The Hoggery

27/01/2025

If you ever wonder whether you have a hedgehog visiting your garden, here's an example of healthy poo from an adult hedgehog - with a peg to give an idea of scale.

26/01/2025

COMPETITION TIME!

Draw us a hedgehog! It can be life like, funny, cute, quirky or absolutely ridiculous! There are two categories:
age 14 and under
&
age 15 and over.

The winners in each category will receive a prize and we will share some of our favourites on our social media too.

Entries can be on paper, photographed and sent to us or created digitally using procreate or other similar apps. Please NO AI entries.

Send entries to the the page messenger and the closing date is two weeks today at 6pm.

Good luck!!!

25/01/2025

Remember little Vogue who was found in Carrs Pasties in Great Lever? She was only tiny then. Just look at her now. 747g and thriving ❤️

24/01/2025

Oh Spencer I think you’ve enough straw there!!!

23/01/2025

Gretal is still fighting. I must admit on Tuesday night I was very worried. She was colder and very lethargic and wouldn’t take any food from me at all. I thought she was going. But on Wednesday she picked up again!
This is her eating on her own for the first time in over a week, I’ve been syringe feeding several times every day and giving constant fluids too. She actually got up four times for biscuits and water whilst I bathed the ringworm hogs yesterday afternoon. This morning she has had a good weight gain and is back over 300g, she had dropped to 248 at one point. I checked her p**p last night and there are only a handful of eggs now which is huge improvement. I’m cautiously optimistic!!! Sorry the video isn’t the best quality but I didn’t want to disturb her ❤️

22/01/2025

Today was medicated bath day for the hoggies with ringworm. They’re all doing great ❤️🦔❤️

18/01/2025

Alice came in a couple of days ago. She’s an older girl and is HUGE. She’s over 1000g and is beautiful. She was spotted on camera breathing very noisily, she is now on antibiotics. She has been strimmed which has caused injuries to her left ear and I think that is likely the cause of her problems.

13/01/2025

I've had a few people ask about ways to donate recently. I thought it would be easiest to make a post with the various ways that I can pop at the top of the page.
Thank you so much to everyone who donates each month. All those £1 donations add up to keep the rescue running and I am extemely grateful.

10/01/2025

Sorry all, we have had a couple of spam issues on the page this morning. I think they are all blocked and sorted now but please let me know if you spot any more.

Jayne

09/01/2025

Stay safe and warm everyone. The hedgehogs are all cosied up in fleeces and nest materials on their heatpads. The only exception is Victor who has finished his medications and has been awaiting a decent release window, but the weather isn't giving us an inch. So Victor has decided to go to sleep for a little while which is absolutely fine, he is big enough to hibernate if he wants to. :)

07/01/2025

A very tentative good news story from The Hoggery today.

You may remember gretal came in on New Year’s Eve. She had spent a considerable time stuck in a hole and had scraped her claws down to nothing trying to escape as well as using her two front teeth which she has lost.

Gretal also tested positive for three internal parasites and unsurprisingly after her ordeal was very shy and frightened. I had to gently bathe her in the first few days as the amount of mud she had stuck to her was hindering her movement and her skin condition was not good.

Over the last week or so I have been treating Gretal for her internal parasites but as always they have taken their toll. As the parasites die off they release toxins into the hedgehog’s body. Gretal has been losing weight everyday and yesterday weighed just 272g. I have been treating her with everything I could, all timed as carefully as possible. I have been syringe feeding her several times each day and she has been having subcut fluids every day to keep her hydrated.

This video shows what I walked into last night. I was so excited. She was eating by herself. A great step forward. I gave her more fluids and checked her most recent p**p; still crammed with parasites. One more treatment…….

This morning - wow!!! She has put 46g on overnight and has taken a strong liking to whiskas kitten biscuits, eating every bit that was in her bowl!

We still have a way to go and she isn’t out of the woods yet but I’m absolutely over the moon with her progress today.

I will put some rather detailed photos in the comments - if you don’t like gross things or you’re eating your tea then maybe don’t look but I find it all absolutely fascinating and it is a huge part of life in rehab.

03/01/2025

Absolutely gutted to have lost Scrooge today. I really hoped he may just make it. He certainly tried. Sleep tight my little mate.

31/12/2024

UPDATE: A nice way to end the year. Little Gretel has come around a little and has eaten something too. Fingers crossed for her. Second photo is her at 23:20 tonight ❤️

The last (I hope!) admission for 2024 is Gretal who was brought in earlier today. She is covered in mud having been found in a hole. She has no claws from trying to scrape her way out and also no front teeth - I suspect for the same reason. So far she isn’t showing any interest in anything but I will keep trying everything for her.
Thank to everyone who has supported us during 2024 and here is to a 2025 full of happy healthy hedgehogs.

26/12/2024

Scrooge came in on Christmas Eve after being spotted out in the daytime. He was emaciated and dehydrated and tested positive for internal parasites. He has managed to cope with the start of his treatment which is always good but he is still very poorly.
Tonight he has just had his wormer , antibiotic and pain relief and actually seems a little more interested in his surroundings and had a little mooch on my worktop. He is now back in his hutch and has had a drink and mouthful of food before heading back to sleep on his fleece and heat pad. Got everything crossed for him.

Quick addition to say that I am still full to capacity here. Can’t thank my volunteers enough for their continued dedication over Christmas and the new year. ❤️

24/12/2024

Away in a rescue, warm fleece for a bed,
A small tired hedgehog lay down his sweet head,
Fresh food and clean water to help him get well
He listened intently for Santa’s sleigh bells.

He heard on the rooftop the magic hooves land
And saw through the window that white mittened hand,
“Oh Santa, please hear me.” the small hedgehog cried
His hutch door was opened, his eyes stared so wide.

“Little hedgehog,” said Santa, his smile wide and kind,
“Don’t worry, you’re safe now. Leave all cares behind.
These people will care for you, help you to grow.
Stay warm in your bed, safe out of the snow.”

He left a small gift for the hedgehogs to share
And went on his way through the freezing night air.
The hedgehog grew strong and went home in the spring,
He will always remember that magic bell’s ring.

Jayne Schofield

Wishing all our supporters a very merry Christmas. Thank you for everything.

21/12/2024

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20/12/2024

Couldn’t work out which photo of Billy was the cutest so had to share them all. Isn’t he gorgeous?

18/12/2024

Just doing the evening medications and little Spikey has had treatment. He seemed a little light on spines - and this is why. He is quilling which is basically when a juvenile sheds their baby spines and grows the bigger tougher adult ones.

Typically I couldn’t find a discarded spine from one of the bigger hogs but the one on the right is a kind of average size. Look how much thinner and shorter the one on the left is. Aren’t these creatures just amazing?! Spines are very like our hair. Hogs do lose them over time and new ones grow. However a hog should never have a bald patch or be very sparse as this would be a sign of a bigger issue.