You could try taking an old t-shirt, wear it for a couple days so it smells like you (do not wash it) and give it to the hedgies to sleep in. They will get used to your scent. Hedgehogs will ball up and hiss at you because they don't know who you are yet. Try moving slowly, they get startled by quick movement. Let them sniff your hand first and then try petting them.

 

Bonding with hedgehogs takes time, especially if they're older. How old are they? You really need to be patient as it could take weeks, even months, for them to be completely comfortable with you, and some hedgehogs will always be grumpy.

Like sonics1 said, try the "t-shirt" trick. Mainly, you just need to handle them for at least 30 minutes every day. I started my process by just uncovering them and putting my hand in front of them and letting them smell me for a minute, then scooping them up (if you're sensitive to their quills you might want to use a fleece blanket or towel to pick them up). I would just snuggle with them while I watched TV or messed around on the computer. Some people here sell "sleep sacks" you could use, or you could just use a blanket, which is what I do. I have a blanket that I use at night, so it smells like me, and that is what I let my hedgies burrow in for snuggle time .

The main thing is to handle them both every day and the be patient.

 

thx all for replying so soon..... its so weird that i have 1 that wont come out from its ball and the other when he smells me he tends to wanna bite me more!!~ im scared when animals bite!!~

 

Ah, I have a biter as well. Try to pick him/her up with a blanket. It may stop with time, or you may just have to et used to "keeping your hands and feet inside the ride at all times" as my husband calls it. Also, make sure you aren't wearing any perfume or cologne because hedgies tend to want to taste anything they deem interesting

 

Hey JessHog haha so its not just mine that i thought were crazy!!~ lol...... does he bite hard?? i tried washing my hands but he still thinks im food...

 

You've only had them for 2 days, so it's very possible that they're still nibbling just to taste you and get to know you. Once they get familiar with your scent and taste will likely stop, or at least not do it as often. That's why bonding time is so important.

 

Abby is right. You haven't really had your hogs long enough to know if they're crazy or not lol. So far everything you have said they are doing is completely normal. You need to be patient and handle them for 30 minutes MINIMUM (preferably longer) every single day. If you miss a day you're basically back to square one.

 

yea~~ i think so to but how can i play with them for 30 mins a day if it wont stop turning into ball??

i gave them crystal pears and they didnt eat it?? i also gave them small worm which they wont really eat!!!!!!!~

 

You can still pick them up while their in a ball.

Some hedgies are very picky eaters. Mine won't eat mealworms but he loves chicken baby food.

 

im very scared when it turns into a ball...... its sos prickly

 

You get used to it. If you need to use some fleece so the quills don't hurt you.

 

mine cant stop eating them.... i use clippers not my hand is that still good bonding?? he will eat from it though

 

If your hedgie won't stop eating what you're handing him, stop giving him so much. My hedgehog could eat 20 mealworms in one sitting if I let him, but that would make him incredibly sick. When you give them special treats like that, don't force it on them and don't give them too much.

I use tweezers when I give Piglet mealworms and it's fine. But aside from feeding him treats you need to be handling/holding him at least 30 minutes every day in order to bond. Even if he's just sleeping in a blanket on your lap.

 

I have a question that I haven't seen answered in any of your posts so far...

Are the hedgehogs in the same cage? And what sex are they? Are they both female, or one male/one female, or both male?

 

I wondered the same thing Lilysmommy

 

Lillysmommy, i was just reading through this post and DYING to ask that question. I'm so glad you did!