correct age for a wheel ...

Discussion

When i first got into hedgehogs a few years back i was told that a wheel was not to be given until the 12 weeks mark . Over the years i have made contact with other breeders and owners .. who some agree with this and some don't ..
It was said that it would harm the legs , while they were still growing and no matter how much research i have done i cant find evidence to support this claim .. wondered what others peoples views are . Some of our overseas friends give the wheels as young as 5/6 weeks and never had a problem ..
I am much more open to listening to the longer serving breeders as are over seas friends have been doing this for many years more then us ..

discuss ... lol x

with thistle i didnt ever stumble accross the wheel age, i thought it could be given from 6/7 weeks when ready for new homes, so thistle had hers from day one with me, i did notice also the breeder still had the wheel in the zz what the hogs and mom were in so i assumed it would be okay. i havnt seen any problems with legs from growing so i think it is fine from a young age although i am thinking of maybe leaving it out of fudges viv for the first week xx

i put a wheel in the playpen with babies and mum...they seemed to have fun, taking turns to go on the wheel...lol
they were about 6-7weeks old.

its only what they would do in the wild...obviously not on a wheel...but would run around their den...surely...?

Well this is why i thought i would raise it as i also give my babies a wheel in the playpen .. i use a flying saucer so the can have a little toodle round .. Hector loves the larry wheels .. just wondered what everyone thought x

i havnt used the flying saucer but the grooves seemed to make one of the babies feet sore....is this just a one off?

i never thought of that tayer, running in the wild!
they must like having the exercise wheel instead of running around there home xx

Iv seen hogs run circles of the Viv to get excersize.

I was told 12 wks when I got my as babies but Davina was a big hoggie from the start so by 10 wks she weighed more than Dennis did and he was about 7 months so I gave her a wheel at 10 wks hoping that she wouldn't get to fat !! It's interesting to hear everyone's points of view in it , I don't know if there is a right age x

I think its quite a good topic ... Jo .x

i cant see it doing damage...do hogs suffer arthritis?...

My mum's always get a flying saucer when the babies are 5 weeks of age - it helps my mum's to settle - and the babies can use it without incident.

The flying saucer you had Tayer was far too small - that may have had something to do with it - mine have the 12" ones.

My wheels are left in until my females have given birth - I think it helps the mum's to run through their contractions - it is removed when they have given birth and replaced at five weeks with a flying saucer.

In the wild they would be running all over the place - does them good to have a wheel and my babies are fine x

Builds up an appetite too...lol

It does - my hoglets are chunks so better for them to have some exercise me thinks x

Its good to have a open discussion x

I gave flake her wheel at 12 weeks and Twix a bit earlier at 10 weeks due to him being quite destructive at night and also a BIG eater.
I use the large flying saucers and I have never had any issues with regards to injuries etc.

I also use the large flying saucers amy , tiggy sometimes has a bit of blood in her cage off her feet because she runs like the clappers but I put her the silent spinner wheel in that I usually keep in the playpen but she still had sore feet on that , so I put it down to the fact that she is my wheel mad hoggie where the others have a wheel then have a break but she just keeps going & going & going & going !!! Lol x

I also use the large flying saucers for the younger hogs ... All the information that is coming in on keeping th aph is really interesting there are things I was told when I first started that I necessarily wouldn't do now .

Our knowledge is evolving then...how long have aph been in the uk for now?

I no America is about 20 years think over here less then 10

not a long time in uk then, but were learning xx

There is so much advice out there and not everyone is going to agree but the longer I have them the more I learn .

there is lots of conflicting stuff but when you get one then you learn from what you read and do it your own way ive found xx

My Little Miss Daisy Splat is an all night wheeler too Jo. I was chatting to Helen about her and she was saying that she probably jumps on and off throughout the night. Every now and again she has one pad that bleeds a bit though.

I had Little Miss Daisy Splat on a flying saucer until her Larry's wheel came through.

So, are we agreeing that Larry's wheels can be a baby hedgehogs first wheel when they go to their new homes?

xoxox

Hector loves his larry wheel

Never had anything different than a larry wheel.