by Millermeade Farms | Nov 30, 2020 | Activity Levels, Health
Last Updated on November 18, 2021. VIDEO.: hedgehogs sleep a lot Question from a Facebook Post: Hey all my hedgehog friends and family just a quick question for ya I give a lot of my attention to my hedgie but she still sleeps a lot of the time and I feel she’s...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Health, Physical Characteristics
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. In the Wild European hedgehog species hibernate in the wild when the temperature becomes too cold. They spend the warmer months building fat reserves to sustain them through their periods of inactivity. In the wild, African hedgehog...
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by Millermeade Farms | Oct 11, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Keep in mind that hedgehogs are natural hunters. Their instinct is to hold on until what they have bitten is still. Do not attempt to shake off your hedgehog (or other small critters). Regardless of your behavior modification...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Handling
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Understanding Huffing, Puffing, Clicking and Popping When you first pick up your hedgehog, it may have its spines erect, and it may make some defensive noises. Huffing and puffing is a way for a hedgehog to say, “I’m big and bad.” It...
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by Millermeade Farms | Jun 24, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Introduction Most hedgehogs do not bite. But, any animal with teeth has the potential to bite, so hedgehog owners must understand the possibility of getting bitten is always present. Hedgehogs aren’t like dogs, whose bites are usually...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 28, 2013 | Accessories, Bedding, Behavior & Personality, Cages & Accessories, Care
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Litter pans are a great accessory to any cage as it is well worth your effort to try and litter train your hedgehog. A litter-trained hedgehog will save you cage cleaning time, decrease the amount of bedding needed, and increase the...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 25, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Handling, Steps To Handling
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Perceived Signs Your Hedgehog Hates You Snuffles and raises its quills when picked up Is grumpy Runs and hides when lights turn on Runs away when owner tries to hold it Hates to be touched Is startled at every little sound or movement...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 21, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 25, 2022. Hedgehogs Biting Each Other If you have more than one hedgehog and when they are together you notice them biting each other’s quills, this may be a precursor to anointing or a fight. Often, hedgehogs will chew on each other’s quills...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality
Last Updated on September 27, 2024. Naturally Shy and Nervous Hedgehogs are probably the biggest scaredy cats of all animals that breeders have worked with in critter careers. They are easily scared anytime they see, hear, smell, or sense something through their sense...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 21, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 27, 2022. Scent & Taste Hedgehogs are very scent oriented and use their sense of smell to search out food. Sometimes you might smell good enough to eat! If you smell good, and taste good through licking… watch out! Sometimes hedgehogs...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality
Last Updated on August 28, 2022. Hedgehogs do not spray or scent-mark their territory like other animals. Males do not have a stronger odor than females. They can only be physically distinguished from females by the differences in their genitalia. Some male hedgehog...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Dry Skin
Last Updated on August 27, 2022. Bed Head Hedgehogs often scratch a bit when they first wake up or after they are handled. One might compare this scratching to fluffing out a “bed head” hairdo. Hedgehogs’ skin may also feel tight or need to be scratched when their...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 24, 2013 | Behavior & Personality
Last Updated on August 28, 2022. Introduction Self-anointing is probably the strangest and most unexplainable of all hedgehog behaviors. It is completely normal and causes no harm to your hedgehog. Some references refer to self-anointing as “anting”. This term refers...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 27, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Handling
Last Updated on August 27, 2022. Some hedgehogs do not display outward signs of affection, while others can be quite affectionate toward their owners. Hedgehogs do not typically come when called nor actively seek out human interaction. They are NOT like cats and dogs,...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 15, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Hedgehogs As Pets
Last Updated on August 27, 2022. Misconceptions Hedgehogs are not like dogs or cats. However, many people purchase hedgehogs expecting them to behave like common household pets. Do not expect your hedgehog to come when called, learn tricks (or at least not ones that...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 25, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Handling, Steps To Handling
Last Updated on August 23, 2022. The Key to Uncurling The key to getting your hedgehog to uncurl is getting them to relax. When hedgehogs are scared or nervous their primary form of defense, or protection, is to ball up and “hide”. Most hedgehogs won’t uncurl until...
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by Millermeade Farms | Jun 7, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Communication
Last Updated on August 21, 2022. Hedgehogs use a wide range of sounds to communicate. Listen carefully and observe your hedgehog’s behavior to clearly understand what your pet is trying to communicate. Some hedgehog vocalizations can be described with more than one...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 21, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 23, 2022. There are several ways to prevent biting. This knowledge will help prevent any chances of your hedgehog biting. Hand Washing Always wash your hands and rinse them well before handling your hedgehog. Some soap may smell nice to your...
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by Millermeade Farms | May 21, 2013 | Behavior & Personality, Biting, Biting Behavior, Handling
Last Updated on August 22, 2022. What to Do If You are Bitten Don’t Panic. Most are just tiny little “nips” that feel like pinches, and there is not much to be done other than figuring out why you were bitten and how to prevent it in the future. Review our article...
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