650 S Douglas Ave, Addison, IL 60101, US

(630) 346-5122

(630) 346-5122

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    • Home
    • 101 Sessions
    • Babies For Sale
    • Available Adults
    • The Morning Star Herd
    • Reviews
    • Our Families
    • Kits and Accessories
    • Boarding
    • Hedgehogs As Pets
    • Hedgehog Care
    • Treats / Nutrition
    • Toxic to Hedgehogs
    • Hedgehogs Christmas Gifts
    • Ethical Breeding Programs
    • Code of Ethics
    • Policies
    • Hedgehog Hygiene
    • Hedgehog Blog
    • Hedgehog Colors
  • Home
  • 101 Sessions
  • Babies For Sale
  • Available Adults
  • The Morning Star Herd
  • Reviews
  • Our Families
  • Kits and Accessories
  • Boarding
  • Hedgehogs As Pets
  • Hedgehog Care
  • Treats / Nutrition
  • Toxic to Hedgehogs
  • Hedgehogs Christmas Gifts
  • Ethical Breeding Programs
  • Code of Ethics
  • Policies
  • Hedgehog Hygiene
  • Hedgehog Blog
  • Hedgehog Colors

MORNING STAR HEDGEHOGS

MORNING STAR HEDGEHOGS MORNING STAR HEDGEHOGS MORNING STAR HEDGEHOGS

USDA Licensed Hedgehog Breeder (African Pygmy Hedgehogs) - Since 2011

USDA Licensed Hedgehog Breeder (African Pygmy Hedgehogs) - Since 2011USDA Licensed Hedgehog Breeder (African Pygmy Hedgehogs) - Since 2011

Treats / Nutrition

Did You Know??

Meats - cooked Unseasoned

Meats - cooked Unseasoned

In the lower abdominal cavity in most mammals is the cecum... It contains bacteria that aids in the digestion of plant matter and facilitate nutrient absorption. Certain small mammals (such as hedgehogs, moles, and shrews) lack a cecum.  By giving our babies fruits and veggies (plant matter) we can cause them tummy upset and diarrhea, the

In the lower abdominal cavity in most mammals is the cecum... It contains bacteria that aids in the digestion of plant matter and facilitate nutrient absorption. Certain small mammals (such as hedgehogs, moles, and shrews) lack a cecum.  By giving our babies fruits and veggies (plant matter) we can cause them tummy upset and diarrhea, they are unable to absorb any nutrients from fruits or veggies.  I do not recommend feeding fruits or vegetables, with a few minor exceptions, the following are beneficial and can aid in digestion (they can correct diarrhea and constipation) those are sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash, baby applesauce or banana in scant amounts only.


Another Fun Fact:  Hedgehogs are Lactose Intolerant.  Dairy Products should be given in very sparse amounts if ever....

One of Morning Star Hedgehog Babies "Ice Hog" nibbles on a chicken leg

Meats - cooked Unseasoned

Meats - cooked Unseasoned

Meats - cooked Unseasoned

Cook meats thoroughly, no seasoning - in olive oil

  

Meats (All Unseasoned):
Chicken
Turkey
Lamb
Beef (only occasionally)
Pork (only occasionally)  
                                                  


**Disclaimer Ice Hog was only allowed a few nibbles of this chicken leg and was supervised

Bugs Bugs Bugs

Bugs Bugs Bugs

Bugs Bugs Bugs

Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Roaches, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Wax Worms, Butter Worms, Super Worms, Meal Worms, Green Horned Worms, Silk Worms, Snails, Isopods are all acceptable.  (and live bugs should be gut loaded prior to feeding as well)I do not recommend freeze dried whole bugs for babies under 9 months.

The Morning Star Hedgehog Herd 

Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Roaches, Crickets, Grasshoppers, Wax Worms, Butter Worms, Super Worms, Meal Worms, Green Horned Worms, Silk Worms, Snails, Isopods are all acceptable.  (and live bugs should be gut loaded prior to feeding as well)I do not recommend freeze dried whole bugs for babies under 9 months.

