Eggs are a great addition to our diet in any space. They are packed with a lot of essential nutrients required by our bodies. Besides, they can be prepared in several ways to make them even more delicious. So, the question for the day is, can Hedgehogs eat eggs? Is it safe for them? Let’s find out!
Eggs make an amazing treat for our Hedgehogs. Eggs are rich in protein and other vital nutrients required for our Hedgehogs’ healthy growth and development. The best option is to serve our Hedgehogs with plain boiled or scrambled eggs. Avoid serving them with raw eggs. Also, portion control is the key.
Hedgehogs have a sensitive digestive system that cannot handle complex carbohydrates and sugar very well. Therefore, serving eggs to such Hedgehogs that already have digestive issues can lead to a severe health problem in them.
Also, not all preparations of eggs can be served to our Hedgehogs. Therefore, you must first ensure if a particular preparation is safe or not before serving it to your Hedgehogs. Now, let’s look at the nutritional value of eggs, to begin with.
Nutrition In Eggs
Let us look in detail the nutritional values of 100 grams of hard-boiled egg.
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | 74.6 g |
| Energy | 155 kcal |
| Protein | 12.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 10.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by the difference | 1.12 g |
| Sugars, total including NLEA | 1.12 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 50 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.19 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 10 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 172 mg |
| Potassium, K | 126 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 124 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.05 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.013 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.026 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.513 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.121 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 1.11 µg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 149 µg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 2.2 µg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.27 g |
So, now we know the nutritional value of eggs, let us learn more about the good and bad sides of feeding eggs to our Hedgehogs.
Do Hedgehogs Like To Eat Eggs?
Most Hedgehogs love to munch on eggs. They love its taste. Sometimes, the taste preference also depends upon the personality of the Hedgehogs. However, overfeeding can lead to a lot of problems in our Hedgehogs.
Serving plain boiled eggs has several benefits for our Hedgehogs. However, even though it does have so many benefits, it is not advised to overfeed it to your Hedgehogs.
Is Egg Good For Hedgehogs?
Eggs contain a lot of nutrients for our Hedgehogs. It is rich in VItamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin D. These vitamins are essential for our Hedgehogs.
Vitamin A makes their eyesight stronger. Vitamin B is good for their fur growth. Vitamin D makes their immune system stronger, which prevents a lot of diseases.
It also contains a lot of antioxidants which is important for our Hedgehogs. It also reduces the risk of many diseases.
The calcium present in eggs makes the bones and teeth of your Hedgehogs much stronger. Although too much of it can lead to the formation of bladder stones, if you serve it to them in a moderate quantity, you should not be worried much.
Eggs contain a decent amount of iron that makes sure that their immune system is strong. This helps in preventing a lot of diseases. Not only this, but it also helps in the transport of oxygen throughout the body.
It also contains a lot of proteins which is essential for our Hedgehogs. In addition, it helps with the process of repair of tissues.
Is Egg Bad For Hedgehogs?
Eggs are not bad for our Hedgehogs at all if served in moderation. Although if you overfeed it to them, it can lead to a couple of problems. Here are some of the hazards of overfeeding eggs to your Hedgehogs:
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is a prevalent disease in Hedgehogs. The sudden introduction of new foods often causes it. Therefore, you should always feed new food items to your Hedgehogs slowly in small quantities to avoid any chances of diarrhea.
- Obesity: Eggs contain a decent amount of fats which can lead to obesity if overfed. Although if you feed eggs to them in a moderate quantity, then you should not be worried.
- Urinary Problems: The calcium in eggs can often lead to some urinary complications and even the formation of bladder stones if overfed.
- Chronic Diseases: Overfeeding food rich in fat can often lead to chronic diseases in our Hedgehogs. It is essential to serve them a balanced diet and contain all the nutrients in the proper amount.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Raw Eggs?
Even though Hedgehogs can eat raw eggs, it is suggested to avoid them. This is because there are more disadvantages of serving raw eggs to your Hedgehogs than advantages.
