hedgehogs for adoption, hedgehog breeders, hedgehogs for sale, hedgehogs Michigan

Hedgehog Questions & Answers

From time to time we get flooded with emails regarding common
questions. So here is the place to answer some of those questions.

  Question: How long is the waiting list?
  Answer: Well it can vary from time to time, for the most part winter months (November thru
  March) is a more difficult time for hedgehogs to breed. Usually people are searching around
  the holidays, so the waiting list can get a bit longer during that time period. But once the
  hedgehogs are actively breeding again, it isn't a long wait (unless noted otherwise). Position
  on the waiting list does not reflect your waiting time for the most part.

  Question: Why am I required to put a deposit down? And when can the deposit be
  made?
  Answer: The only way Prickly Creek Exotics will hold a baby is if a deposit has been paid,
  $75 (non-refundable) is required to hold a baby. Deposits are only accepted when a baby is
  available that is acceptable to the buyer. Typically at two weeks of age, deposits are only
  accepted in the form of money order or cash. NO personal checks. The $75 deposit is part of
  price of the hedgehog, for example, if your hedgehog is a standard male and is $150, your
  $75 deposit comes off of that and leaves you will a $75 balance.
 

  Question: What is the cost of a hedgehog?
  Answer: The price of a hedgehog varies depending on sex, color, color patterns, and   
  temperament. They start at $150 and go up to $250 depending on all the factors stated above.
  We do not negotiate price, if you want a cheap hedgehog then you have come to the wrong
  place. We spend a lot of time and money raising quality pets and that does effect the cost of
  buying a baby.
   *prices subject to change at any time
    *prices for breeders are additional and to qualified persons only. We reserve the right to
     refuse the sale of a hedgehog to anyone, and we reserve the right to sell to breeders to
     whom we feel are fit and qualified.


  Question: Why are personal checks not accepted?
  Answer: We have had problems in the past with customers checks not clearing. If we were to
  take personal checks, and if they were to bounce, we are responsible for those fees. The only
  way to keep our prices as low as we can is to make sure we are not being held accountable for
  customers who prefer to bounce checks.

  Question: Are we able to meet the baby before we put a deposit down?
  Answer: Yes! We do allow clients to come visit with their baby before a deposit is made.
  However, we will not hold a baby without a deposit. Once a deposit is placed, the baby is
  marked Reserved and other clients will not be able to handle your baby. The only one's
  allowed to handle babies on hold are the owners of Prickly Creek Exotics. You are welcome
  to come visit and bond with your baby (once the baby is four weeks of age), in order to visit,
  you will need to schedule an appointment at least 48 hours in advance. We do not allow anyone
  to visit their baby until they have reached a safe age to be handled by their prospective new
  owner to prevent casualty.

  Question: Will you refuse the sale of a hedgehog?
  Answer: Yes, and we do it more often than most breeders. We are selective about who can
  purchase a baby from us. We do not sell to pet stores, we do not sell to anyone who plans
  to use the hedgehog as a classroom pet, and we do have other restrictions as necessary to
  find suitable homes for our animals. If we find someone that we feel isn't being honest about
  their intentions, we will refuse the sale. Many breeders are willing to sell to anyone for the
  quick buck, our priority here is our animals health and welfare. We want quality homes that
  are willing to provide the best care for our animals.

  Question: When are we allowed to bring our new baby hedgehog home?
  Answer: Typically a baby hedgehog is weaned around 5 weeks of age, we always wait until
  the baby is at least 6 weeks of age. They are only allowed to go to their new homes at 6
  weeks old as long as they are properly eating and drinking and show no signs of needing
  his/her mother. Normally all first litters, or babies from larger litters may be kept here
  until they reach 8 weeks of age, or longer if we feel it is necessary.

  Question: May we meet the herd at Prickly Creek Exotics?
  Answer: No, we do not take out all of our hedgehogs for any client to meet, the client is welcome
  to meet both the mother and father hedgehog to the baby that they have purchased upon
  request if they are available to be seen. We are not a pet store or a zoo, and we don't offer our
  breeders as exhibits.

  Question: What do we get with our baby the day we are allowed to bring him/her
  home?
  Answer: All of our babies come with birth certificates, care sheets, after sale support,
  & health guarantee.

  Question: What is after sales support?
  Answer: After sales support means that if at any time you have questions regarding health,
  temperament, diet, etc. you are welcome to call or email us for advice. We do get first time
  hedgehog owners that worry about their hedgehogs, which is normal, and we want them to
  be as comfortable as possible. So we are here for your question! Whether it is "why is he/she
  curled up in a ball" to "how do I cut toe nails?"

