Unfortunately, nothing is known about why hedgehogs may consume their young (also called hoglets). Being stressed is one of the most likely causes of a mother eating her hoglets. A hedgehog is an animal, and it will use its natural instincts if its life or the lives of its kids are in danger.

It may appear illogical for the mother hedgehog to eat the young herself when she believes they are in danger, but this is a survival instinct. If the offspring are in danger of being eaten by a predator, it is more physiologically beneficial for the mother hedgehog to consume them rather than a predator.

It is exceedingly rare that a hedgehog will consume her newborn hoglets if they are in a safe, peaceful environment. When a mother hedgehog believes her habitat is unsafe, she will consume her newborn young about six weeks. If a hedgehog’s hoglets seem unwell, malformed, or significantly weaker than the rest. Please keep in mind that giving newborn baby hedgehogs hoglets any milk, especially cow milk, might result in their death. Furthermore, hoglets will not begin eating solid foods like a jelly-based dogs or cat food until they are about 25 days old. Courtship: The courting process may be rather raucous! Both males and females snorted and grunted often.

Mother Hedgehog: What Factors Influence Stress?

A hedgehog may experience stress from a variety of sources. Loud sounds are one of the most typical causes. This might be anything from a TV to noisy discussions or a barking dog. Loud sounds are, for the most part, avoidable.

If something affects the surroundings, the hedgehog may perceive the shift as potentially dangerous. For example, moving the cage (even by a few inches) may make the hedgehog feel insecure.

During the first week after the young hedgehogs are born, avoid approaching, opening, or touching the cage.

How Can You Avoid Stress before having newborn baby hedgehogs?

Before the hoglets are born, it is critical to establish a peaceful, safe environment for the hedgehog and solid food. The hedgehog should be brought to a quiet environment around five days before delivery.

Any loud noises in your home should be kept to a minimum until the hoglets have developed. Make sure that any other household members are aware that they must be silent when approaching the hedgehog’s enclosure. Keep the noise low whether listening to music or watching TV to avoid to be disturbed the hedgehog.

Keep as far away from the cage as you can. The further you are from the cage, the quieter the hedgehog’s surroundings will be.

Any movement of the cage, whether intentional or unintentional, can create stress. Make certain that wherever you leave the hedgehog is a consistently calm location over the following few weeks while the hoglets grow.

How Old Are the Babies Safe?

The mother will be less inclined to consume the hoglets as they get older. In general, wait at least two weeks before engaging with the mother or the hoglets, relocating the cage, or allowing your home to return to normal.

How to Prepare a Mother for Childbirth

As previously said, one of the most crucial measures to take with a hedgehog ready to give birth is to ensure that her habitat is located in a consistently calm area. This involves relocating the enclosure to a different room and requesting that any other household members do their best to decrease the amount of noise they make during the following several weeks.

If your hedgehog is kept with other hedgehogs, relocate the pregnant hedgehog to her own enclosure to lessen potential stresses and allow her to be alone while rearing her hoglets.

You must also provide a pleasant environment for your hedgehog to give birth within the cage. Leave enough of food and water in the enclosure while preparing it before the hoglets are born. You should not come into contact with your hedgehog before or after birth, including any cleaning or maintenance of the habitat.

Make any modifications to the hedgehog and her cage at least five days before the birth to give the hedgehog time to acquaint herself and develop comfortable with her baby hedgehog. Wait at least a week after the hoglets are born before cleaning or making any modifications.

Female hedgehogs: What Should She Do If the Hedgehog Eats Her Children?

There isn’t much that can be done. Sometimes a female hedgehog will not consume all of the hoglets. If there are any remaining hoglets, make every effort to maintain the hedgehog’s habitat as stress-free as possible after giving birth.

The surviving hoglets will live if the female hedgehogs do not have another stressful episode. If one or more hoglets are born weak, unwell, or stillborn, the mother may devour them after they die. The female hedgehog may appear to have killed its hoglet; nevertheless, the hoglet died naturally and the mother ate its corpse for nourishment.