The Morning Star Hedgehog Herd enjoys bugs every day mixed into their food!   I crush 5 different varieties.  For the single owner I would recommend Grubblies Black Soldier Fly Larvae and Flukers' Grasshoppers and/or Crickets and crush it (refrigerate for freshness) and feed 1/8 tsp over food every day.  My herd is also offered live bugs once a week (when I clean their houses - - they look forward to time in a dig box hunting)

Raw Diet

Bugs Bugs Bugs

Bugs Bugs Bugs

We try to provide the best nutrition for our hedgehogs as possible.  Adding a Raw Diet that is prepared and sold for the pet / reptile industry is a great way to add Whole Prey.  Many are squeamish when it comes to feeding things like live bugs,  pinkie mice, button quail, lizards or frogs.  Those simulate what your hedgehog would be fora

We try to provide the best nutrition for our hedgehogs as possible.  Adding a Raw Diet that is prepared and sold for the pet / reptile industry is a great way to add Whole Prey.  Many are squeamish when it comes to feeding things like live bugs,  pinkie mice, button quail, lizards or frogs.  Those simulate what your hedgehog would be foraging and hunting for in the wild.  Nothing can replace the natural balance of nutrition like whole prey.   There are a few ways to incorporate this into your hedgehogs diet:

Pinkie Mice (live or frozen thawed)

Button quail, failed chicks or day olds

Frogs or lizards sold for feeders 

Raw diets prepared for the pet industry:

Oma's pride www.omaspride.com

Reptile Links www.reptilelinks.com

Stella and Chewy's 

Tiki Cat

It is important to provide your hedgehog with a well balanced species appropriate diet these can help you make that happen for the health and well being of your Hedgie Buddy! 


Other Treats

Variety and Nutrition

Variety and Nutrition

Eggs - Scrambled or Hard Boiled

Baby Foods: Chicken/Turkey Dinner

Gerber Toddler Chicken and Meat Sticks

Wet Cat Foods  Core 95 , Merrick's Duck, Evanger's Rabbit, Duck, Quail, 

Essence Air and Game Fowl are among the favorites here at Morning Star Hedgehogs



Variety and Nutrition

Variety and Nutrition

Variety and Nutrition

In their natural habitat, hedgehogs are scavengers and foragers.  They will eat a variety of insects and small vertebrates.  It is important for good health to duplicate this as much as possible. 


  Most commercially produced Hedgehog Food lacks the basic nutrition for hedgehogs, and uses sub-par ingredients. 


 But we cannot rely on cat kib

In their natural habitat, hedgehogs are scavengers and foragers.  They will eat a variety of insects and small vertebrates.  It is important for good health to duplicate this as much as possible. 


  Most commercially produced Hedgehog Food lacks the basic nutrition for hedgehogs, and uses sub-par ingredients. 


 But we cannot rely on cat kibble alone.  And while meal worms are readily available and the easiest of bugs they are actually the highest in Phosphorus which if fed with grain free food (again high in phosphorus - peas) you could be doing harm to your animals calcium levels.  Hedgehogs should have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2:1  This cannot be achieved if feeding Mealworms and grain free foods.  


Our herd is provided an additional calcium supplement  once every week. (which is made from free range organic egg shells)  


  We cannot simply say Cat Food 30 - 35 percent....  (Ingredients, carbohydrates, and even where the meats and supplements originate are looked at when we choose our food mix) 


We are finding as a breeding community each of our animals needs are unique and we cannot "cookie cutter" their care. 


Also as our hogs age their diet and exercise needs may have to change as well!    Our oldest hogs range between 5 and 7 yrs of age we are happy to help guide you in your senior hogs care! 

Foods not to feed

Foods to Avoid

If you are uncertain or you are looking to give your hedgehog a treat not found on this list,  my recommendation is always to error on the side of caution!   


Dried fruits   (Choking Hazard)                                       
Raisins                                                       
Grapes                                                       
Citrus Fruits                                               
Pineapple                                                   
Raw Carrots  

Celery 
Corn                                                          
Onion                                                         
Chives                                                        
Garlic                                                          
Tomatoes                                                    
Avocado                                                      
Lettuce                                                      
Cucumber  

Raw potatoes

Chocolate or Caffeinated food/drink

Raw Meats (Not pet food products)

Processed Meats (ie: Hotdogs, Deli Meats)

Any Sugary, salty, fatty, stringy, chewy or seasoned foods

Milk (Hedgehogs are Lactose Intolerant)

Bread

Herbs

Wild Caught Bugs

Cold Food - Feed at room temperature

Mushrooms

Nuts & Seeds of any kind

Anything that is junk food for people

Artificial Sugars

Honey

Dairy Products  - Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant

Some of the products we use

Wet Foods

Wellness Core 95,  Merrick's Duck Cat,  Evanger's Duck, Quail or Rabbit

Essence Air and Game Fowl 

Reptile Links

Reptile links gives us the opportunity to feed Whole Prey to our Herd.  Whole Prey is much different than processed foods and allows your animal the benefits of balanced nutrition much as they would get in the wild. 

www.reptilelinks.com


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