Hedgehogs are small medicinal animals, and their skin is known as "different incense" or "fairy clothes," which are valued in traditional Chinese medicine. With the development of artificial breeding, raising hedgehogs has become a profitable business.
First, setting up the farm. Hedgehogs are calm and sensitive to light, preferring indoor environments. The location should be quiet and undisturbed. A courtyard is typically built with walls about 0.8 to 1 meter high. Inside, there should be a nesting area connected to an outer space. The inner nest room is filled with hay, pine needles, or straw for comfort, while the outer area is designed for activity—mounds, rockeries, and vegetation are added to encourage foraging, mating, and natural behavior. A 10 square meter area can comfortably house 30 to 50 hedgehogs.
Second, feeding. As nocturnal creatures, hedgehogs are best fed in the evening. Their diet should be well-balanced and cooked. A recommended formula includes 30% corn flour, 20% wheat bran, 10% rice bran, 5% fish meal, 30% vegetables, 2% bone meal, 1% iodized salt, 1% terramycin powder, 1% amino acids, and trace elements. Wild hedgehogs are gradually adapted to domestic feed, which should make up 80% of their diet, with plant-based food introduced slowly. The feed must be fresh, clean, and properly washed. Diversified feeding is essential. For example, a hedgehog weighing 50–150g should get 50g daily, 150–300g gets 75g, and those over 300g need 150g. They eat more in summer and less in winter when they hibernate.
Third, breeding. Domestic hedgehogs should be kept in male-female pairs. Breeding usually occurs in April and May, with 1–2 litters per year. They reach sexual maturity at 2–4 years old. During estrus, females may appear restless, have secretions, and show signs of readiness. The gestation period is around 60 days, with 4–6 offspring per litter, sometimes up to 8. After 30 days, the mother gains weight, becomes sluggish, and develops mild swelling near the tail. She will seek a nest before giving birth. Newborns have soft spines and no fur, but within 20 hours, the spines stand up, and they begin to squeak. Birth weight is about 13–15g. By day 3, the spines harden, and by day 10, their eyes open. At 20 days, they can walk, and by 30 days, they start eating solid food. They are weaned by 40–50 days. At three months, they weigh around 320–350g, gaining about 100g per month. The fastest growth occurs between the lactation period and 100 days after weaning, so careful management is crucial to ensure quality and length of the skin.
Fourth, disease prevention and treatment. Common diseases include gastroenteritis, skin lice, and scrub typhus. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include weakness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Reduce feed and add oxytetracycline to the food, given three times a day. Gentamicin injections (25,000 units per hip) can also be used. For skin rashes, remove white flakes and apply antiseptic cream. Alternatively, use a vinegar-soaked tobacco solution mixed with trichlorfon and apply it to the affected area. For scrub typhus, feed twice daily and continue for two days. Regular health checks are important, especially for non-infected hedgehogs. Twice a year, check their strength, the shine of their spines, body condition, and whether their spines are tight and healthy.
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