As an ethical breeder, I:
- Prioritize Health: I will not knowingly breed unhealthy hedgehogs and will not sell animals with significant health issues. If minor issues arise, such as a healing scab, I will provide full disclosure and offer follow-up assistance.
- Focus on Genetic Integrity: I will actively work to identify and eliminate inherited health problems and will not perform line breeding without serious consideration of potential negative consequences. I will avoid breeding first-degree relatives unless absolutely necessary and after consulting with experienced breeders.
- Maintain Integrity: I am committed to upholding the highest standards of honesty and transparency, and will never falsify any records, pedigrees, or registrations.
- Support New Owners: I will represent my hedgehogs honestly to prospective buyers and will assist serious novices in understanding proper care. I will ensure that buyers are well-informed and capable of providing long-term, appropriate care.
- Provide Knowledge and Guidance: I will seek guidance from experienced mentors when starting my breeding project and will continue to expand my knowledge while sharing it with others.
- Ensure Proper Care and Environment: I will provide clean food and water, maintain a clean living space, and ensure my hedgehogs have a temperature-controlled environment suitable for their needs. I will provide adequately sized cages with proper ventilation and ensure their health is regularly checked.
- Commit to Ethical Practices: I will make my policies, including replacement guarantees, available to all customers. I will ensure that no hedgehog leaves my care until they are fully weaned, typically after 6 weeks old, unless under special circumstances.
- Uphold Legal and Safe Sales: I will not sell hedgehogs to areas where they are illegal, nor will I place them in potentially dangerous environments. All animals in my breeding program will be pedigreed, ensuring transparency and traceability.
Questions to Ask your Breeder
- Health and Care:
- Can you provide a health guarantee for the hedgehog?
- What steps do you take to ensure the health and well-being of your hedgehogs?
- Breeding Practices:
- How do you ensure that you are not breeding unhealthy or genetically predisposed hedgehogs?
- How many litters do you breed per year? (Ethical breeders typically breed sparingly to prevent overbreeding and ensure the health of the mother and babies.)
- What age do you start breeding your females?
- How much time do you allow in between litters for the mother to rest and recover? (Responsible breeders ensure that mothers have adequate recovery time.)
- When do you retire a female hedgehog from breeding? (Most ethical breeders retire females from breeding after a few years to ensure their health and well-being.)
- Environment:
- What kind of environment do your hedgehogs live in? Can I see pictures or details of their living conditions?
- How do you ensure the hedgehogs have proper space, temperature control, and enrichment in their enclosures?
- Socialization and Handling:
- How are your hedgehogs socialized and handled during their early development stages?
- At what age do you allow hedgehogs to leave your care?
- Sales and Responsibility:
- What kind of support do you offer new hedgehog owners, especially for beginners?
- Do you require any kind of agreement or follow-up with buyers to ensure proper long-term care?
- Will you sell hedgehogs only to people who have the knowledge and means to care for them?
- Rehoming and Rescue:
- Do you ever take back or rehome hedgehogs if necessary?
- Are you involved in rescue or offering sanctuary for hedgehogs in need?
Asking these questions will give you a comprehensive understanding of the breeder’s practices, ensuring they follow ethical breeding standards that prioritize the health, well-being, and longevity of their hedgehogs.