Hedgehogs good - Rabbits bad

Posts

• raisingirl East Devon, on the Edge of Exmoor.Posts: 3,626

  13 August

  nope. Rabbits will exploit the weakness long before the hedgehogs find it. Better to maybe set a little area aside outside the fence line with a hogitat to encourage the hedgehogs. Gives you somewhere to lob the slugs from inside the fence line from which they hopefully will not return. 

  Flying...
  Or am I falling?
  

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• Fairygirl west central ScotlandPosts: 27,001

  13 August

  @raisingirl is right - unfortunately. Make sure your fence is well below soil level too - those b***ers can dig for victory. They make Charles Bronson in The Great Escape look like a total novice....
  
  Satisfying, that slug tossing, isnt it? I prefer to lob the snails though. The ones here have got massive shells. Nice and easy to get a good pitcher's grip on 'em. 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  

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• Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,410

  13 August

  Be sure not to catch any hedgehogs in the netting @plummet , they can get their little feet caught up in the holes which could possibly cause them to die in the most agonizing way. Rabbits are a pain for veg gardeners and luckily we haven't had too much of a problem with them - although I feel your frustration and desire to keep them away.
  

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• cornelly Posts: 742

  13 August

  I found chicken wire a good deterrent against rabbits, as Fairygirl says make sure the wire is secure well below the surface.

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• philippa smith2 Posts: 7,620

  13 August

  As you don't actually say that you have seen evidence of Hedgehogs in your vicinity, before getting too excited, I'd make sure that they are about otherwise you could be expending effort for no reason.
  Apologies if I have misunderstood.
  Lucky me that I've never had to contend with rabbits but the advice given above seems to cover the problem.. 

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• plummet Posts: 5

  14 August

  philippa smith2 said:

  As you don't actually say that you have seen evidence of Hedgehogs in your vicinity, before getting too excited ...
  
  I have seen hedgehogs in the area.  I have even rescued one that was stuck at the bottom of our cellar steps.  However I am sure that their numbers around here are getting less.  Sad to say in many ways, but we used to see many squashed on the roads, but now it is a rare sight.
  
  Plummet 

  
  

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• AnniD Posts: 4,946

  14 August

  At the very least, you could always put out a dish of water and maybe some cat biscuits @plummet.
  As far as l know rabbits don't eat cat biscuits? If you can't do that at the allotment maybe you could at home, if you don't already 

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• Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,410

  14 August

  A tiny baby hoglet and three adults here last night - that is cheering after the episode with the crows attacking and mainly killing the three little hogs last month.  I do hope this little one keeps out of their way.
  

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• philippa smith2 Posts: 7,620

  14 August

  plummet said:

  
  I have seen hedgehogs in the area.  I have even rescued one that was stuck at the bottom of our cellar steps.  However I am sure that their numbers around here are getting less.  Sad to say in many ways, but we used to see many squashed on the roads, but now it is a rare sight.
  
  Plummet 

  
  

  In that case, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that they will visit your allotment.
  I had them as regular visitors in my last garden ( all the kit including food and detailed instructions left with new owner !! ) but none in the new garden.
  More squashed Badgers and Pheasants round here than Hedgehogs these days.

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• purplerallim LincolnshirePosts: 2,118

  14 August

  Good to hear they are trying again @Guernsey Donkey2 and hope these make it.

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