There are a ton of herbs, nuts and seeds out in the world and almost everyone has at least one of each in their home. While most are healthy to humans, they may not be as useful for hedgehogs. I’ve done some research and made a list containing the most common herbs, nuts and seeds and if hedgehogs can eat them or not.
Hedgehogs can eat almost any herbs, as long as you cut them into tiny bitesize pieces before serving. However, there are some exceptions, for example, alfalfa and aloe vera. In addition, some seeds like chia seeds, oats, watermelon seeds, and wheat general should also be avoided. Hedgehogs can eat all nuts as long you crush them into small pieces before serving.
I’m not a veterinarian, and you should consult with one before changing your hedgehog’s diet. However, if you wish to treat the hedgehogs in your garden or even your pet hedgehog, and make sure they will get everything they need in their diet. Check out the dry cat food Purina ONE for Indoor cats on Amazon. It contains all vitamins and minerals the hedgehogs need in a small package. I hope this information will be helpful and will benefit you by helping the hedgehogs in your garden.
If you are interested to know which 50+ vegetables hedgehogs can or can not eat you can read the article here.
List of herbs, nuts, seeds, & whether hedgehogs can eat them or not
| Type | Can hedgehogs eat it? |
| Acorns | Yes |
| Alfalfa | No |
| Almonds | Yes |
| Aloe vera | No |
| Birdseed | Yes |
| Chia seeds | No |
| Dandelions | Yes |
| Dried leaves | Yes |
| Dried not | Yes |
| Dried nuts | Yes |
| Dried nuts and seeds | Yes |
| Dried unsalted peanuts | Yes |
| Leaves | Yes |
| Mint | Yes |
| Nuts | Yes |
| Oats | No |
| Pecans | Yes |
| Peanuts | Yes |
| Pumpkin seeds | Yes |
| Sesame seeds | Yes |
| Seeds | Yes |
| Sunflower seeds | Yes |
| Unsalted peanuts | Yes |
| Walnuts | Yes |
| Watermelon seeds | No |
| Wheat | No |
Can hedgehogs eat acorns?
Hedgehogs are omnivores and also opportunistic scavengers. If they can find acorns, they will eat. However, acorns aren’t in their preferred diet. Hedgehogs preferred diet consist of insects like beetles, caterpillars, slugs, worms, and earwigs. They will still eat acorns if the food supply is scarce.
Can hedgehogs eat almonds?
Hedgehogs can eat almonds, but you will need to crush them into smaller pieces first if you plan to serve almonds. Almonds are pretty hard and require some bit of strength to break down. If the almonds aren’t broken down into smaller pieces, the choking hazard is high.
Can hedgehogs eat dried nuts?
Hedgehogs will eat dried nuts if they are presented to them. However, they would rather eat something that comes from the animal kingdom. Preferably slugs, beetles, or worms. If you wish to treat the hedgehogs with some dried nuts, you will need to break the nuts down into smaller pieces. You can put a cloth over them and smash them with a hammer, or why not use a mixer. The smaller pieces, the better.
Can hedgehogs eat dried nuts and seeds?
Hedgehogs like both dried nuts and seeds, but they aren’t on the hedgehog’s preferred diet. They much more prefer mealworms, slugs, and similar. Hedgehogs do, in fact, eat fallen seeds from bird feeders. It would be best to crush the nuts and seeds into smaller pieces before serving them to the hedgehogs—otherwise, the risk of them choking increases.
Can hedgehogs eat dried unsalted peanuts?
Hedgehogs like dried unsalted peanuts since they contain a lot of fat. The peanuts must be out of their shells before serving them. They are too big for the peanut to eat otherwise. If you have a regular can of Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts, you are good to go.
Can hedgehogs eat nuts?
Hedgehogs can eat nuts. The nuts must be broken down into smaller pieces before serving. You can cover the nuts with a cloth and go to town with a hammer or pan. If you have a mixer, that would also be great. There are no nuts the hedgehog can not eat as long as it is crushed into smaller pieces. Although, their preferred diet consists of worms, slugs, and small insects.
Can hedgehogs eat peanuts?
Hedgehogs can eat peanuts. You will need to consider two things when offering them peanuts. Firstly, the peanuts shouldn’t be salted. Salt comes naturally from their regular diet and shouldn’t be added extra by you. Secondly, the peanuts shouldn’t be offered in their shells but instead crushed into smaller pieces. Otherwise, there is a choking hazard. The smaller pieces, the better.
Can hedgehogs eat pecans?
Hedgehogs can eat pecans in moderation. Pecans holds a huge amount of Calcium which is important for hedgehogs. However, with pecans comes a lot of calories. 100g of pecans is 690 calories which almost completely consists of fat. Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October and November until March and April. You could give the hedgehogs some nuts before hibernation so they are filled with calories during their slumber.
Can hedgehogs eat unsalted peanuts?
Hedgehogs can eat unsalted peanuts. They are attracted to the high-fat content. It’s important not to serve the hedgehogs the peanuts in their natural shell. The shells are too big for the hedgehog and don’t provide any nutritional benefit. Remove the shells and break down the peanuts even smaller.
Can hedgehogs eat walnuts?
Hedgehogs can eat walnuts as long as they are removed from their shells and crushed into smaller pieces. Walnuts are pretty large and don’t fit their mouths. Walnuts provide the hedgehogs with good fats, which is great before hibernation.
Can hedgehogs eat birdseed?
