Can you hold hedgehogs

Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. This is not a bad idea but it is not always necessary in many cases. We believe that if your hedgehog is not showing signs of stress it is o.

This allows the bonding process to start immediately with your new pet. Time of Day You will find that your hedgehog will be more receptive to handling at different times of the day. We typically handle our hedgehogs in the morning because that is when it is most convenient for us and for our customers when they come to select their new pet. Giving your hedgie a chance to wake up is a key to daytime handling success.

I know that when I have to wake up extra early to go to work or another early morning activity it takes me a little while to clear the sleepiness and get moving. Sometimes we except hedgehogs to wake up and be active when really they need some time to get their bearings too! Most hedgehogs are receptive to handling in the evening because this is the time they naturally start to wake up and become active on their own.

Hedgehogs can slowly adjust to your lifestyle over time and with a little patience. Gradually feed and play with your hedgehog earlier and earlier in the day. Eventually, your hedgehog will get used to eating and being more active during the day. Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously.

This result is from food going through the hedgehog too fast and you are seeing green bile. It is important to move steadily and confidently. How you handle your hedgehog will determine how much they prick you. Compare picking up a hedgehog to a nurse giving you a shot. Steady and confident are what you want in a nurse. When you move fast and jerky your hedgehog may feel you are attacking it.

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight but they can detect movement very well. When you hesitate or jerk your hands away from the hedgehog when picking it up, it will sense that you are scared, and in return it will flinch and huff because it will become scared.

The more confidence you have with your hedgehog, the more secure the hedgehog will feel with you. Hedgehogs will learn how to respond when they are picked up. Many times but not always a scared, nervous hedgehog has learned to respond that way when picked up.

Technique Use both hands to scoop your hedgehog up from underneath. Try to distribute the weight of the hedgehog over your hands.

The more even the pressure of the spines the less it will hurt. A good comparison is when a performer walks on nails. Some people prefer to use the sides of their hands to scoop the hedgie and other people use their fingers to slip under the belly.

You can scoop the hedgie up with bedding for cushioning. Soft fluffy bedding such as Care Fresh work well for cushioning It is natural for the hedgie to ball up when you are picking it up but as it becomes more comfortable it should begin to uncurl.

Once your hedgehog becomes comfortable with you it may only ball up a little or it may not ball up at all. Do your best to avoid provoking your hedgie to huff and puff. You can actually teach your hedgehog to react this way when you pick it up. Additionally, talk to it as much as possible to get it used to the sound of your voice. However, don't ever rush this process—wait until it's very comfortable with you!

Method 2. Wash your hands with warm water and an unscented soap. Apply unscented soap to your hands, then scrub them under warm water for at least 30 seconds. Rinse your hands clean, then pat them dry on a clean towel.

Use an unscented soap to help your hedgehog get used to your smell. Let your hedgehog sniff your hand before you pick it up. Your hedgehog will recognize you by your smell, so make sure it sniffs your hand.

Slowly extend your hand toward your hedgehog while talking to it in a calm voice. Then, stop when you get about 2 to 3 inches 5. Don't be nervous! Hedgehogs are great at sensing fear, and if you're scared and nervous, it will be scared and nervous, too.

Use both hands to scoop your hedgehog up from underneath. Avoid its quills and make sure all you feel is its fur. Try to keep your hedgehog's weight evenly distributed over your hands to minimize the pressure of its spines. Think of yourself as a performer walking on nails—instead of walking on one nail at a time, you need to distribute your weight across as many nails as you can.

There are 2 ways to pick up a hedgehog. As 1 option, slide your fingers under your hedgehog's belly, then lift it up. Alternatively, scoop up your hedgehog by sliding your hands sideways under your pet. Press the sides of your hands together, then lift your hedgehog. If you're having trouble picking your hedgehog up, use the side of its cage to roll it into your hands. Don't let your fingers meet in the middle of your hedgehog's belly or you'll get pricked if it rolls into a ball.

