PENNY'S PRICKLY PIGS

While we are not trying to encourage more hedgehog breeders, we would like to encourage more responsible hedgehog breeding, which includes tracking pedigrees, and genetic issues (WHS), and breeding for quality for the species - not quantity. 

Therefore, we wanted to put some basic hedgehog breeding dos and don'ts together as a safe place for breeders to reference.  If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. My place is not to judge, but to help improve the quality of life of hedgehogs. 

Before you get into hedgehog breeding you should ask yourself the following questions to make sure you are physically, mentally, and financially prepared.

• Why do you want to breed hedgehogs? Your why may include how you can help hedgehogs or help educate others about hedgehogs. If your why is to make money or does not have the best interest of the hedgehog at heart, then hedgehog breeding is not right for you at this time.
• Do you know hedgehogs? Do you have extensive experience owning a hedgehog as a pet? That includes proper care, living environments, and access to an exotic vet with hedgehog experience. You should have years of hedgehog ownership experience before venturing into breeding hedgehogs. 
• Do you have the time? Hedgehogs require and deserve daily socialization in addition to their basic care. When there are hoglets as well as adults, there is an additional level of socialization. If a mom abandons her litter or a hoglet, you will then need to bottle/syringe feed that baby each hour (throughout the night), exotic vet visits and more. Additionally you will need to provide a professional level of communication to potential hedgehog owners.
• Do you have the space? Hedgehogs require quite a bit of space. At a minimum, I recommend the 110qt Sterlite containers for each hedgehog. These take up at least 6 sq feet. You will also need a separate cage for each adult, as well as one for each litter after they are weaned from mom before they're ready for their new homes. 
• Do you have the emotional energy? Hoglets are absolutely adorable, that is true. However, there are times when litters are abandoned, moms are stressed out and mutilate their young, or illness/defects happen. It is absolutely heartbreaking. Even when you do everything right, things sometimes go wrong and it can take an emotional toll. 
• Do you have the finances? Quality hedgehogs that are pedigreed typically are higher cost than your backyard breeders. Please, do not breed or purchase a hedgehog that is not from a reputable breeder and/or that does not have a pedigree. Additionally, if something goes wrong with a mother and/or her litter, are you financially equipped to take them to the exotic vet to be treated?
• What if you can't find homes for the hedgehog babies? Are you prepared to keep and care for any babies that do not find homes? Note: You cannot sell hedgehogs (or any live animals) on Facebook. You will need a separate website for your hedgehog breeding program.
• Do you know the rules and laws in regards to breeding and selling hedgehogs? Are hedgehogs legal where you live? How many hedgehogs do you plan to have? Keep in mind that you cannot have more than four breeding females without being USDA licensed. We strongly recommend first-time breeders only sticking to one breeding female and growing a herd after experienced is gained.

What is the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI)? The short-version is how closely related an offspring's parents are. Too high of a COI results in negative outcomes for the offspring, and the breed. 

The scientific answer according to Science Direct is, "The coefficient of inbreeding (F) for a child of a consanguineous marriage is the probability that the child receives two alleles at a given locus that are both from the same ancestor and are, thus, identical by descent (autozygous)."

So why does this matter? The higher the COI, the more homozygous an animal's genes would be. Once the COI reaches certain levels, one will begin to see deleterious effects of inbreeding, resulting in loss of vitality in the offspring, smaller litters, higher mortality, and increased genetic defects and mutations (WHS, for example). 

At what level COI do you begin to see these effects? One will begin to see the negative effects of inbreeding at a COI around 5%. Once the COI reaches 10% or higher, these deleterious effects reach the threshold of the "extinction vortex." As stated by the Institute of Canine Biology, "[t]he combined effects of these make 10% the threshold of the 'extinction vortex' - the level of inbreeding at which smaller litters, higher mortality, and expression of genetic defects have a negative effect on the size of the population, and as the population gets smaller the rate of inbreeding goes up, resulting in a negative feedback loop that eventually drives a population to extinction."

How do you calculate the Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI)? As you might expect, the Coefficient of Inbreeding can be calculated with a mathematical formula. "In general, for autosomal loci, the inbreeding coefficient for an individual is F = (½)(n1+n2+1), where n1 and n2 are the numbers of generations separating the individuals in the consanguineous mating from their common ancestor. (This formula assumes that the common ancestor is not inbred.)" - Science Direct

Babydoll Southdown Sheep Breeders Association has a helpful table (see below) with simple examples of inbreeding coefficients.

That formula is too much, is there an easier way? Fortunately NABBSSAR.org has a phenomenal Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI) calculator, which can go up to 12 generations beyond the offspring you're calculating. 

If you already use our free Google Sheets Pedigree Maker & COI Calculator, you can select the hedgehog you want to calculate the COI for on the 'Pedigree 8 GEN' tab, go to the 'Calculate COI' tab, copy the data highlighted, paste on the NABSSAR COI% Calculator website and calculate. Don't worry, more specific instructions are available in the Google Sheet. 

​The calculation of the Coefficient of Inbreeding is only as good as the data you put in. The more expansive your data, the better the calculation. Also, most calculators assume the ancestors are not inbred themselves. In the event the ancestors are inbred, the coefficients will actually be higher than what is displayed.

​You've decided a hedgehog is the right pet for you, but where do you begin to find the perfect hedgehog for you?

Like any pet, you will not want to buy your new family member from just anywhere. 

We realize it can be hard to discern a quality hedgehog breeder from a back-yard breeder, so we've put together some helpful resources on where to look for breeders and questions to ask potential breeders before purchasing your hedgehog. 

First, let's cover where to not find your reputable breeder. I would avoid the following:

• AVOID Craigslist | Unfortunately many of these are scams or back-yard breeders
• AVOID Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups or Facebook only | Facebook bans the selling of animals on their site. Breeders can have Facebook pages, of course, but the transaction should not take place on Facebook. It's best if the breeder has a legitimate website with more information on their breeding program and available hedgehogs
• AVOID Pet Stores | Most pet stores have very limited information on where their hedgehogs came from, which includes any health information, health guarantees and the like 

So where, then, is the best place to find a breeder?

• Hedgehog Central
• Hedgie List
• NAHHI
• Ask another breeder | If a breeder you trust does not have any hedgehogs available or is not in the location you're in, ask if they know anyone in the area. Many times they do!

Most reputable breeders are happy to answer questions about their breeding programs. If you receive push back, it may not be the best fit. 

Where did you find your breeder? What other questions were helpful when you were looking for a breeder? Is there another great resource for hedgehog breeder listings? Let us know!