Hedgehogs can seem intriguing and equally intimidating, especially with the numerous old wives’ tales about their sharp quills. Wondering how the quills feel to touch is perfectly legitimate among folks interested in these exotic animals but yet to hold one.

This article answers the question “Do Hedgehogs Hurt To Hold?” by discussing how hedgehog quills feel to the touch and the best time to hold them for minimal discomfort. We also reveal tips and tricks to decrease the risk of getting poked by their quills.

Do Hedgehogs Hurt To Hold?

Hedgehog quills may hurt to touch when they ball up as a response to potential threats in their environment because the quills become more erect and evenly spread out. Physical contact with the quills does not hurt when the hedgehog is relaxed making them relatively flaccid.

Many folks describe the feeling of touching a balled-up hedgehog’s quills as comparable to toothpicks which can poke the hands resulting in pain. However, the quills may feel more like a hairbrush when hedgehogs are relaxed with no fear of threats in their environment.

Exercise caution when handling hedgehogs because they remain responsive to changes in their environment and could go from relaxed to agitated in a matter of seconds. In essence, the physical handling of hedgehogs could switch from a mild, toothbrush-like feel to a potentially painful, toothpick-like sensation within the space of 10 seconds or less.

What Are Hedgehog Quills?

Quills are hollow spines found on top of the hedgehog’s back muscles. They comprise keratin, the same chemical found in the hair and nails of animals and humans. A hedgehog’s spines are essentially modified hairs.

Quills come in handy for hedgehogs during life-threatening situations because their flexible back muscles allow quick curl-up into balls. This transforms the quills to become more erect and ready to poke into the skins of predators that attempt to make physical contact.

The balling up also protects the hedgehog’s soft underbelly from exposure to predators and this is often enough to stave off potential attacks.

Why Do Hedgehogs Have Quills Instead of Fur?

Hedgehogs have quills instead of fur because of an increased need for survival in the wild where predators like badgers, ferrets, foxes, and owls abound. It is their main defense mechanism alongside their nocturnal behavior to repel potential attacks from relatively larger animals.

Quills or spines are modified hairs for hedgehogs since they mainly comprise keratin, the active chemical found in the hair and nails of mammals.

Are Hedgehogs Born With Quills?

Hoglets are born with a protective membrane covering their quills to eliminate the risk of poking the mothers’ uterus during pregnancy and childbirth. The mother quickly nibbles on this membrane to free up the newborn.

A hoglet’s quills typically appear whitish and soft during infancy but the color changes over time as the hedgehog undergoes quilling, the natural mechanism where baby quills are shed for more developed spines.

Hoglet quills are gentle to the touch with no risk of poking due to the texture and relatively wide distances from one quill to the other.

How Many Quills Do Hedgehogs Have?

The average adult hedgehog can have 3000 to 7,000 quills depending on factors like age, breed, and state of health. As previously stated, these spines act as the hedgehog’s main line of defense against predators in the wild.

Hedgehogs may not have the sharpest sight but their exceptional hearing and sense of smell offer compensatory benefits. They typically curl into a protective ball immediately after hearing the steps and noises of an approaching predator.

This is possible thanks to their flexible back muscles and sophisticated curling-up technique which ensures that their underbellies are fully locked into the interior of the ball. With their strong back muscles and poking quills displayed externally, breaking up the ball becomes extremely difficult while the poking quills serve as another barrier of entry to gain access to their soft underbellies.

The majority of predators walk away after trying and failing to gain access to the hedgehogs’ attractive underbellies and this is the main reason why wild hedgehogs are able to survive the harsh realities on the ground.

Domesticated hedgehogs may be immune from predators but they still curl up instinctively when faced with potentially-threatening situations. Even loud noises or handling by strangers could spook domesticated hedgehogs into ball-ups without delay.

Do Hedgehogs Detach their Quills?

Hedgehogs do not shoot their quills and neither do porcupines despite the popular old wives’ tales about these small mammals. Sure, hedgehogs may experience quill fallout just like other animals and even humans lose their hair.

However, this isn’t some deliberate action that can be taken whenever they face situations that demand it. Quill losses may be due to quilling, mite infestations, or even malnutrition.

Why is My Hedgehog Losing Quills?

Hedgehogs may lose quills naturally due to quilling, a molting process where baby quills fall out to be replaced by adult quills. Hedgehogs are born with sparsely populated spines that are comfortable to the touch.

