b8byjenny
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How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/17 23:42
Hi everyone, new hedgie owner here. I've had knuckles for about a month now and we seem to be getting into a daily routine. So now that she is comfortable, how often does everyone recommend that I hold her? Right now I usually get her out once a day for a few minutes just so she gets used to being held. I think I would probably hold her for a longer period of time but she is VERY active and I get nervous about dropping her with my dogs around. Will she become less active during handling if I start doing it for longer periods?
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CThogs
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 06:40
Some would rather not be held and like to run or explore instead. If you could let her run around in a small room or get an exercise pen she may enjoy that. Or you can sit and let her crawl all over you-some like that too.
You can get her out for more than a few minutes-whatever works for you and your hedgie
Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs
We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!! |
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LORI611
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 09:40
I put an old fleece blanket over my loveseat and like Ann said I let her crawl all over me and allover the loveseat.(never unattended because they move fast!!) also I have an underbed storage box at my feet with toys, a wheel, food, and stuff like that, so I can move her to that when she looks bored. Then when she gets bored there I move her back to the loveseat.
I am presently waiting for a playpen area because the storage box is shallow. But it works for now!!
Lori
P.s. I love the name Knuckles! My bro used to have a Boxer named Knuckles!!
LORI, SOUTHINGTON, CT
Mom of:
Chloe(dog), Mr.Toad(frog) and Hazel the hedgie!! |
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saabgirl9000
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 10:26
My hedgie is a runner and would rather play then be held. Normally, in the evening, I wake her up and hold her for about ten minutes until she is fully awake. I know when she is awake because she will start running all over my hands! I then put her back in her cage so that she can play in there.
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smhufflepuff
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 11:44
Twice a day, every day.
I check on Satin shortly after I get up in the morning. Take her poopy wheel out, refill food and water, then pick her up to check for poopyfoot. If she's clean, I'll kiss her and set her back in her house. If she's messy, we go to the sink for footbath followed by towel time.
Around 9, I start arranging her house for the night; ie, clean wheel back in, wheelmats down, refill food and water. Then I get her up and we play/cuddle for about an hour. Less if she's huffy, more if she's snuggly. Over that hour is when I check her toenails, give her mealies, give her veggies, etc...
When she's in a running mood and the floor is nice and warm, I pull out a fleece blanket and her playpen and let her roam, I loop it around me, so I can be in there too.
I'd think that, for you little one, the more time she has with you, the better she gets to know you/your scent, then the more she'll be relaxed with you. She might still be a runner... you can just adapt to have her run over you
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Hedgehogmadhatter
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 13:02
I handle Harley as much as possible! Much to his utter disgust, but he puts up with me. I get him out when I get home after work around 9pm. I wash his wheel and his feet too, if they need it. Then I pet him for 5-10 minutes, we go get the mail, then we lock up for night. I put him in his play pen, a big plastic bin. He runs around and plays while I work on the pc, cook, read or watch TV. When he does something really cute I pick him up and cuddle him. If dinner is something he can share, I give him a small piece and he eats while we watch TV. I got to be around 12-1am. I put his wheel back and feed him then before putting him back he gets more petting and attention. When I get up at 8am he gets up too. He gets more attention and plays while I get ready for work.
When folks come over, he comes out and gets petted and plays in his pen. I try not to leave him out away from his house more than 4 hours and he has a water bottle in his play pen too. Yup I have no life! Hope this helps.
~Sara
“The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”
Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)
There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!
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omelette
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/18 17:34
Omelette usually wakes up around 7pm or 9pm, and that's when i take her out. she is definitely a runner. i just put her on the floor in the bedroom with the door closed (so the cats and the dog won't bother us). i sit on the floor and pet her and watch her explore. i give her mealworms, and her tp tube. then if i feel like watching tv, or something, i'll take her to the living room and let her roam on the couch. i also put down a fleece blanket or towel. then maybe after about two hours, if she starts getting really restless, i put her in her critter ball so she can have run of the house. that's the time that i take to clean her cage, fill up her food bowl/water bottle, and clean her wheel. then after another two hours of attempted cuddling, i put her back in her cage. then the next day i pretty much do the same thing.
Lisa
My Heart Belongs to:
Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies
Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats
Omelette - Hedgehog
Basil - Guinea Pig
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bracey
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/26 12:45
wot playpen have you got x
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omelette
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/26 16:56
you can buy a play pen at Petsmart. they have 3 different sizes. i think the largest one is around $40. but you can make a bigger one for a lot cheaper. just buy the storage cubes, (the grid ones used to make C & C cages) and arrange them anyway you want. that's what i use at least. it's also easy to make hinges with cable ties, so you can fold it up to store it.
Lisa
My Heart Belongs to:
Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies
Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats
Omelette - Hedgehog
Basil - Guinea Pig
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bracey
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/27 03:23
thanks for your help x
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aislinsadia
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/03/28 10:54
omelette wrote:
you can buy a play pen at Petsmart. they have 3 different sizes. i think the largest one is around $40. but you can make a bigger one for a lot cheaper. just buy the storage cubes, (the grid ones used to make C & C cages) and arrange them anyway you want. that's what i use at least. it's also easy to make hinges with cable ties, so you can fold it up to store it.
That's what I do too! *High five* I use the left over grids from the C&C cage I made and tie them together with zip ties to make a big play pen.
*~*Steph*~*
Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs). |
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Hufflepuff
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/05/09 17:28
We wake Huffle up around 8, he likes to eat and drink before coming out. We stays downstairs with us watching tv until 10ish. He doesn't like to be held too much so we let him run around the couch. If we put a t-shirt on top of him, he'll hang out on our laps. He loves to sit behind my back or nuzzle into the corners of the couch cushions. When we go to bed we put him in his cage and he usually goes to his igloo, but some nights he'll go straight for the wheel. We hear him running throughout the night and occasionally catch him on the wheel at 6am the next morning!
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omelette
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Re:How often do you handle your hedgie? - 2008/05/10 21:30
Okay I know this is off topic, so please excuse me. But Hufflepuff, I love your avatar pic! That is really cute. I've been contemplating putting a hat on Omelette for some time. And your pic just tempts me further. 
Lisa
My Heart Belongs to:
Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies
Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats
Omelette - Hedgehog
Basil - Guinea Pig
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