her to think that biting= getting what she wants. i really hope this is a phase her mom never did anything like this but when her dad was around her age he did go through a biting phase except that he would more bite at clothes or blankets when he was trying to cuddle in and she just outright bites my hands...clothes...everything. her father stopped doing it after awhile and once he was older i NEVER had any biting incidents what so ever.
She was the runt of the litter like she was days behind the other babies...i dont know if that is relevant or not??? im just thinking of all possibilites She started doing this behavior around the same time that she appeared to be quilling but i dont notice her losing as many quills as she did before so i am not sure if she is done now...
Okay that is it sorry this is soo long this has just been really upsetting me i have been losing sleep over it because i am worried about whether she is going to have a bad personality...i just dont understand how she can go from sleeping on her side in my hands getting tummy rubs to chomping my hand off the next time i try to touch her...

[paris26]

Hopefully this is just a phase because she is so young Maybe she's just an easily stimulated hedgehog?

[barton]

Her and mom where sharing a 4 story cage (roughly 8 square ft) but i thought that maybe living together was hurting her personality...its a stretch but even though gwen is super sweet and gentle if her or the baby both wanted something gwen would win hands down cause she is more than twice her size. i blocked off the middle ramp and they are in separate sections now...i also have been giving baby oatmeal baths...
do you think living with a roomate could of affected her personality??

[AlisaD]

I wouldn't think that the baby biting would be from a room mate effect. I couldn't be certain though, at least I've never heard of it. My Reiko bites (He's never bit, nibbles or nips) when I've got something he likes on my hands. It's like ooohh mommy gimme a bite!!! ;)

He has never bit under any other circumstance, then again he's the only hedgie right now too!!!

Good Luck

Alisa

[Nancy]

How long ago did you separate her and mom and did the biting start after that. As long as mom wasn't hurting her, biting her or was tired of having her around, being the runt she might have needed a bit of one on one with mom. As long as there was 2 of everything, wheels, beds, dishes etc they should have been fine.

At 10 weeks old the chances of her being totally done quilling is remote so it may have something to do with that.

I find many of them go through a touchy stage at around 4 months. Teenage attitude is what describes it the best. :)

[Steph]

When she bites you, puff air in her face and say NO sharply. Don't put her down until she's stopped. Some hedgies will bite as a way to get what they want, e.g. if she wants down and she bites she thinks you'll put her down. If you give in she will continue to do so... It hurts like heck but you have to take the bite and make sure she knows it's not acceptable.

I agree with Nancy, 4 months is touchy and it can make or break the personality of a hedgehog permanently. You have to be loving but firm in that time frame and not give in to her tantrums...

[barton]

hey all thanks for the advice. the biting started around the same time i noticed her to be losing lost of quills she has lived with her mom the entire time and they had two of everything though they only used one bed and one wheel from the looks of things. i separated them last night and put some aveeno baby cream on her today i took her out and she did not bite at all which is a huge change! she cuddled up and layed on her back for tummy tickles. so i guessi still dont know the cause but so long as it stops i will be happy in the mean time i am careful not to touch her quills incase they are uncomfortable and was only rubbing her head and tummy...so far so good. she was so comfy that when i put her back she laid down to sleep out in the open and then rolled on her side to clean her feet...too cute... tongiht she seems more like the piggy she was when she was younger!