What are the key breeding techniques for raising hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity at 11-12 months of age after birth, and 2-4 years old is the peak breeding period. Hedgehogs breed 1-2 times a year, with 3-6 young per litter, and some as many as 8-9.
1. Estrus and mating
March to May each year is the breeding season for hedgehogs, and robust but not overly fat hedgehogs should be selected for mating. Males and females can be distinguished by the distance between the genital opening and the anus; generally the male's genital opening is farther from the anus while the female's is closer. In male hedgehogs, the testes descend into the scrotum only during the estrus season, and fights often occur between males in estrus. During estrus, females become more active, the external genitalia are swollen, and the pubic hair becomes sparse.
Mating in hedgehogs mostly takes place at night. During courtship, the male makes a purring sound, often butting with its snout and mounting the female. After several tens of minutes of courtship activity, the female responds by bending her body forward, and the male then climbs onto the female's back to mate, completing ejaculation after a few minutes.
Artificial breeding of hedgehogs mainly adopts the following two mating methods: (1) One male with multiple females. This method is mostly used in pen rearing, that is, during the breeding season, 1 male hedgehog is kept together with 4-5 female hedgehogs for free mating. (2) One male with one female. This is often used in cage rearing, that is, according to the female's estrus condition, the female is promptly caught and placed in the male's cage to be kept together for a few days, during which mating and conception are checked daily. On the morning after mating, the female's vaginal secretions can be examined microscopically; if sperm is found, it proves that mating was successful. The female can then be taken away and replaced with another female in estrus. Males generally mate every other day, and throughout the breeding season, it is appropriate for each male to mate with 4-5 females.
2. Pregnancy and birthing
The gestation period of the female hedgehog is about 60 days. After 35 days of pregnancy, body weight increases markedly; at about 45 days, movement becomes sluggish and there is mild swelling of the perineum. During pregnancy, attention should be paid to the nutritional status of the hedgehog, increasing animal-based feed and vitamin content. In the half month before giving birth, the fetus develops especially quickly, and feeding should be increased by 1 time per day. 1-2 days before giving birth, the female appears restless and seeks grass to make a nest; dry, clean, soft bedding straw should be provided promptly outside the nest for the female to make her own nest. During birthing, the environment must be kept quiet, and the hedgehog must not be disturbed, so as to ensure smooth delivery and avoid the young being eaten.
3. Nursing of young hedgehogs
Newborn young hedgehogs weigh 13-15 grams, have unopened eyes, a smooth body, pink skin, and shadows of spines under the skin. About 10 hours after birth, white soft spines about 2 mm long grow out. After 3 days of age, the spines are about 10 mm long and harden, the skin color changes from red to gray, and new black spines grow. At 5 days of age, the body can curl up and begins to respond to external stimuli, such as making a roaring sound in response to stimuli like touch. At about 15 days of age, the eyes open. At 20-25 days of age, front teeth grow out, and they can leave the nest with the mother to lick food. At about 45 days of age, they are weaned.
Throughout the lactation period, special attention should be paid to strengthening feeding management. Nursing female hedgehogs carry a relatively heavy burden and should be given mainly animal-based feed; they can be fed some yellow mealworms, silkworm pupae, etc., fed 1 time each in the morning and evening. At the same time, observe body condition; when the nursing female is found to have insufficient milk or no milk, promptly carry out artificial lactation promotion: use 1 gram of cowherb seed (Wangbuliuxing) and 1 gram of Tetrapanax papyrifer pith, add 40 ml of water, decoct for 20-30 minutes, and when the water remains at 10 ml, add it to the feed. Generally, taking it for 2 days is effective. If the nursing female is found to be ill or have insufficient milk, other nursing females with fewer young and a similar birthing period should promptly be found to nurse part of the young. During the lactation period, nursing females have the habit of licking the feces and urine of the young hedgehogs, so the nest should be kept hygienic to prevent them from licking filth and thereby developing diseases.
After weaning, the female hedgehog can again come into estrus and mate. Young hedgehogs are kept in groups according to body weight and size. In the initial period, the feed should be mainly animal-based, such as various worms, etc.; a relatively thin milk paste made from flour and milk can also be used for feeding, with added calcium powder and vitamins A and D. The milk paste should gradually be made thicker, slowly transitioning to normal feed. At 3 months of age, young hedgehogs can reach a body weight of more than 300 grams. This period is the fastest-growing stage in a hedgehog's life, and careful management and strengthened feeding should be carried out to improve the quality and size of the hedgehog skin.