As hedgehogs grow, they go through a step in their lives called “quilling”.  This will happen 3-4 times in a hedgehog’s lifetime, all before they are 12 weeks old.  The quilling you will witness if you get your hedgehog as a baby will be the 8-12 week quilling (the hedgehog should not leave the mother before 6 weeks of age so you should not be witnessing any of those earlier quillings).

During this time, the hedgehog is basically shedding baby quills to allow adult quills to come in.  You will find loose quills in the cage—and probably on your floor when you aren’t expecting to so watch where you  step—while this is going on.  Some hedgehogs lose quite a few quills, while others lose only a few.  They can often be found in bedding, so be sure to check there and clean it out so your hedgehog doesn’t accidentally get poked by the loose quills. 

If you gently move the quills on your hedgehog’s aside so you can look at the skin, you will likely be able to see new quills poking through.  The skin is also likely to be very dry during this time, so it will be itchy for the hedgie too.  This is a very painful experience, much like teething for toddlers.  Your hedgehog is likely to be very grumpy and not want to be handled because it’s truly something painful; some hedgehogs get grumpier than others during this time, so yours might not really show it while someone else’s might stay a huffing ball constantly.  The best thing you can do for your little guy/girl is give a warm bath using colloidal oatmeal in the water; this will help the quills come through easier and ease some of the pain and itching your little friend is going through.

The process can last just a few weeks for some hedgehogs; others it can last months.

The important thing to remember is: don’t let your hedgehog scare you away.  He/she is likely to be huffy and irritable and nothing like the sweet little creature you met at the breeder’s.  You should still pick the hedgie up and interact daily.  If it seems like handling is painful to him/her, you can sit on a couch and let the hedgie walk around on your lap without being all hands-on.  Interaction is still essential during this time, so do not feel that you need to let the hedgie have total isolation because of grumpiness.  This is your time to bond.  Let your hedgie know how much you love him/her and feel their pain!  Sit and talk and interact.  And keep in mind that treats are always your friend.

Take a look at this page for more information on quills and quilling.

Things to keep an eye out for:

• Your hedgehog should have no bald patches from quilling.  If bald patches begin to appear, it could be caused by mites.  This can be verified by a vet and treated with Revolution.
• Also keep an eye out for ingrown quills.  These are quills that didn’t come through the skin correctly. These need to be watched carefully as they can get infected; a vet visit would definitely be required.