Monique Blackford

Founder of North Herts Hogs & hedgehog rehabilitator since 1992. Specialising in disabled hog care.
🎻 Orchestral Violinist.
🐰 Mum to Princess the rescue bunny.

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

Little Miss Huffy Pants is 12 days old today !
Came in at 17g and now 43g.
Video taken at 4 days old.
(Looks like 2 hands in the video, but they're both mine 🙂)
She's doing so well
#hoglets
#hedgehogs

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@GeorginaMangan4 Little guy had no name, so I told the vet I'll call him 'Stefano', that's the vet's name 🤭
This ensured that vet would give him VIP treatment today 👍
Not that this new vet has disappointed me yet. He's brilliant with #hedgehogs, as are a many vets xxx

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

To all my new followers, please bear with me while I pick up the pieces of losing an account I had for 14 years🙏
Over 44K+ posts & history of my journey in hedgehog rescue gone💔
Intensive care for these tiny babies for the next week, so my focus is on them & 34 hogs in care x

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

Just for context, there was no bone below the knee. This was not a simple break that my vet could stabilise to heal correctly. It was just skin & tissue.
Rear leg amputees cope very well in the wild, especially when so young. They find alternate means to scratch without a leg.

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@GeorginaMangan4 The little guy had his leg amputated today.
I had him on vetfleece to reduce pressure on the stump under the skin. With pain relief he was seemingly unphased by a leg dangling behind him. Put on 126g in 6 days!
I 'm picking him up at 5pm.

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@GeorginaMangan4 The little guy had his leg amputated today.
I had him on vetfleece to reduce pressure on the stump under the skin. With pain relief he was seemingly unphased by a leg dangling behind him. Put on 126g in 6 days!
I 'm picking him up at 5pm.

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@Georgeos61 @MsTKIndeed Hilda 😆 You can see why I use my middle name Monique 🤭
'Hilda's Hogs' would have been a great name for the rescue though. Has a nice ring to it 😁

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@alisonsiobhanm1 @EmFord2015 @CarlBovisNature @HedgehogCabin Les Stocker was my inspiration. I worked with a vet in Ware, Hertfordshire back in the 1990's & she'd pinned a broken back leg. During rehab we discovered he was blind😢, so he went to live at @TiggywinklesUK in one of their gardens.
I met Les when dropping Sam off.🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@silverpebble Percival sending you healing thoughts Emma 💞🦔 xxx

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

I was asked about the size/height of water bowls for #hedgehogs.
Shallow dishes 2-3cm high, any shape.
If using plastic plant saucers, consider a heavy stone in the middle as the saucers tend to flip when they stand on the edge 🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@calicogemini Not a silly question at all 😊
I use these deeper bowls (4.5cm high) in the rescue, as less likely to tip over and make papier maché 😆 but not suitable for very young #hedgehogs. I use 2cm high dishes.
These are perfect for the garden https://t.co/uwpO5ztOAP

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@calicogemini These won't tip up & are easy to clean

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

#hedgehogs drink a lot of water.
Please put out a shallow dish of clean water during this #heatwave 🙏
Hedgehogs are literally dying of thirst 😢
Rescues are full with abandoned hoglets cos their mum had to leave to find food & water.
I have 14 babies in care now 😳🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@calicogemini Not a silly question at all 😊
I use these deeper bowls (4.5cm high) in the rescue, as less likely to tip over and make papier maché 😆 but not suitable for very young #hedgehogs. I use 2cm high dishes.
These are perfect for the garden https://t.co/uwpO5ztOAP

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@CarlBovisNature @pierce_bunny Just about managing not to be, Carl, but hard to keep schtum knowing what I know about that account 🙊
Very unprofessional for a hobbyist rescue to behave in this way 😕
Lovely to see #hedgehogs thriving in your garden. You take such good care of them 😊🦔 xx

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@the3_Ss @CarlBovisNature Thank you Stephanie 😊 🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@ajbgcr56 🤣🤣🤣

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@GreenEtty @Leonlovescats @Obe_QT_Luke @cathiebun @AlanSla90124663 @Eliot01375004 @azzurro_azzurro @Mrs_J_Bananas 😆 I'm always seeing autocorrect text AFTER I've posted.
That's amazing to see that in lights

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@sharrond62 I do.
I remember the strange twilight & how the birds suddenly went silent.
It was much earlier in the day than today's.
I was working P/T @BroxbourneBC & we all went outside to watch the eclipse.
The Mayor borrowed my glasses to look at the eclipse 😎

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@desclarkonline I've just found your lovely account & see you're taking a break.
Look forward to seeing you back soon 🤞
Meanwhile, I have your lovely posts to peruse 😊
I'm a passionate gardener & have 0.75 acre garden, I just don't get a lot of time looking after all the #hedgehogs in care 🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@CarlBovisNature @Kano_Melissa 😁🦔🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@CarlBovisNature @JAli89_91 ❤️🦔

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

A lot of people are getting #hacked 😢
If @X Support lets you back in:
1. Change X and email passwords to 'pass phrases'
2. Set up 2 factor authentication
3. Immediately log out ALL other sessions, otherwise the hacker stays logged in & logs YOU out, then destroys your account😢

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@silverpebble Isn't she just so adorable Emma. 🥰
Thank you for sharing xxx

[Monique Blackford @NorthHertsHogs]

@hilary_mckay Please try not to worry.
My garden visitors always seem to dissappear this time of year.
They may have a particular area somewhere that's bountiful with their favourite caterpillars or beetles.
They know they can rely on you/your garden so I'm sure they will be back 😊🦔