Raw eggs are often contaminated with bacteria which is toxic for our Hedgehogs. It might also lead to certain diseases which are caused by the deficiency of Vitamin-B. So try to avoid serving raw eggs.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Scrambled Eggs?
Hedgehogs are an excellent choice for our Hedgehogs. You can also mix it with a few other vegetables to make sure that their diet is balanced.
Make sure that you serve it to them in the suggested quantity and not overfeed it to them.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Boiled Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat boiled eggs without much problem. Not only is it safe for them but it is also an excellent treat.
Although you need to make sure that you do not over-boil the eggs, serving over-boiled eggs might lead to some problems, so try to avoid them.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Hard-Boiled Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat hard-boiled eggs. It is an excellent treat for them. It would help if you tried to serve boiled eggs to your Hedgehogs more than any other form. It would be best if you only served it to them a small slice at a time.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Soft-Boiled Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat soft-boiled eggs. It is very beneficial for them. Make sure that you do not overfeed it to them and serve it only in the suggested quantity.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Egg Yolk?
Hedgehogs cannot eat egg yolk as it does not have any nutritional value for our Hedgehogs. It can also lead to the growth of bacteria which is not good at all.
Hence, do not feed egg yolk to your Hedgehogs.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Cooked Egg Yolk?
Hedgehogs cannot eat cooked egg yolk as well since it does not provide any nutritional value. It also contains additional oil, which is not good for them at all.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Egg Shells?
Hedgehogs cannot eat eggshells at all. This is because of its excess calcium content. Overfeeding calcium often leads to bladder stones and urinary problems, which are extremely painful for them.
Not only this, the sharp edges of the shells might lead to cuts in the inner mouth of our Hedgehogs. So avoid eggshells at all costs.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Fried Eggs?
Hedgehogs cannot eat fried eggs at all. It contains a lot of oil and butter, which can lead to many problems if served to them. It can also lead to choking, which might even lead to their death. So never serve fried eggs to your Hedgehogs at all.
How Much Egg Can Hedgehogs Eat At A Time?
You can serve a small slice of a boiled egg or even a tablespoon of the scrambled eggs to your Hedgehogs at a time. It is essential to serve eggs to them only within the suggested serving quantity. Overfeeding often leads to some serious problems in our Hedgehogs.
How Often Can I Serve My Hedgehogs With Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat eggs once a week. Serving any more frequently than that can lead to a couple of health-related problems.
It is recommended to mix their diet with some other vegetables to make sure that their diet is balanced and contains all the nutrients in the correct quantity.
Correct Way To Serve Eggs To My Hedgehog!
You should only try to serve boiled or scrambled eggs to your Hedgehogs. Serving other forms of eggs is not advised since it can lead to different problems. Try to serve eggs from organic farms only to your Hedgehogs since eggs available in the supermarket usually contain many chemicals sprayed over them.
It is a very easy process to prepare eggs for them. Follow these simple steps to prepare eggs for your Hedgehogs:
- Break an egg in a container. You can also add a teaspoon of milk to it. It is optional to add milk to it.
- Mix the egg properly with the help of a spoon.
- Transfer the egg into a microwave-safe container so that it can be microwaved.
- Microwave it for about 30 seconds.
- After it has been microwaved, make sure that you mix it properly. After mixing it, please put it back in the microwave.
- Keep on doing this process until the eggs are done.
Make sure that you only serve eggs after they have been cooled down, do not serve hot eggs to your Hedgehogs.
You should serve eggs to your Hedgehogs in a tiny amount if you feed them to them for the first time. Try to see how they react to it and if they show any adverse effects. If they show some adverse effects, immediately stop feeding eggs to your Hedgehogs and visit a vet.
After your Hedgehogs have enjoyed eating their eggs, make sure that you remove any uneaten parts so that bacteria does not build up in and around the cage. This also prevents the attraction of flies and rats.
Related Queries:
Can Hedgehogs Eat Quail Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat quail eggs in small amounts. Even though they can eat it, try to serve only egg white to them.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Chicken Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat chicken eggs without much problem. However, do not serve them too much at a time. Overfeeding can result in severe health complications.