However, hedgehogs face increasing threats from predators as they grow older and tougher, and more intimidating quills become necessary. Hence, the need for Hedgehogs to shed the baby quills in favor of stronger, more menacing quills that can help provide the defensive cover required to stave off attacks.

At around four to six months old, hedgehogs undergo another round of quilling where the current quills fall off for replacements to automatically poke through their skins. Within 3-5 days after undergoing quilling, replacement quills should be springing up on the hedgehog’s skin.

Hedgehogs may undergo additional quilling rounds as and when necessary throughout their lifetimes and as long as replacements pop up, there’s absolutely no cause for concern. However, do not hesitate to visit an exotics vet when large numbers of quills are shed without replacements.

Do Hedgehog Quills Regrow?

Hedgehog quills regrow when shed as a result of quilling, the natural process where more advanced quills pop up to replace existing quills. The regrowth period often takes about 3-5 days but older hedgehogs may experience slower regrowths.

It is not uncommon to discover a few fallen quills in the hedgehog’s cage after the first 2 molting rounds. But, it is a completely normal reaction with no cause for alarm and in most cases, the detached quills may not grow back.

Aging may also cause quill losses in hedgehogs once in a while just like humans experience hair loss as they grow. However, if your hedgehog starts experiencing mass quill shedding without replacements, a quick visit to the local exotics vet should be arranged because it is often a sign of trouble.

Mite infestations are a leading cause of unnatural quill losses in hedgehogs. Undernourished hedgehogs may also experience similar symptoms and often, the vet diagnoses the underlying cause of the condition for the right treatment to be formulated.

Are Hedgehog Quills Poisonous?

Hedgehog quills contain no venom or poisonous substances that can trigger infections or death when handled. However, wild hedgehogs may coat their spines with venom after killing and eating poisonous toads and other insects.

This poison is used to “anoint” their quills which serves as another protective mechanism against larger and physically more powerful predators. Domesticated hedgehogs typically anoint their bodies with saliva due to the absence of venom.

How To Minimize the Risk of Getting Poked When Handling Hedgehogs

Scared of getting poked by the hedgehog’s quills? No need to be because they can be handled safely by following the steps below.

Learn Proper Handling

Hedgehogs need to be handled regardless of their mood especially when they first arrive in a new home. They usually appear agitated and may cringe at the human touch but they still need to be handled because that is the only way to build a bond in the long term.

Hedgehogs can tell when they’re being handled nervously which spooks fear and may trigger roll-ups. The result is a high risk of the owner’s fingers getting trapped in the hedgehog’s ball culminating in severe pain.

Proper handling could boost the hedgehog’s confidence that it is in safe hands and eliminate fears that may stimulate instinctive curling up.

Avoid scaring Hedgehogs When Handling

Avoid stress triggers that may spook fear and force the hedgehog to go into defensive mode. Not only can this increase the risk of roll-ups but their spines also become erect when they feel defensive. The risk of getting poked increases which could lead to severe discomfort.

It is not uncommon for owners to neglect their hedgehogs for a few days after getting poked by the sharp quills.

Wear Thick Protective Gloves

Wearing thick gloves is not recommended because hedgehogs need to get familiar with their owner’s body scents which necessitate physical touch with their bare hands. Hedgehogs are able to relax their spines after recognizing familiar scents which can limit the risk of getting poked.

However, wearing thick garden gloves may be a great idea for handling hedgehogs that do not need to get used to your body scents. For instance, gloved hands may save you from getting poked by a neighbor, friend, or family member’s hedgehog.

Hand gloves could also protect anyone from exposure to zoonotic infections and diseases from a hedgehog owned by a third party.

Should You Avoid Raising Hedgehogs Due To Their Quills?

Hedgehogs may have sharp spines that could cause painful hand pokes when mishandled but should that discourage anybody from raising one at home? Hedgehogs are fast emerging as a popular option for folks interested in raising exotic pets.

Although they may look intimidating, they can be sweet souls after familiarity with their owners’ body scents. They are relatively easy to care for and require an appropriately sized cage in addition to components like toys, running wheels, hideouts, water bottles, and food bowls.

Unlike the majority of exotic pets, hedgehogs are low-maintenance and only require regular handling for half an hour or so. They’re self-cleaning so most folks only have to bathe their hedgehogs 1-2 times each month.

