What do you feed your hoggs?

prissypets · 01-03-2005, 01:51 PM

Hey everyone, Happy New Year! I wish you the best in 2005!

I just wanted everyone to tell me what they fed there hoggs. The brand and why you feed them that. And if you make your own and want to share the recipe I'd be glad to read and try it out.

I have a female hedgie that only likes that Browns hedgehog diet. And her poo is green and runny. It always has been. I hate cleaning it up expecially if she poops on me!

So I wondered if anyone else had something good that they were feeding theres so I could try it out an maybe get her poo a little firmer.

My male eats Nutrience Kitten food and he loves it. The female on the other hand couldn't be bothered to chew the food up. So I might just crush it and try that. But any advice is good I guess

Candycane · 01-03-2005, 02:10 PM

Hi Prissypets,
Welcome back.

How difficult is it for you to get high quality cat foods where you are? Perhaps you could try a different cat food for your female? I don't know much about hedgies but I'm sure that someone else can give you more info on brands and mixes.

fertmom · 01-03-2005, 06:24 PM

First off, kitten food is too high in protein and fat. Cat food for hedgehogs is usually better and even the light versions are the best. I feed a combination of foods mostly because we really don't know exactly what hedgehogs need (though we have a good idea what is bad for them). The chance of them getting a more balanced nutrition from several sources is better. We feed our hedgehogs Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul light, Canin Slim 35, and 8 in 1 Hedgehog food. The 8 in 1 is not the best, but it offers a few different things than the cat food so we still include it. They also get cooked plain chicken, cooked plain turkey and salmon on a regular basis along with meal worms or dried crickets for fiber 3-4 times per week.
I have never tried the Browns, but have heard a lot of owners say their hogs won't even eat it, that they either strike or if fed Browns with a combo of other foods they pick all the other food out and leave the Browns.
I think I have a link which compares foods for you, let me look....
Well the link I had saved for hedgehog nutrition no longer works so I don't know where it went??? Sorry, if I find it I will post it.

Candycane · 01-03-2005, 06:34 PM

I knew someone more knowledgeable would be able to help. Thanks, Annie.

fertmom · 01-03-2005, 06:35 PM

Found the link:

http://www.pogstarhedgehogs.com/nutrition/

and I think the Canin Slim is 38 not 35 as I posted earlier. This has a lot of good info for you.

prissypets · 01-05-2005, 09:20 PM

thank you for your suggestions. But I can't exactly find the brands listed on that website. I can find Pro Plan Chicken and Rice but not Senior. Have never heard of the PetGold cat food at all.

I will try a mix of these and hopefully the female hog will eat it. The male isn't picky at all about what he eats.

They do need to finish the toxic or poisinous ingredients page on pogstars though.

But everything was very helpful. Thank you all!!!

fertmom · 01-05-2005, 09:32 PM

Whatever you decide to give her, change her food over gradually so she will not have an upset tummy and she will be more likely to accept the new food. Most Hedgies really like the Chicken soup for the cat lover's soul and take to it right away. They are known to have extreme tastes in foods that varies uniquely between hedgehogs. Each one can have way different tastes so I would buy a very small bag until you know she will eat it, or better yet you could try asking the food companies for samples to try.

suzoo · 01-05-2005, 11:14 PM

Thanks for that link Fertmom..
There are a few brands of food in the top categories that we use on a regular basis at work. I don't have a hedgehog but I'm usually the one to feed hedgies when we get them in the shelter. I have noticed that they usually don't touch the commercial hedgehog food but eat the cat food only. Next time I'll mix a few together..
We usually only have them for 3 or 4 days before they go to Hedgehog Rescue but I like to be sure they are eating well..

weesiepoo · 01-08-2005, 04:03 AM

sorry, i got the stomach flu a couple of days ago and was in the hospital. yes, truly, we only have a sketchy idea of what hedgies require and what they like. i personally feed chicken soup for the cat lover's soul light, natural balance, and wellness light and occassionally some brisky's. my girls get baked or crockpotted chicken and salmon (they wuvs their slamon on occassion). they also like baby food chicken sticks and baby food meats mixed with a little apple sauce, an occassional scoop, small, of cottage cheese. my cancer baby has no teeth left, so she gets a lot of crushed up foods with the baby foods and the like. i also feel fresh mealies and crickies etc are better than frozen or dried, and rozen better than dried...but that is personal choice. and grow out my meal worms into beetles.i also feed silkworms. first of all, silkworms are lower in fat and higher in pure protein and they have wonderful cancer fighting properties and the number one killer of hedgies is cancer.

as for hedgie foods, the 8 in 1 is not the best, but it is decent, but the 8 in one supreme is not a good choice. brown's is usually not a favorite for hedgies, if you want a commercial food to mix, then order brisky's online. there is another called spike's delight which is specially mixed for hedgie's and a real treat for most. just search for it if you are interested. or i can hook you up with some good hedgie shopping links. it is always best to mix two or more foods together, it helps to give them more varied nutrients, keeps their jaws and teeth healthier, and if you should happen to not be able to get one ingredient, it is not a huge disaster for a short period of time.

i am sure there is more i would want to add, but it is late.

HSHedgehogs · 01-08-2005, 06:31 PM

I mix 7 high quality cat foods and 4 hedgehogs in my mix. That is supplemented with treats nightly: scrambled egg, mealworms, salmon, vege's, etc. I am not familiar with Brown's but I would certainly wean her off it because of the poos.
You can go to Pet Food Direct and find many of the foods that may not be in pet stores. Wait until they have a 20% off sale (which is quite often) and that will usually pay for the shipping. Many of the hedgehog breeders will sell their mix also. If there is one in your area, I would try that.
Heaven Sent Hedgehogs
Colorado