Well, the youngsters continue to POUR into the rescue relentlessly. By now we’ve all done our fair share of rearing youngters at home and I have to say…[touch wood] that we have been incredibly successful in rearing and releasing young birds. It’s an absolute joy to see a wild bird fly off and begin it’s long life in the great outdoors! This year has seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of tiny baby hedgehogs and chicks coming in, far more than usual. Maybe the endless rain has had an negative impact.These ducklings have a heat lamp in their quarters to keep them warm and they eat for England. As fast as you muck them out they have the place trashed again.
This herring gull is another mucky guy….it’s hard to keep his quarters clean so we just put him in a clean cage each day. He’s clipped his wing and is doing really well, so hopefully he should return the the sea in a few weeks. He’s extremely cross about being captive though, and and has caught a few of us with that beak!!! Another guy who LOVES his food! You’d be surprised how much birds eat. This fella gets through a medium can of dog food a day and endless herrings and prawns.
These baby hedgehogs were found wandering by their dead mother. They were tiny when they first came in and had to be bottle fed goats milk. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and take ages to feed as they lap rather than suckle when they are small. It was tricky trying to get a pic of these four, they really are quick on their feet and scatter in all directions.
Ahha! Think I got them all this time!!! These little beauties should all go back to the wild in a few months.
This little hedgehog came in a when it was a week old. It was one of the thinest hedgehogs I’ve EVER seen and was suffering so badly from ringworm it had hardly any prickles. It’s well on the mend now so should be another success story. I just LOVE success stories and for every one we lose we get at leat ten or more to pull through. The endless rain is easing now so hopefully the wildlife will find the environment a little kinder.
Hopefully I’m sorted now……I am dense at times!xxxx
pps
Here I am http://menhir1.wordpress.com,and I see the term’ following’ is used here as well. You need to subscribe to the blog site rather than an individual post. I can see you then both here and at Blogspot, where I do more.
😉
That gull looks rather dangerous.
Lol….I have the scars to prove it!x
Good to see some of the babies are being found and cared for
Thanks John, yes, we are always happy to rescue all critters, especially the little hogs as their numbers are dropping so drastically.x
I just lost a reply to you….********!!
I am getting your posts in full in my email. I am not sure that you are linked into my posts on blogspot. I have also subscribed to your posts at my blogsite address and can get to you from there. The address is:
http://myword1.blogspot.co.uk/.
I should see you if you are a ‘follower’ as its called. A friend from here (WP) follows me over at blogspot. Would you mind having a look at this.
Ta xx
Excellent…..Clearly you’re enjoying life with these young ones… Hugs! :)xx
Thanks Bushka, it’s always good news when the wee beasties survive. xxxxx
P.S. Oooooops, typo. ‘More more’ should read ‘no more’
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Hiya,
I’ve got some pics and a wee story of a pigeon to post. I haven’t got round to it yet, what with all the concentration on sorting out blog site expertise! I shall probably post a couple of things soon on blogspot, (not forgetting here of course).
You’re right, it is nice to see success. The other side of it though, obviously sad, it that you tried. You can do more more.
Look forward to hearing the pigeon story…give me a chance to test if your notifications are coming through!
Yes, we always give it our best which sadly isn’t always good enough.xxxxx
Hahahahaha…oh aye????? so you have a French as well eh?
I do hope you’re trimming that thing on a regular basis!!! I expect it to be all trim and proper when I next see you!xxxxx
Aw ….. smashing.
I realised I’d subscribed twice to this blog so I’ve cancelled my French one. Don’t worry you don’t get away from me that easily (stokes manly beard!!!)
Thanks Leigh-Ann, I love the ducklings, they are so quick, when you open the door to muck them out, they POUR over you in waves!!! It’s like trying to catch water getting them back in.xxxxx
Hi I saw a little hedgehog this morning on a web page and it’s so cute. Are the quills soft at this age or thorny?
Here’s the link of the photo:
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/376890_442662059100592_1195063900_n.jpg
OMG!!! How CUTE is that? wow…is it real????? I HAVE to hold it…NOW! xxxxxxx
Sorry Vahid…the spines harden up a few hours after birth…..then get tougher and tougher…they are as sharp as needles when they curl into a ball.xxxxxx
Ahhhhh seeing that poor little hedgehog with hardly any prickles is heartbreaking! Glad to see he’s getting taken care of 🙂 xxx
Thanks Scarlett…you should have seen him when he came in…almost bald he was! He’s getting lots of tlc now.xxxxxx
So lovely and kind of you to rear the weak animals. I remember the little hedgehogs you’d posted pictures of the other week. Unfortunately they were so little and sick and couldn’t survive. Where will you release them after they recuperate?
Ahhhhhh, thanks Vahid. Yes that was so sad seeing the day old babies die off one by one. We tend to release them in country areas away from cars and people, and we have lots of woods and wild park areas around here so we are spoilt for choice as to where to release them. I always feel a little sad to see them go and do worry about them but at least they have a head start.xxxxxxx