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[kitykatfunkihat]

how do i get my hedgie to calm down while handling him and stop his biting?

Comments

[sterlingspider]

I find that lots and lots of quiet together time is useful.

Try and take him out while he is sleeping and sit him in your lap in a comfy blanket. Feed him mealies when he's hanging out on you and being calm (though I'm always wary of where my fingers are after that as I expect even the slightest hint of mealy smell on me will earn me a good chomp). Learn to deal with a bit of clothing chewing but keep flesh out of the way.

Generally do what you can to associate nice pleasant calm times with your smell.

Also remember that hedgies up to a year old can still quill, it's entirely possible he's just quilling and is very uncomfortable.

[kitykatfunkihat]

how do you know they are quilling?

[sterlingspider]

Try to look closely at his skin (I know, ha ha) and see if it looks like he has some "quill stubble" growing in between all the other quills.

It's also likely that you will find shed quills in his bedding and around his cage.

[kitykatfunkihat]

he doesnt seem to be quilling. i looked for them in his cage while cleaning it today. and he has a think coat of them on himself.

but today he bit me so hard i almost cried. thats all he does is bite me. i don't know what to do. i clean my hands, i handle him gently, ive blown on his face. nothing works. he just bites me.
and when i do hold him, he tries to nibble, or just will not stop moving and running around