Hedgehog question!?

Question

ive only had my hedgie for three days. and shes always hiding. and when she does come out ,she goes in her wheel and poops in it. how do i get her not to go in her wheel and in her litter box?

and also any tips on how to get her less scared?

please help

Answer 1

Since she is new, she is still adjusting. Give her a few more days. Remember, she is nocturnal and like many hedgehogs, she will hide during the day and not get up until evening... or as late as 10 PM like some of my herd.

Litter training is possible, but it is also a lengthy and frustrating process. Move all of the stools in her cage into a litter box. The litter box should be filled with a litter like yesterdays news, NOT any form of clumping cat litter... it is dangerous when ingested or if it gets stuck to your hedgehog's bottom. Be persistent as it may take a month before your hedgie will start going in her litter box. She may continue to go on the wheel nonetheless. Just stay on top of regular wheel cleaning by wiping it out every morning when it is still soft.

To get her more comfortable, you want her to get used to you being around her. Take away her house so she isn't hiding and sit there until she calms down. Extend a hand towards her and wait until she smells it. Have you tried the t-shirt trick? Put a t-shirt in her cage that smells like you... just a ratty old t-shirt. If you don't want to part with that, try a piece of fleece that you have rubbed through your hair and all over to pick up some of your smell. It sounds crazy, but this is how I have socialized all of mine along with countless other hedgehog owners.

Start handling her. Pick her up and put her on your knee. You can use a towel for her to sit on if she is being prickly with you. Just sit with her in a quiet place where there are no TVs, radios or talking. Just be patient until she comes out of her ball. Have some mealies on hand to feed her once she comes out. Mealworms can win over even the grumpiest hedgehog.

Good luck!