  Question: Why should I bother waiting for a baby from Prickly Creek Exotics when
  I can run to my local pet store and get one, or from another breeder?
  Answer: With pet store hedgehogs, you do not know the parents of the baby your buying.
  You will not know the exact age of the hedgehog. You will not know if WHS or cancer is
  prevalent in the bloodlines of your baby. You will not get any after sales support or health
  guarantee. Most of the hedgehogs you will find in a pet store are not hand tame. Sure, you
  may not have to wait long, but are you willing to take that risk? If you find another breeder
  in the state (or even out of state), ask them in they know the lineages of their herd, and ask
  if they are tracking WHS and cancer, and ask if they buy their breeders from pet stores or
  from other private breeders. We strive to produce only the absolute best hedgehogs around.
  You will get what you pay for! So if WHS and cancer is no big deal to you, then settling for
  less is a chance you have to be willing to take. At Prickly Creek Exotics, it is a risk that isn't
  worth taking.

  Question: Why are we not allowed into the breeding facility?
  Answer: Our breeding facility is only large enough to house our herd and for us to work in.
  We do not have all the extra room for a family to come in and browse around. We are not set
  up like a zoo for viewing of our animals. And for the most part, we have invested much love
  and money into our herd, it would be a large risk having someone come in for a viewing and
  bring in an illness, disease, or anything else of the sort that could disturb our herd. Our herd
  is familiar with the owners of Prickly Creek Exotics, our scents, our sounds, etc. New people
  can also disturb the breeding process. Please don't take this personal (as some people have),
  we take the well fare of our hedgehogs very seriously, and we will not jeopardize their well
  being for any reason.

  Question: How do we know your animals are properly cared for?
  Answer: Well in order to be USDA licensed, we must provide our animals with in home
  veterinary care and our USDA inspector does surprise visits to ensure our animals are
  properly being cared for. We have invested so much money into our herd that we would
  never jeopardize their health or well being. Our animals always have clean cages, are fed a
  high protein diet, and are closely monitored at all times. Our hedgehogs get just as good of
  care as you would give your own child.

 
  Question: Why do hedgehogs cost so much?
  Answer: Prices can vary state to state. In the state of Michigan, pet stores statewide sell
  standards and albinos (the only two colors in pet stores) for $150 + tax. We have to determine
  what it costs to raise, feed, house, bedding, vet expenses, etc to determine the cost of our
  hedgehogs. We do believe that you get what you pay for!! What we do not include in
  determining the price is our labor of love. We work with all of our babies, we hand tame them
  before they go to new homes, but we do not add our labor into that. If your looking for a cheap
  hedgehog, you will not get quality! We offer the quality any ethical breeder would offer and we
  stand behind all of our hedgehogs.

  Question: Do you ship?
  Answer: Currently we are not shipping.
  We have shipped, however the only safe and legal way to ship is via the airlines. There is a
  delivery and handling fee of $50 on all orders under $500. Total order is not including tax or
  supplies, just the price of the animals alone. Airfare usually runs between $150 to $250, then
  there is a vet health certificate and flight kennel, all of those fees must be paid prior to
  shipping at buyer's expense.

  Question: Do you carry a product line for hedgehogs?
  Answer: We do carry items that are well suited for all hedgehogs. We only carry items that
  are "Hedgehog Used, Breeder Approved". If we know it is safe for our babies and breeders,
  then we will carry it. You can find out more about what we carry by visiting our Hedgehog
  Super Store page.

  Question: What is required for the day of picking up a baby hedgehog?
  Answer: If you plan on using your own cage, we require you bring the cage with you the
  day you pick up your baby. If you are unable to bring it with you, you must submit photos
  of the cage with dimensions by email so we can approve the cage. If you do not bring the
  cage with you or submit photos with dimensions, we will not allow the hedgehog to be taken
  home. We have a strict policy about this because we must know that the hedgehog is being
  provided a home that is completely safe and comfortable for the hedgehog. The only other
  object we require seeing in person or by photo is of the exercise wheel for safety reasons as
  well. Please understand that the safety of our animals is our priority, and we only want was
  is in the best interest for our hedgehogs.

  Questions: What is expected of the cage we will be using?
  Answer: Cages must have solid floor, be no less than 2 square foot in size, and have one level
  only as hedgehogs have been known to fall to their deaths from second and third story levels.
  The walls of cage are important too for some wire walls are not safe for hedgehogs. The wheels
  must be solid running surfaces unlike the old wire hamster wheels.