Yes, you should put bedding inside a hedgehog house, ideally dry leaves, straw, or hay, to give them a comfortable, warm nesting material to build their own nest with; just ensure no food is placed inside the nesting box, as that attracts predators, but you can offer food and water in a separate, protected feeding station nearby.
Make your hedgehog home
Whether you make your own or buy one, fill the chamber of your hedgehog home with a layer of dead, dry leaves.
Hedgehogs will make their own nests from materials in the surrounding environment so the best thing to do is ensure there are plenty of leaves near to the box. You can also put bedding inside the box to give them a head start, such as leaves, straw or hay.
Hedgehogs will not usually eat and sleep in the same place so it's best not to offer food inside the home (except perhaps to tempt them in initially).
81% of survey respondents found that hedgehogs used their artificial houses for summer day nesting. 59% reported use for hibernation. And crucially, 28% confirmed usage for breeding.
As well as tunnelling in soil, they can also set up home beneath decking, in compost heaps, sheds and greenhouses. Habitats intended for other occupants may also become home to rats, hedgehog houses are one example.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals in the wild, so they may be shy and wary of people. Building trust with a pet hedgehog takes time, patience, and a gentle approach. If you get a hedgehog when it's young and slowly acclimate it to being handled, they can be playful, but they may never become cuddly.
Only solid bottom cages are suitable for hedgehogs, any wire bottom cages could trap their legs or rip off toenails. Provide a soft bedding free of dust, such as recycled paper pellets or if you use wood shavings use only kiln dried pine or aspen. Do not use cedar shavings as they could irritate your hedgehog's lungs.
If your hedgehogs come to feed regularly in the early evening (which many do) think about putting out the food as they arrive and staying to watch them feed. Hedgehogs won't mind a quiet human but rats will be much less keen. Then clean up when the hogs are finished. Try cat food.
It's a good idea to put out food for hedgehogs all year round. In spring, it will be a boost for those emerging from hibernation, while in late summer and autumn it will help them build up those all-important fat reserves to survive the colder months.
Hedgehogs prefer quiet corners away from human or pet activity. South or west-facing: Position the house so that it faces south or west, where it can receive sunlight during the day, but ensure it's shaded during the hottest parts of the day.
I have switched to soft barley straw as I have seen this recommended by more hedgehog rescues. It is important to point out that other straws are far too spiky and hard. This can injure our UK hogs. Hay, on the other hand, is softer and preferred by others, but it can quickly go damp and mouldy in our wet winters.
Bedding / Cage Liners
Choose safe, absorbent, and easy-to-clean bedding. Carefresh Complete Bedding or a Fleece Tray Liner are both excellent options. Avoid loose threads or unsafe materials that can tangle around toes.
This decline is partly due to a loss of natural habitat, which provides both shelter and food for hedgehogs. Fencing, pesticides, garden hazards (like ponds, strimmers and netting) and development and construction also have an impact. And of course, cars are a major threat to hedgehogs, killing thousands each year.
Best Toys for Hedgehogs
Keep your hedgehog house a safe and cosy place for hedgehogs by: Topping up the old leaves by the entrance every once in a while. Only cleaning it in October – after hoglets have left, but before hedgehogs hibernate.
Our observations show that nesting Mums often leave their young ones to rest elsewhere. That rest is often through the first and last part of the night but can also be in the day time. Routinely we expect to see hedgehogs come out in the evening around 9.30pm and go back to bed by 5am.
Just like any other pet, hedgehogs love treats. Waxworms are a favorite with these guys. You can also offer Hedgie some cooked chicken, turkey, or egg. Low fat/high protein wet cat or dog food is also fine, as is the occasional pinky mouse.
What not to feed hedgehogs The following foods should be avoided when feeding hedgehogs:-
Adult Hedgehog Looking Busy - Leave Alone
And nursing mothers may take a break from the nest during the day to go and look for food and water. So, if you see a decent-sized adult out and about looking busy during the day it is probably fine and you should leave it to go about its business.
You could also, only leave food out for the hedgehogs whilst you are around to watch. That way you can scare the rats away from the food. (rats are much more sensitive to movement than hogs are, so it's easier than it sounds).
For a hedgehog house in your garden, choose natural nesting materials like leaves, hay or straw. If you are looking for bedding for an indoor hedgehog care box, hay and straw are still fine, but you could also use other small animal bedding, like wood shaving bedding of fleece.
Although hedgehogs do bite, their tiny teeth are unlikely to cause you very much pain. The force of a hedgehog bite is typically linked to what your pet is feeling. An angry hedgehog could cause a bite that hurts a bit.
Hedgehogs can make an ideal companion for someone who is looking for a low-maintenance yet entertaining house pet. Typically, hedgehogs only need to see the vet once a year for a check-up, which helps save you time and money on vet visits.
Hedgehogs will generally try to run away from people or if shocked will curl up in to a spiky ball. They have sharp needles all over their backs which can penetrate the skin. It will often itch if a needle does and may cause a rash.