Daily footbaths may be required but only as a preventative measure against hedgehog poop boots. Hedgehogs are fond of messing up their cages with indiscriminate pooping. Litter training could be a great solution although the results are not guaranteed.

Unlike many exotic pets, hedgehog diets are relatively simple and comprise wet or dry cat food mixed with fruits, vegetables, insects, and additional protein sources like hardboiled eggs. They may also eat cooked meats although we recommend lean options like poultry and lamb.

Commercially formulated hedgehog diets are also available online and in pet stores, although they may not be as popular as cat food. Others may decide to feed dog food to their hedgehogs occasionally or as a staple. Either way, high-protein, and low-fat foods are required to meet the nutritional needs of hedgehogs.

Cages come in various styles and sizes but we recommend choosing one that can accommodate the hedgehog plus additional bells and whistles like toys, running wheels, and water bottles. Do not forget to choose a cage that encourages easy owner access to hedgehogs without escape points.

The right cage should also offer considerable floor space for the hedgehog to roam about and play after fitting the required components. Additionally, the cage should feature bedding like fleece to provide warmth while wicking moisture from the hedgehog’s urine and dripping water bottles.

Water bottles can be securely installed inside or outside the cage to provide consistent hydration while shallow, tip-resistant, ceramic food bowls could come in handy for serving their food. Owners should provide fresh food immediately after the hedgehog wakes up and refill the water bottle daily to prevent biofilm formation.

Running wheels are a must-have in a hedgehog’s cage to help expend the accumulated calories from their diet. This promotes healthy weight regulation while keeping the hedgehog’s mind mentally stimulated to eliminate boredom and minimize stress.

Keep in mind that hedgehogs roam for 2-3km each night in search of food, water, and mating partners. Since that is impossible in domesticated settings, a running wheel could be essential to their health and overall wellbeing.

Hedgehogs can be a wonderful addition to the home even for ultra-busy owners who cannot dedicate extensive hours to their care. They display several natural quirks that could destress owners after a hard day’s work. These creatures love to dig even in domesticated settings so do not be surprised to discover pet hedgehogs burrowing to the bottom of their cages.

There are several toy options for hedgehogs to stay entertained even in the absence of the popular running wheels. These toys may also enhance their mental growth and eliminate cage rage, which is typical when they spend excessive periods in their cages.

Hedgehogs may be taken outdoors for a change of scenery especially during the summer when temperatures typically soar. The feeling of fresh air on their skin can enhance moods which improve their comfort after returning to their cages.

A major downside of raising hedgehogs is the risk of contracting deadly diseases and infections via physical contact with humans. This is possible in both wild and domesticated hedgehogs, with several instances of salmonella outbreaks caused by pet hedgehogs.

Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds immediately after physical contact with hedgehogs, their cage components, or any surfaces that may have experienced physical contact with the hedgehog.

Avoid bringing hedgehogs to your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen to minimize the risk of exposure to not only salmonella but other infections as well.

Where Can You Buy Hedgehogs From?

Hedgehogs may be sourced from a variety of sellers. However, we recommend choosing a USDA-certified seller with a reputation for delivering quality hoglets. Newborn hedgehogs may be purchased online or offline depending on your preferences.

Either way, make sure the seller has independent reviews or a track record that can be verified from independent sources before making the purchase. Also, do not hesitate to ask for extras like health guarantees.

Ask about the seller’s return policy and pay a visit for a first-hand experience of the breeding operations to be sure of the highest ethical standards before confirming the order for a hoglet.

Here are the most popular sources of new hoglets:

• Local pet stores
• USDA-Certified private breeders
• Pet charities
• Local vet
• Exotic Animal Trade Shows
• Facebook groups
• Business or private websites

Conclusion

Handling hedgehogs may hurt or not depending on their state of mind at any point as well as the handler’s experience level. Many first-timers feel extremely nervous when handling hedgehogs which usually spooks fear in the spiky animal because they can tell when they’re being mishandled.

The result is a high probability of triggering roll-ups which can make the hedgehog’s quills stand upright and become more painful to the touch. Learning proper handling of hedgehogs is the best way to minimize poking incidents and the resultant discomfort.

Hedgehogs defend themselves with their quills by rolling up into spiky balls to cover their soft underbellies. Hoglets shed their baby quills for more advanced ones that can withstand predatory attacks after 6-8 weeks. They may undergo additional quilling rounds throughout their lifetimes to meet the defensive demands of their environment.