Helping hoglet customers

[ChinsRI]

I recenly had my second litter of hoglets, and have really enjoyed the whole process of handling them and watching them grow. They are just turning 4wks. 3 of them are extremely friendly like their parents, and often don't even ball up when I pick them up. I have also learned they seem less likely to ball up when I pick them up with one hand from the top instead of scooping them up like I do the adults. Anyway, one of the hoglets is much less friendly. He doesn't even seem interested in annointing. He just balls up, hisses at me, and the best I get is that he puts all but his visor quills down and sits quietly. How do I guide a new owner without scaring them away from buying him? If he is handled regularly, will be become more friendly (all mine have been friendly from the day I adopted them)? Also, I find new owners get discouraged by the constant poop and pee when they try to handle their new pets. Is it sometimes better to just handle/interact with the hoglet in the cage, lined box, laundry basket or other container that is easier to clean up than your pants? Lastly, do you find hoglets will bite new owners more if they are in a hedgiebag and you stick your hand in so that mostly just your fingers are temptingly exposed?

Sorry for all the questions. I am doing great with my wonderful little friends, but want to be sure my new owners have as good an experience as they can also.

[Nancy]

Some hoglets are just more touchy regardless of how much you handle them. I've had litters that one will just be overly sensitive even though it gets as much or more handling than the others. The only thing you can tell new owners is to handle, handle, handle the baby and do it in a calm relaxed environment until s/he gets more comfortable.

Anyone worried about the poop or pee should just put on old clothes or a smock or housecoat or even just a cloth that covers their clothes. The baby needs to have the human interaction to get friendly. I warn all new owners that they are going to get pee'd and poo'd on by the baby and to expect it and be prepared. It is just part of hedgie ownership and if they have a serious issue with it then they should rethink owning a hedgehog.

I don't find they bite reaching into a hedgie bag. I think if hedgie is going to bite it will bite regardless of the circumstances. Of course if your fingers smell yummy then a bit is possible. :)

[illinidairychic]

I just had a litter of 4 complete MONSTERS! I couldn't understand what was wrong with them. One day they are happy as a clam and the next I have 4 little sea urchins. Well come to find out they seem super sensitive to quilling, Since the days they were happy they didn't seem to have quills coming in and the days that they were grumps I could find at least a couple poking through. They are fabulous on their non quill days but brats when they are quilling. I tend to sell new owners slightly older hoglets that are closer to 3 months old so they don't have to deal with that baby to adolecent quill age. They are much more laid back in my opinion and that way the owner won't get discouraged by the moodiness. If it someone that's had hedgehogs before or I know them and know they will understand I will sell younger.

As far as pooping and peeing. Tell them to wake the hedgehog up a bit before getting ready to play with them. That allows them to move around for a bit and get some of that out of their system at least eliminating one potty break while playing. Or they could get a play pen and keep it close to them so when the hedgie looks like he's doing the tail lift number it can be put in the play pen, do his business and then back to snuggling.

[ChinsRI]

You know, I like your idea about waiting to place them in homes until they are older. I may consider trying that with the next litter I have. I was traumatized when a hoglet from my last litter was brought back. Everyone in the household had been afraid of him, and he had been encouraged to pop and push his quills into you because they thought it was funny. When it wasn't fun any more they sent him back to me. :S

Since I have people coming over this weekend to look at the hoglets, and they have different temperments, I have a feeling that people will want to pick which one they would prefer to adopt. Does anyone use anything in particular to identify hoglets in the same litter? I think I have heard that nontoxic paints are ok? Like poster paints?

[Nancy]

I use those childrens paints that come in the little tubs that are joined together in a strip. They wash off in a couple of baths and are non-toxic. :)