How To Clean A Hedgehog House | Hedgehog's Hollow

[@thenerrdpit7441]

about to set up my first hedgehog house ever, this was very helpful thank you!

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnlewis9745]

Thank you for this instructive video. May I suggest that a mask is used when cleaning out the hedgehog homes.

[@sharrongray1837]

Thank you for sharing with us all x

[@normaramsay9597]

Very useful, as I have just acquired a hedgehog box and was wondering how to prepare it for the hedgehogs in the autumn

[@dirkdiggler3605]

Great video, August it is for the clean out.

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hi Dirk, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, and thank you for your compliment.

[@bernadettewoodsmilliesmum]

ReLly helpful video thank you 🙏

[@Dale555]

Great video thanks

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment

[@matthewbowes7513]

@@HedgehogsHollow thanks for that, we enjoy the video and the advise .

[@HedgehogsHollow]

You are very welcome

[@annoverton6379]

Liked the video, we brought a hedgehog house as we know we have had a hedgehog in the garden for weeks, collecting leaves etc but not interested in going into the house, its just living amongst the ferms & flowers,grunting a lot, we leave food out in the feeding station which it eats every night plus water too, not sure if it's a female or male, should we leave the house nearer where we think she/he is or put it near the feeding station for it to check it out? We usually see the hedgehog coming into out garden every night then disappearing again up the wooden ramp but it's definitely staying in our garden, might it be female & pregnant if so can she have babies out in our garden? Thank you Ann

[@patricehurip7118]

Greetings from France ! I Just subscribe to your channel . I have many hedgehogs wandering And nesting in my garden specially in spring And summer , And I want to enjoy your advice sometimes . Thank you !💚💚💚

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Welcome, Patrice! It is so good to know that you are watching from France and that you found value from the videos. I have been specifically adding French (amongst other) subtitles to videos recently, and so I hope those too are useful for you. It's good to hear that you have visiting hedgehogs. I know they are the same species, but it would be intersting to know if you see any different behaviour Thank you for taking the time to comment, and I hope you enjoy the channel

[@Frostie3672]

I honestly wouldn't recommend hay, that stuff gets incredibly damp & once it gets damp it holds onto moisture so it stays damp & feels very wet to the touch. Through the excellent hedgehog group I'm a member of on Facebook I saw many references to barley straw, it's incredibly soft just like hay but without the drawbacks of hay as batley straw doesn't hold onto moisture. With all the wet weather we've had lately, I actually found a few bits of barley straw that had been dragged out as the hedgehog had been coming & going from the house during the night before & despite all the rain we'd had earlier the day I picked up the barley straw & it felt dry! It's absolutely great as hedgehog bedding & it's all I use now in my two hog houses.

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Thanks for taking the time to comment - I appreciate your input and feedback. I know that there are sometimes conflicting views on the use of hay or straw and the different circumstances during which they are respectively used and at what times of the year. I've actually used both, and though I know that the hedgehogs don't necessarily know the difference between the two, I've seen them use both for bedding - and equally I've seen them completely ignore what I've given them and rather choose to fill the houses with damp and wet leaves. But I appreciate the comment and will investigate which medium is best for future use.

[@patriciay7015]

Thank you Mike but what if the house does not become empty? Is it safe to leave it.for another winter?

[@HedgehogsHollow]

I'd monitor it - it's better to leave it undisturbed, and if that means leaving it uncleaned, then that's a better outcome than disturbing a potential nesting site. You'll also be amazed - they'll still add more material in, to replenish their home. Keep an eye out, but it's better to leave it be if it's in use.

[@thenerrdpit7441]

is it possible to have the house as a feeding station until autumn and convert it (aka take the food out) to a hybernating house later or do you suggest having a seperate feeding station at all times?

[@HedgehogsHollow]

I would suggest having a separate feeding station and house. This would most likely be the better scenario and also means you'll have a house available in time for hedgehogs who are looking for winter accommodation

[@norfolkenchants8090]

I read somewhere that a ventilation tube is always required in case the entrance get blocked up, for example with snow. Is this correct?

[@msjithy]

I noticed that the Hedgehog is no longer sleeping in one of the houses i built for them. I checked it yesterday and there were molds inside. I cleaned the house and replaced the old hays with new ones. I hope the Hedgehogs will still sleep there after i cleaned it.

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hedgehogs will return to your newly cleaned out house, I'm sure. They aren't like regular tenants - they do have a tendency to simply move out at a moment's notice. I don't think it would have been due to the interior condition - possibly more that they found a source of food or something else that more caught their attention. But I am sure they will return.

[@sharrongray1837]

Plz plz can u help me I don't really know anything about hedgehogs but I noticed hedgehog in my back garden so I brought a house in unsure if there any of them gone inside it and scared to look in case I scare them when do they come out of hybernation just in case there still in there so I can clean it thank you x

[@claireparr4489]

Can I clean my hedgehog house now in December. My hedgehog(s) are still quite active in my garden and feed every night. Last year it/they didn't hibernate but at least one of them built a nest inside with hay that I had left out and slept there every night. I've just watched your video on cleaning and you say I should have done it in August, although other people say October. So my question is should I just leave it. I have had a big leave across the front door for days now and nothing has disturbed it so, is it safe for me to clean out, or do I leave it alone? Thank you very much.

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hello Claire, If I'm honest, I have left mine as there wasn't an opportune moment to clean it where there wasn't at least some activity or occupation. It may not align with the expert advice, but my thinking is that if a hedgehog sees it worthy enough to still actively use, then it perhaps doesn't need cleaning as much as I might think. Key for me is not disturbing the hedgehog in any way, so if you still had activity, then your hedgehogs likely appreciate the house and contents just the way it is.

[@claireparr4489]

@@HedgehogsHollow Thank you Mike 👍

[@robertcircleone]

How do you prevent rats from setting up home in the hedgehog hotel? Is it simply not liked by them? I am thinking of setting up a box on concrete blocks laid flat so there is no space under the box. Do rats and hedgehogs get on well together?

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Thanks for your comment and question. I personally haven't had any experience of rats becoming attracted to the houses I have. I don't think that rats would use the hedgehog houses so I don't think there would be competition for your accommodation.

[@Kisahberduri_landakmini]

😮😮

[@TheC0-ckmeister]

WELL we are into August now and there's no way I can clean our Hedgehog house at present as there's a big male hoggie sleeping in it most days ... I am using the trail cam every night and I am monitoring it and I would like to clean it before October if possible .. proof I guess that each garden that has Hedgehogs visiting has different dynamics compared to others... as Mike says though, don't just open a house for cleaning or otherwise without checking first that it's empty...

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hedgehogs are so wonderfully unpredictable aren't they! I would hope to clean out the houses I have too by October time - but there's no telling whether they will actually give me that time gap to do so. I still have one resident that is using a very old tomato box I converted to a make shift house - and that seems to be doing the job still...

[@MrPhilbeale]

thanks very informative @MrPhilbeale