Hedgehogs can eat birdseed. They are usually eating fallen seeds from birdfeeders. However, there can be a risk of excess feeding if you don’t provide the hedgehogs with anything else but seeds. So instead, offer them various foods, where their favorites like worms, slugs, and insects are included.
Can hedgehogs eat chia seeds?
Hedgehogs can’t eat chia seeds. Even though chia seeds are quite small compared to other seeds, they swell quite exponentially when exposed to liquids. Chia seeds are made from cellulose, and hedgehogs might have problems with breaking them down. Try to give the hedgehog sprouted chia seeds in small amounts instead.
Can hedgehogs eat oats?
While oats are an excellent food for humans, they aren’t quite as good for hedgehogs. Oats are high in phosphorus and potassium, which may be beneficial for humans. However, oats can be harmful to hedgehogs. When providing too much phosphorus may cause a lack of calcium deficiency and harm the kidneys. So instead, provide the hedgehogs with a well-balanced ratio of Calcium and Phosphorus. Cats and hedgehogs require almost the same nutrients, and while the cat market is larger and more established than the hedgehog market. I recommend providing the hedgehogs with nutrient-rich cat biscuits instead. Go for dry cat food. I strongly recommend Purina ONE for indoor cats. Indoor cats don’t get the same exercise as outdoor cats and don’t need as many calories. Check out the price on Amazon here. Usually, it’s a fair price.
Can hedgehogs eat pumpkin seeds?
Hedgehogs can eat pumpkin seeds as long as they are taken out of their shells and crushed into smaller pieces. Pumpkin seeds are normally too large for the hedgehogs and cause suffocation. Therefore, you will need to break them into smaller parts before serving them.
Can hedgehogs eat sesame seeds?
Hedgehogs can eat sesame seeds in moderation. It shouldn’t be in their daily diet but can still be offered from time to time.
Can hedgehogs eat seeds?
Birds usually drop seeds from their feeders. Since hedgehogs are opportunistic animals, they will try to eat as many as they can. If you wish to treat your hedgehogs with seeds of their own, do so in moderation. Seeds are usually high in fat and are often pretty large. The size of the seeds needs to be as tiny as possible so they won’t get stuck in their throats.
Can hedgehogs eat sunflower seeds?
Sunflower seeds are ok to give to hedgehogs as long it’s given in moderation. Sunflower seeds contain a lot of fat which could be beneficial before they go to hibernate. However, you should crush the seeds before serving, since they otherwise are a choking hazard.
Can hedgehogs eat watermelon seeds?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat watermelon seeds. Although watermelon is a refreshing treat for hedgehogs and can be offered to them, you should remove the seeds first.
Can hedgehogs eat wheat?
Grains overall shouldn’t be served to hedgehogs. Although hedgehog’s favorite food insects are usually found on grains, they can by mistake eat some of them. If you plan to feed hedgehogs grain-free food, make sure it hasn’t a too high amount of phosphorous.
Can hedgehogs eat alfalfa?
When purchasing a hedgehog as a pet, it happens that the breeder suggests feeding it with alfalfa. Or even sometimes use alfalfa as hay. It would be best if you neither fed your pet hedgehog nor the hedgehogs visiting your garden with alfalfa. And also, do not use alfalfa hay since it can harm your hedgehog.
Can hedgehogs eat aloe vera?
Aloe vera has been proclaimed as a miracle plant for humans. However, there are some parts of it hedgehogs can not eat. The aloe plant contains a lot of liquid which is toxic for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs can only eat the dry part of the aloe plant; I wouldn’t risk feeding it to hedgehogs.
Can hedgehogs eat dandelions?
Hedgehogs can eat dandelions. Dandelions are not toxic for them. Although it isn’t their favorite food and would much more prefer slugs, snails, and insects, they would still eat it if food supplies were scarce.
Can hedgehogs eat dried leaves?
Hedgehogs like dried leaves as shelter. They love to cuddle up in a nice warm pile of leaves. As a food, not so much. Unless the dried leaves are from vegetables like kale, lettuce, and other leafy greens, in that case, they would eat until the sun goes down.
Can hedgehogs eat dried not?
Not or Forget me not flowers as they are called are not toxic to hedgehogs and can be eaten by them. However, they do much more prefer animal food like worms, snails, and insects.
Can hedgehogs eat leaves?
Hedgehogs can eat leaves, but they do much more prefer leaves as a shelter. There’s not much that beats the warm feeling of sleeping in a warm pile of leaves. They do not wish to eat fallen tree leaves, but they do like the leaves from vegetables. Please make sure the leaves aren’t toxic to them first.
Can hedgehogs eat mint?
Hedgehogs can eat mint leaves. Mint leaves are safe for hedgehogs, but the risk of them getting tired of them is high unless you serve them as a complementary dish to their main dish. Hedgehogs are omnivores and need meat in their diet.
Conclusion
I hope this summary of herbs, nuts, and seeds helps you choose what to feed the hedgehogs in your garden or your pet hedgehog. As mentioned earlier, contact your veterinarian before changing your pet hedgehog’s diet.
If you do not have a pet hedgehog but wish to encourage hedgehogs in your garden I wrote an article about how you can do that easily.
Generally, almost all herbs, nuts and seeds are good for the hedgehogs. Some are toxic to them. The liquids in Aloe vera can be lethal and should never be offered.
If you want to be on the safe side, you can treat the hedgehogs with some dry cat food for indoor cats. They hold fewer calories due to the lack of exercise indoor cats receive but still have a high amount of nutrients. I recommend Purina ONE on Amazon.