Another one of my Few questions! :(

[Cookies&Cream_]

OK and question time

1.ok when i hold her she will sometimes make like a farting noise
Normal or should i be scared?

2. Is L'Avian Plus Gourmet Hedgehog Diet good for my hedgie

3. Whats better Chips or fabric bedding?

4. Why does my hedgie get in to so many things, and go back when i drag her away?


Love always,

Jennifer Marie and Cookies and Cream

[hemi_mygirl]

1. Do you mean a hiss or huff? Or maybe even a click? Perfectly normal. She's trying to intimidate you and make you run away.

2. Any formulated hedgehog food isn't really good for hedgehogs. I know, ironic. You'd be better off using a high-quality cat food. There are numerous threads about it in the nutrition section.

3. It's a personal preference. I prefer cage liners (fabric) because it poses little to no risk of mite infestation. In the long run, they're also cheaper than shavings. I found that Hemi had a bit of allergy to wood shavings, so liners were a must for that reason, and I've never looked back. Shavings are also pretty messy and can get dusty. Yet, some people swear by kiln-dried pine or aspen bedding, since it cuts down on odor. As you know, cedar shavings are a no-no, as is pine bedding that isn't kiln-dried. Basically, it's your choice what you want to put your hedgie on. If you don't mind vacuuming everyday, shavings are fine. But if you're lazy like me, or hate vacuuming, liners will be your best friend.

4. They're curious animals. Think of them as children - you tell them "no", and they'll keep trying until they figure out exactly why you tell them no. I find the best thing to do is distract Hemi when she gets it into her mind that she wants to explore under my bed. I just move her to a totally different area, or give her a new toy to play with.

[PrettyHate]

Beat me to it :)

[Cookies&Cream_]

1. i mean like a squeek
2. we can not give it diffren tor it will not eat :"(
3. Fabric $COSTS$ more!!!
4.Trust me if i didnt stop her we would have a dead hedgie and she shows no interest to toys :(

[PrettyHate]

I would highly suggest trying to get your hedgie onto a mixture of better foods- even if you have to include that on in the mixture, some high quality stuff would be better than none.

http://www.ddcommodities.com/LAP/detail.asp?Product_ID=22

Sometimes it takes a while to get them onto another food. At anyrate new kibbles should be introduced slowly.

Week 1 - 1/4 new kibble, 3/4 old
Week 2 - 1/2 new, 1/2 old
Week 3 - 3/4 new, 1/4 old
Week 4 all new.

Sudden changes can result in upset tummies and hunger strikes.

Good thread about hedgie food etc- http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92986

Fabric does cost more initially, but after that there is no cost. Just make sure that if you choose to use shavings they are either kiln dried pine or aspen. NOT CEDAR.

[hedgiesrluvd]

1. i mean like a squeek
2. we can not give it diffren tor it will not eat :"(
3. Fabric $COSTS$ more!!!
4.Trust me if i didnt stop her we would have a dead hedgie and she shows no interest to toys :(

Hmm... I'll try to answer some questions, though I'm still kinda new to hedgies myself.

1) Squeaks are normal. Ci Wei (my hedgie) does them on occasion, and for some reason it seems the older he gets the more often he does it. But I'm not worried, I just think it's cute! :hearts:

2) The reason your hedgie may not eat different foods is that she's not used to them. Perhaps you could get one of the high quality cat foods and mix in just a little bit of that with her regular food, then slowly increase the amount of cat food while decreasing the other. If your hedgie gets hungry enough, she will eat whatever food is there. Also, try sprinkling some Grape Nuts cereal (just a little) over your hedgie's food for added nutrition, and hand-feeding special treats (grapes, apple pieces, or mealworms (not too many)). This will get your hedgie used to a variety of foods so she's not so picky about what she will eat.

3) True, fabric costs when you first buy it, but it lasts longer. I went to Wal-mart and bought 4 ft (however many yards that is...) of fleece fabric, then sat with scissors and made a large play blankie, an extra cage liner (one came with the cage I bought), several smaller blankies for Ci Wei to burrow under, and a few small pieces of lining for his hedgiebag, etc. All of that cost me just under $8, plus a half hour or so to get the pieces cut the way I wanted them. Now Ci Wei has two liners (I think I'll make a third, though), and while one is in use I wash the other one. They last quite awhile. Just make sure you get a cloth that won't unravel with use, or that you make sure any loose strings are immediately removed so your hedgie doesn't get caught up in them, as this could cut off circulation in one of her legs.

4) If your hedgie is exploring areas she shouldn't, perhaps you could get her a playpen area and set it up in a safe spot. Or "hedgie proof" a room so she can't get hurt. If those things don't work, you may have to just keep her on your lap or in a hedgiebag on her more active days (Ci Wei has days where he doesn't mind sleeping on me, and others where he's just "go, go, go").

Hope that helps. Perhaps some of the more experienced hedgie owners can add more to what I've written, or correct me if I'm wrong. Let us know if you have any more questions, and we'll do what we can to answer them. God bless.

-Brooke

[hedgiesrluvd]

Sometimes it takes a while to get them onto another food. At anyrate new kibbles should be introduced slowly.

It seems someone has already added more. :winkgrin: Thanks for the additional info. This place is great.

:ring:

[PrettyHate]

Welcome :)

[CATELAN1989]

[QUOTE=Cookies&Cream_]OK and question time

3. Whats better Chips or fabric bedding?
I just had somthing to say about bedding, you might want to try several different types of bedding before you choes one to use. I first used pine bedding, and my family was always telling me it stunk in my room. sooooooooo I got carefresh bedding and it workd better for me.
so look around and try different things, and se what works best for you. :ring: :high5:

[Cookies&Cream_]

the whole try diffrent ffood thing shes ok with treaks she loves scrambled eggs but we agree that she should only get the reallt really expencive hedgehog food not cheap cat food