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Safety First...

1/15/2019

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There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing a wheel for our hedgehogs, but I believe the 3 most important factors when making your final decision are safety, investment, and visual aesthetics. 
The parameters for these three factors will vary by person, however I have listed a few of the popular options that I am familiar with below.
Flying Saucer by Ware - $22.62

The Flying Saucer Exerciser is a 12" angled disk entirely made of plastic with ridges on the running surface to give your animal traction. The company boasts silent operation as well as being the "safest way to exercise your pet".  
The large size is the only size Flying Saucer that is acceptable for use in a hedgehog enclosure. 
I have never used one of these wheels for my herd however based on many reviews from others in the community I have learned the following...
The ridges tend to be too rough on hedgehogs feet. Hedgehogs run. A lot. and having more pronounced ridges on the disk makes for sore tootsies. The most severe I saw was abrasions on the pads of the hedgehogs feet. 
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When they run they poop. If you have a hedgehog you have most certainly experienced this, however with the Flying Saucer the poop is essentially slingshotted across the cage as they run and let loose. If you don't mind un-contained feces, then this is a non issue for you. 
The structure of the Flying Saucer is not that stable especially for larger hedgehogs, causing the entire unit to occasionally flip over during use. Also the plastic it is made of is not the most durable and can lead to the base cracking or breaking. 
Comfort Wheel by Kaytee - $16.27
The Kaytee Comfort Wheel is a 12" plastic wheel with a metal stand. Only the 12" size is acceptable in a hedgehog enclosure.
Kaytee describes this wheel as being a safe running surface with a "tail-safe" design. This wheel can be free standing on the stand or mounted on a wire cage. 
At Green Mountain Quillibusters we have a few of these wheels as spares or when we need to set up emergency enclosures. They have smaller ridges that I have yet to see cause issues with feet, however we use fleece covers on all of our wheels. 
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The Comfort Wheel does have the spindle in the center which COULD be an issue if you have a VERY large hog that is required to arch it's back while running in this wheel. However the way I see it, if you have a hedgehog that is big enough for the spindle to be in the way, than the diameter of this wheel is too small as well and you need to look into something larger.
The width of the wheel is 4.5", which would be the smallest running surface you would want for a hedgehog. If you have a larger hedgehog you may want to get a wider wheel.
I found a few people mention they had issues with these wheels tipping over however I have not experienced that. We do have large (750g +)  and small (250+/-) hedgehogs that use these and I have never had one tip. 
These wheels are fairly easy to clean but if used without a cover, poop does sometimes stick to the ridges. Nothing that a little warm water and cleaner hasn't removed for me in the past!
Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel -  $20.99 - $24.99
The Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel is a 10.5" wheel that is virtually silent. Made with pvc pipe, an inline skate wheel, bearings, and a modified bucket (bucket wheel... get it?) The running surface is 5" wide and the wheel diameter is 10.5". There are four height settings and the pitch/angle of the wheel can be adjusted as well. The running surface is smooth and sturdy. These wheels also come with spare bearings and zip ties if you ever need to replace them, and speaking from experience, it wasn't that tricky to do! This wheel also comes in 4 fun sparkly colors!
If you purchase the wheel with the litter pan you are going to get a wheel with a bit wider base, (14.5" vs the 11.5" of the litter pan-less wheel). I like to use these in my enclosures with larger hedgehogs or the hoggos that prefer to sleep under their wheels... I can't change their mind. That is where they sleep!
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When you get a CSBW for the first time you may be taken back by the obvious "handmade" nature of it. If you are used to buying your supplies from big names and commercial companies, the rollerblade wheel on the back and pvc pipe may come as a shock. But let me tell you, you are getting the best wheel for your babies with this one. They are the quietest wheel you can buy and each wheel is handmade to the specifications that are needed to be safe for your hedgehog. 
The biggest drawback for me with the CSBW is the shipping cost. They are shipped via USPS Priority Mail and shipping charges can range from $8 - $17. But shipping priority just means you get your awesome new wheel that much quicker! 

I have never had this issue but I did see some reports of people saying their wheels tipped over. This can happen if you have an exceptionally rowdy hedgehog that like to get under it and flip it. It is unlikely your hedgehog will tip the wheel when in use.  Your CSBW can outlast your hedgehog if kept clean and maintained. That is the investment piece I was mentioning before. Worth it.