Lift up your hedgehog with both hands in a single, quick motion. Think of it like pulling off a Band-Aid. The quicker you lift your pet, the less likely it will be to prick you. Be confident as you swiftly lift your hedgehog in your hands. Keep calm and give your hedgehog time to relax. After picking up your hedgehog, remain still and let it do what it wants. If it rolls into a ball, don't worry—be patient and wait for it to calm down.

After a few minutes, it should unroll and start to sniff you and might even try to explore you. Some hedgehogs have been well socialized or have better temperaments, and they should unroll pretty quickly.

However, some are not so great and require more time. Keep your hands flat and let it wake up and get used to everything. Once its quills are down and it's looking around and sniffing, it's comfortable. Method 3. Hold your hedgehog out from your body while you carry it. If it's comfortable enough with you, scratch your hedgehog between its quills with your free hand. Use your palms to support your hedgehog at all times.

Start walking with your hedgehog and keep your palms underneath it to support them. If your hedgehog is a bit jumpy, hold it in the palm of one hand and place the other palm behind it—facing its head—just in case it tries to get away. Carry your hedgehog for at least 30 minutes daily to bond with it. Holding your pet daily let's you bond more quickly. It's helpful to break this up into a minute morning session and a minute evening session. If your hedgehog displays any, put them down.

Method 4. Bring the exact food you give it at home, and pack a bottle of water from your home tap, if possible. Additionally, bring its normal bedding and a few toys. Put your hedgehog in a pet carrier lined with a soft towel or blanket. This will keep it comfortable and warm.

Fold up the towel or blanket. Then, spread it along the bottom of the carrier. Additionally, put hand warmers or a hot water bottle under the blankets and cover the cage with a blanket to keep in the warmth.

They will start to uncurl to get the food. This method works very well when they get grumpy because they are disturbed from their sleep either for bonding session or by accident.

To find out more about the types of treats you can use to entice your hedgehog, visit our hedgehog diet guide here. Step 2: Tilt them slightly head facing down to pique their interest in where they are going. This method also works very well when with food. Just simply place some food at the end of their destination within distance close enough for them to see it. Lastly, if you find that your hedgehog is hissing or huffing, this method works really great for them too. Sometimes just by picking them up to trigger their curiosity is enough to stop their hissing.

Another way to get them to uncurl is to give them a good nice warm bath. It helps them relax and uncurl. You can fill the sink with some warm water, shallow enough for them to walk on and let them play happily in the warm water. Then using a cup and gently pour warm water over them. Water may get stuck in their lungs. You can also use a soft scrubbing brush to gently scrub along their quills and feet.

Bath time is also a great opportunity to bond and snuggle after a bath when they are calm and relaxed. To see a full step by step guide to bathing, check out our bathing and grooming guide here.

With these methods, you should be ready to handle your hedgehog. Understand that it requires practice and time to get them used to you. I will also encourage you to use your bare hands for handling. Yes, you will get pricked often but it really helps hedgehog to get used to your scent and touch very quickly. That said, apart from handling your hedgehog, you will need to learn how to bond and tame them so that they are less likely to throw tantrums at you.

As hedgehogs have bad eyesight, their sense of smell and hearing is excellent. They will be able to recognize you if you spend enough time bonding with them. There are many ways to get them used to your scent. Hence, handling them barehanded is one great way to get them used to your scent.

Always speak to them. Allow them to always hear your voice. Especially during feeding baths, snuggle, bonding time. Condition them to hear your voice every time they are feeling good.

This way they will associate your voice with pleasure. Now that you know how they are able to recognize you, there are a few methods to bond with them. I will start off with the simplest and most effective method. Using a t-shirt you wore for a day or 2, place it in the cage or hang it over the cage. This should get them used to your scent in no time. You can also sleep on fresh clean fleece for 1 night before changing them into the cage using it as their bedding.

Just make sure they are still clean though. Just like how you snuggle a baby, you can snuggle with your hedgehog too! Despite their spiky spines. You simply lay them on your lap while watching tv or when you are using your computer.