Quill question

[CATELAN1989]

I have a male and female hedgehog, the male hedgehogs quills are really sharp, and the female hedgehog quills are not really sharp
does anybody know why?

[illinidairychic]

how old are your hedgehogs?? The younger hedgehogs generally have sharper quills.

[hemi_mygirl]

The baby quills are much sharper, because they're more vunerable, as compared to adult quills. After their 3 month quilling, the quills won't be nearly so sharp, and you get used to them quickly.

[HamorHollow]

It also depends on how they hold their quills. Hedgehogs have an extremely complex muscular system that allows them to manipulate their quills at will. So if one hedgehog is very relaxed and the other is a little nervous, the nervous one's quills will appear sharper.


There is a little test you can do to find out if one hedgehog's quills are truly sharper then the other:

First you will need to go to the craft store and get a brick of either floral foam or styrofoam. Then collect a few quills from each hedgehog and stick them in the foam (base down, tip in the air). Stick the quills in 2 groups (one for each hedgehog), roughly 30 cm apart. You'll also need a hand mirror, a damp wash cloth, and a large bandaid. Now, place the foam on the floor with the quills pointing up. Take off one shoe and sock, stand up, lift your bare foot directly above the foam, and stomp down as hard as you can! Sit on the floor, and regain your composure. Use the damp cloth to wipe the blood off of your foot (and the surrounding floor). Once your foot has stopped gushing blood, pick up the mirror and admire your wounds. Whichever quills made the deeper gashes are from the sharper hedgehog (you may want to have tweezers handy in case your hedgehog quills need a little help coming out). ;)

[PrettyHate]

There is a little test you can do to find out if one hedgehog's quills are truly sharper then the other:

First you will need to go to the craft store and get a brick of either floral foam or styrofoam. Then collect a few quills from each hedgehog and stick them in the foam (base down, tip in the air). Stick the quills in 2 groups (one for each hedgehog), roughly 30 cm apart. You'll also need a hand mirror, a damp wash cloth, and a large bandaid. Now, place the foam on the floor with the quills pointing up. Take off one shoe and sock, stand up, lift your bare foot directly above the foam, and stomp down as hard as you can! Sit on the floor, and regain your composure. Use the damp cloth to wipe the blood off of your foot (and the surrounding floor). Once your foot has stopped gushing blood, pick up the mirror and admire your wounds. Whichever quills made the deeper gashes are from the sharper hedgehog (you may want to have tweezers handy in case your hedgehog quills need a little help coming out). ;)

That is quite possibly one of the funniest things Ive ever read. :lol:

If anyone decides to give it a go, please post pictures of you before, during and after ;)

[hemi_mygirl]

I did that once. Hemi was quilling. Only, it wasn't my foot...it was my cheek. Since I let her on my bed, she left a few tiny quills in my pillow, and I didn't notice them till I tried to go to sleep. I laid down, and jumped up even quicker. From that night on, I check my pillow carefully.

[Heimii loves Ma]

I'm a new hedgie Granma and I just want to say to all of you I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cookies&Cream_]

i thought u were going some were with that i almst left to get some foam till the end part!!

[HamorHollow]

i thought u were going some were with that i almst left to get some foam till the end part!!

:rofl:

[hedgehog69]

lol, good one hamorhollow, I was reading and was thinking I havent heard anything before about checking for sharpness till I got to the end lol