We use fleece wheel covers on these wheels as well and change them out every other day. The fleece wicks away urine when they run and for the most part the poop rolls off.  Providing you can commit to changing out the fleece liners regularly, these are a great way to keep your wheels clean and minimize those hedgie poop-boots they are so known for! 
If you are wanting a larger wheel, there is a bucket wheel on the market that has an 11" diameter, however they are quite a bit more expensive ($35.00) and the shipping cost is $18.00 in the US. ​

There are MANY other wheel options available that are marketed towards hedgehogs, but none that I would  want to suggest you use, let alone recommend. If you found another wheel you want to use but don't see it listed here feel free to reach out. Chances are there are very good reasons for not listing it, as well as facts and examples to back it up. 
This post was not sponsored by any of the mentioned brands or companies. I just want to share with you what I have learned in our years of owning and breeding hedgehogs!
Thanks for your time today! If there are any other topics you would like to see covered in our bLog leave us a comment or send us a message! 
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USDA, Hobby, and BYB's

1/14/2019

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What is the difference between a USDA licensed breeder, hobby breeder and a back yard breeder and why does it matter?
Here at Green Mountain Quillibusters we are a hobby breeder. We have a small herd of hedgehogs that we have selected from all over the country for their temperament, color, markings, and most importantly, their pedigrees. Knowing the genetic history of your hedgehog is the first step in having a healthy, happy companion animal. Our herd initials are registered with the top registries so that our herd's genetics are able to be tracked globally. We are open and work with many breeders across the country to continue learning and constantly doing the best we can to better the species.
We use a program to track lineage and make the best mating pairs for our herd. We do not breed hedgehogs younger than 6 months, or older than 2 years. They are not bred more frequently than 6 months apart. The MOST litters a female hedgehog in our herd would ever have in her lifetime is four. 
Our program also tracks weight check-ins, as well as diet and vet visits. We are very meticulous with the health and care of our herd. 
The health of our hedgehogs is our number one priority. It is not about money and never has been.
Education. There is not ONE right way to accomplish the task of caring for these animals. There are however "best practices" and we choose to follow them. We want all of our customers to have a positive experience owning a hedgehog, and that means making sure they are properly informed from the beginning.
We do not have more than 4 breeding females at one time, nor do we sell to pet stores, research facilities, or other dealers. There is not a need in our area to grow larger and we do not intend to. If we wanted to have a larger operation it would be then that we would apply for a USDA license. Getting licensed is wonderful if your goal is to have a larger herd and offer your animals to pet stores or the public on a larger scale. The USDA has regulations as far as how often enclosures need to be cleaned, where your cleaning chemicals need to placed, and housing size requirements for the animals, among many other things. We have the handbook and we adhere to their guidelines even though we choose to stay classified as hobby breeder.
A back yard breeder is an individual who does not provide adequate care for their animals. Someone who does not know or track the genetic history of the animals. Someone who puts males and females together with no understanding of what is required after. Hedgehogs are wonderfully interesting animals and they have many needs when it comes to breeding. A back yard breeder only sees the dollar signs and will not be there for you after the sale of the animal. They often will unknowingly produce animals with many genetic deformities, or diseases. They may over breed their females so they have a short life or a painful one. They also may breed their females too young, resulting in broken bones or early death.
The most important thing you can do when looking for a hedgehog to add to your family, is do your research, read reviews, and ask A LOT of questions. There are no bad questions. A breeder who cares about their hogs and their customers will always take the time to answer every question to ensure they are prepared for hedgehog ownership.
Thank you all for your love of this amazing species! We do what we do because we love them and only want the best!
Be sure to familiarize yourself with which states allow hedgehog ownership by clicking the button below! 🦔💜
Where are hedgehog's legal?
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Welcome to The Captain's bLog!

1/14/2019

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Maybe you have figured this out already, maybe you are new here, but at Green Mountain Quillibusters we like to keep it nautical!
Quillibusters, a fun hedgehog type-spin on the word "filibusters", a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country... Pirates! haha!
Our herd is all named after historical pirates, across centuries and the globe.
You will find that a lot of  breeders will track their litters with names that all begin with the same letter, they may use other themes as well. We have chosen to name all of our litters with a nautical theme, i.e. sea monsters, gods/goddesses of the sea, names of seas etc. It keeps it fun and gives me something to brainstorm on with each litter!
So it only made sense to me to name our new blog "The Captains bLog"!
I hope to have content available that will be valuable from the new hedgehog owners, to the veteran breeders. I may not have a lot to offer those life-timers, but I am hoping a little humor and insight can be found! 
I would also at some point like to have submissions from others, owners and breeders alike. We are a community that is often divided and I think being able to share different experiences will be fun! 
Thank you all who took the time to check out our blog and PLEASE leave comments! I want to know your thoughts! 

-Heather
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    Captains bLog

    There is so much information to learn when it comes to owning and breeding hedgehogs! It is far more than a care page can hold!
    The goal of our blog is to have content created from colleagues as well as experienced owners, to make it a trusted place for all hedgehog lovers to learn and share.

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Photo used under Creative Commons from Robert.Pittman
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