Image found at hedgehog street. Org

I found a hedgehog last week!

He died unfortunately so I wanted to write this in case someone doesn't know what to do hope it helps at least one hedgehog make it.

I called him Keith I have my reasons. Any hoo let's start with why he came home. 

I was walking my pomchi jasmine and almost stepped on him this was about 3 in the afternoon in the hother sun, hedgehogs don't sun bathe but they do come out to gather bedding for a litter so mama moose picked him up and put him to the side so he didn't get stepped on in the field. After a visit to nana we came back that way to make sure he'd gone on his way and was healthy. He was just a foot from where we left him, this is a bad sign, after picking him up we noticed fly eggs allover. It was gross it was like little grains of rice so we rushed back (1 minute from our house) straight into the sink he went we did our best but couldn't get them all he was rather distressed and a little bitey, good job gloves were on! We wrapped him up sat him on a water bottle (double wrapped in blankets so he didn't burn) and put him in a rabbit carrier a box would be fine but our dogs were dying to meet him it was safer this way. When we went back 10 mind later after contacting the nearest wildlife place and waiting for an answer back as to wether they'd take him in to help we found lots of wiggly maggots they were tiny and all over. We ran to the bath to try wash them off but they weren't going to surrender and we couldn't get them all but he was alive and we were winning. At this point every sanctuary had turned him away within a 19 mile radius and I tried one more.  Accepted she sent a guy for him and he was doing ok (we were still trying to fight the maggots without distressing Keith too much) we put him back for 10 minutes and the gent from the sanctuary turned up. I went back expecting to give Keith one more rub down and to hand him over to safety but unfortunately he'd passed.

What I learnt from this is 1 our local rescue within 19 miles are jerk and 2 maggots hate vinegar unfortunately this was after handing Keiths body over. 

This is what I will do next time: go straight to the rescue that would take Keith. 

Pick every fly egg off with tweezers! 

Spray the next sad hog with vinegar and rinse after thirty minutes. Maggots and fly eggs die by vinegar and 30 min is the time it takes.

Guys seriously though if you find a hedgehog not moving in the sun if you can get your rescue involved don't try to do anything else by yourself that doesn't involve removing fly eggs and maggots. DO NOT TRY SYRINGE WATER INTO A HOG. IT WILL DIE. This is the most common way to kill them they drown from the syringed water. Offer a mix of 1 table spoon of sugar 1 teaspoon of salt and a litre of water mix to room temperature and put on a saucer don't give all of it at once and if you have cat biscuits and cat meat then offer that on a saucer too. You may just save a hedgehog. 

On a happier note in our new flat we have a regular hedgehog visitor he's called Greg, so coming soon will be our hedgehog paradise ready for helping with hibernation.

Good luck to any fellow rescuers out their!

The link to our Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/870280689692141/

We're sharing to Facebook!

We know alot of people out there use Facebook but not blogs soo were going to create a group for you to talk to us easier and you can share posts you like or just respond easier with us and fellow little box readers. A link will be here shortly just got to get our new group ready.
I can't wait to put names to our numbers
See you on there!

Stop poisoning your pets!

How many of you want to diy toys for dogs, cats, birds etc and went searching for ideas only to come across treat recipes.
Yes they seem super easy and fun for the animals but alot use peanut butter.
It's bloody toxic.
Most peanut butter on shelves have a sweetener or sugar substitute.
This is usually code for xylotol and that is toxic to pets.
When I tell people not to give it to pets they say "a little dairy can't hurt"
I aren't talking about dairy goods inside it I'm talking about that evil little faux sugar lurking waiting to cause a ton of problems. Head over to Google give it a real good research before use. If you insist on using it at least be informed on the ingredients before oh and did I mention IT'S TOXIC however if you want an easy recipe for your pooch (other pet recipes coming soon) then take a look at our pup pizza, your furbabies will love it!
Be safe, Spyro

Secrets of budgies

So your here which means you have decided to get a budgie and want to be prepared or you've got your budgie and want to check you have everything.
Below I will tell you everything I've found useful, what's not needed and why they are.

1. Ok so first off a cage. The vision medium is a super good cage it has high sides above feed trays so less seed mess very easy to clean and most importantly spin latch doors. If you ask any budgie owner what was the worst thing about their standard pet shop cage (image coming soon) they're bound to say the slide up doors. At first glance you think nah they can't open that.WRONG they can and will. A lot of these cages end up with clothes pegs blocking the doors to stop the devils disappearing and getting into trouble. If not a spin lock door get a push in on just make sure it's not a slide up door. And remember bigger is always better but budgies like flying side to side half a tall cage will often go unused.
2. Perches. Two is usually a good amount no matter the size because budgies need space to stretch their wings. They will also spend a ton of time climbing for fun. They're entertaining to watch climbing and spinning off the cage bars. Don't think they need lots of perches because they'll often pick a favourite and the others will be useless and in the way.
3. A cage skirt. This looks like a giant shower cap, easily made yourself or shop bought. If you buy the vision bird cage you won't need one but standard wire bar cages you'll be glad if you have them. Seed bits nd feathers get everywhere not to mention the ability to fire poo up walls from inside the cage. Quite impressive for little birds. If you get a parrot sized cage skirt are hard to find I had mine made to measure (how to post coming very soon).
4. Feeders. I like gravity feeders they don't get full of husk and are quick to refill. I have used wild bird seeders that were ok but I spilt lot of seed putting it back in the cage. My next investment will be seed hoppers they're pricey but save a lot of money the seed falls like gravity seeders but the birds drop husk into a tray not allover so is extremely easy to tidy up.
5. Drinkers. Again gravity drinker bottles are great. The small fronts make it harder for the budgies to poo in their water supply meaning healthy budgies.
6. Cuttle fish / bone it's the same thing though retailed under two names.  This provides entertainment, minerals and keeps the bird beaks in shape. Last thing we want is a long beak on a nervous bird.
7. Mineral block. This is often a pink cube that contains essential minerals (not carried in the cuttlefish) and is extremely important.
8 . toys.  Brightly coloured with bells on. They will play with everything and attempt to destroy everything it takes several days but they will try everything you give them. Do not add little plastic birds if theirs more than on budgies as it can cause issues.
9. Swings. My 6 ignore perches and use swings only they have their own favourites, they are important and every budgie deserves a good swing.
10. Mirror. Now this depends on weather you have one or two birds. If you have 2 or more get rid of the mirror they'll ignore each other in favour of reflected bird most times and it can cause many behaviour issues in a flock however if you have one bird it can be a companion but will get in the way of your birds mimicking.

Last but not least you need birdies. All gender combinations work if you want multiples but be careful do your research on sexing young birds you don't want brother and sister doing the baby dance. It would be freaky seeing a one winged five legged budgie born from incest.
If you are getting just one get another as well.  Seriously they need someone who speaks their own language not just a human. As if you need another reason I'll give you one more, they are real cute to watch preening and kissing each other.
What ever colours you get remember they live 10 years sometimes more. Be really sure you want to commit to that because you will be their everything.

Also while looking pick a clean budgie. Look at their bums which is a vent for birds do you see green sludge, that's a sign you have a sick bird in your sights. Make sure to check for bald spots too missing feathers could indicate minor to serious illness be very wary. Be sure to check their nostrils are clear like before avoid clogged holes but report any of the above to the breeder or shop keeper.
Try to use a breeder where possible as they often can tell you so much more in history of the birds. Shop keepers are not always so in the know when it comes to animal (really). If your in the UK breeders can be found through the budgie society website.

  this is the cage skirt custom made for my cage