Most people would love to help provide food for hedgehogs. They help in the garden by eating pests and are generally an adorable little creature. But most people don’t know what not to feed hedgehogs.
Why the right food for Hedgehogs matters
Misplaced help can be worse than not helping at all. Feeding the spiky little creatures the wrong food can cause serious harm.
Food that is bad for Hedgehogs.
The following foods should never be left out for hedgehogs:
Dairy products
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so cannot properly digest dairy products. Unfortunately hedgehogs don’t understand the concept of lactose intolerance and will greedily eat any dairy products left out for them. This causes a host of unpleasant digestive problems which the hedgehog could do without.
Mealworms as food for Hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs love eating bugs so meal worms should be no different. Well that isn’t quite true. Mealworms are high in phosphorus which reduces the ability to absorb and use calcium. This can lead to brittle bones and deformities in the babies. Watch this video for more info.
Sweet treats.
High in calories but not as nutritious as the high protein diet they would normally eat.
Bread and milk.
This was the traditional thing to put out for hedgehogs and they absolutely love it. However as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant it is really not good for them and compared to the meaty bugs they normally eat it is low in calories. It is also low in the protein they need to grow stronger. So the hogs may eat till they are full but will soon be hungry again. In the late summer and autumn they are eating with a view to hibernation so they need to put on as much weight as possible.
Seeds and peanuts.
This type of food can get stuck in their mouths causing problems with feeding. They are also high in phosphorus so can cause long term problems for the hogs and their families.
Processed meats.
Processed meats like ham or bacon have high levels of salt which isn’t part of a hedgehogs natural diet.
Dried fruit.
This has a very high sugar content which isn’t as healthy for a hedgehog as a high protein diet.
To watch some hedgehog feeding and drinking action subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Hedgehog food list top 3
1….. I Love Hedgehogs
I Love Hedgehogs is a food that is specially designed to supplement the natural diet of your hedgehogs.
It is a fast and easy food for hedgehogs to find, especially when they need it the most. Unlike other hedgehog foods, I Love Hedgehogs is not appealing to visiting cats, so you can be sure that you are only feeding hedgehogs.
It has a calcium/phosphorus ratio of less than 1:2, which eliminates any risk of metabolic bone disease. It helps to keep your garden hedgehogs healthy. The high-energy formula complements the natural diets of hedgehogs. I Love Hedgehogs is designed to provide optimal energy for hedgehogs, which helps them utilize their limited foraging time.
This semi-moist hedgehog food has a tooth-friendly formula that contains no sticky sultanas and reduced honey. I Love Hedgehogs has a careful mix of ingredients that prevents gorging on any one ingredient. There are no mealworms in this food.
I would recommend going for the bigger packet because the hedgehogs love it, and you will run out sooner than you expect.
The makers of I Love Hedgehogs are commissioning expert research to find the best food possible for our prickly little friends. I love the brand and I love how much care they are taking in selecting the right food for the hedgehogs.
Buy Brambles Crunchy Hedgehog Food from this link to help support our website. It won’t cost you anything but a few pennies will come to us to cover our costs.
2….. Brambles Crunchy Hedgehog Food
Brambles Crunchy Hedgehog Food comes in small chunks the perfect size for a hedgehog. The main source of protein is chicken so nice and healthy.
Comes in 2kg bags so those hungry hedgehogs will have plenty of food and you won’t have the inconvenience of constantly buying more.
The special formula give the minerals, vitamins and nutrients a growing hedgehogs needs. The crunchy texture is just like chewing on the beetles and bugs that make up a hedgehogs natural diet. This is great for dental health,
Brambles Meaty Hedgehog Food comes in 400G tins and offers all the same specially formulated nutrients but in a tasty meaty mix.
3…… Britten and James Deluxe Crunchy Dry Hedgehog Food
A nutritious food specially formulated with high-quality ingredients to match the nutrition of a hedgehog’s natural diet.
Encourage these beneficial creatures to your garden and help to prepare them for the difficult winter months.
Leaving out food like this helps to keep the hedgehogs nice and fat and ready to sleep through the winter.
Supplied in a handy, resealable 1.5 kg, 3 litre tub.
Made in the UK.
Buy Deluxe Crunchy Dry Hedgehog Food from this link to support our website. It won’t cost you anything but a few pennies will come to us to cover our costs.