BigFeather Farm

There will be a contract signed, stating you are aware of all of our policies. If you wish to know what the contract states, please e-mail me

Deposits and Payment

A deposit - to hold an available hedgehog, or a spot on the waiting list - is $50.00 through Pay-Pal, cashiers check through the mail, or cash in person. This is non refundable. It goes toward the total cost of the hedgehog. The remaining due will be paid - in cash or with credit card only - at the time of hoglet pick-up. If you decide to use your credit card, there will be a fee to cover costs.

Deposits on an animal will hold a hedgehog for 2 weeks. If you cannot pick him/her up before then due to work or health issues, let me know and I will be happy to work something out for you. Otherwise, the deposit will be forfeit and the hedgehog will be listed as available.

 If you decide that it isn't the right time for you, I will put your waiting list deposit on hold for up to one year. At the end of that year I will contact you to see if you want to be put back on the active waiting list, unless you contact me before then. If you decide not to be put on the active waiting list, then your deposit will be forfeit and you will lose your spot.

The questionaire will be sent to you once you place a deposit to be put on the waiting list or on a availabel hoglet. This questionaire is not voluntary; is is MANDATORY. If you do not fill out and return the questionaire completely, you will lose your spot on the waiting list and your deposit. The questionaire is to be sure you know how to properly care for the hedgehog and understand fully the binding terms of the contract you will sign at time of hoglet pick-up.

Returns

If you decide your hoglet isn't right for you, in the signed contract it states you will not re-home, sell, or otherwise transfer ownership of the hoglet to anyone else - that you will directly surrender the hoglet to BigFeather Farm so that a suitable home can be found for them. This is because hedgehogs don't do well when they are rehomed multiple times, and it usually causes quite a bit of psychological, and in turn, physical distress depending on the hog. It can make them shy, withdrawn, and in ways not as good a pet. They could require a home with more mature, understanding, and patient owners - and we can asses their temperament to see what they need.

Health Guarantees

We offer two separate health guarantees. The first is a limited one year genetic guarantee - covering if your hoglet dies from anything NOT caused by you within one year of purchase. The second is a WHS lifetime guarantee, covering death of the hoglet if it ever dies of WHS.

If any hoglets sold violates the either of our health guarantees, we will supply you with another hoglet free of charge if the buyer presents a legitimate necropsy report (from a veterinarian with knowledge of hedgehogs and working experience) within one week of death proving that the hoglet died of WHS, or anything not caused by the buyer in the 1 year guarantee.

If a necropsy report is given to us and it was performed by a vet without knowledge of hedgehogs and experience working with them, it will not meet the requirements of the guarantee.

Purpose of Hoglets Sold

Hoglets sold here at BigFeather farm are pets only, and because so, they do not come with a pedigree. However, their parents DO have pedigrees and their lineage can be tracked. I do this to prevent them from being bred. Not just everyone should be breeding hedgehogs! There will be a contract signed before the hoglet leaves clarifying all things about this subject. E-mail me if you'd like to read it.

These hedgehogs are not sold as breeding stock, except through private treaty with experienced and knowledgeable breeders. You must be a current HBA member or be USDA licensed for me to sell hoglets with the intention of them being used as breeding stock and you must be a transparent facility.

Hoglets will NEVER be sold to petstores, brokers, dealers, etc for resale.
I have the right to refuse you a hoglet, if I am given the inclination you are not going to take proper care of the hoglet or it has been a spur of the moment decision to buy the animal.

Color Identification

I love trying to identify hedgehog colors - and I think I am fairly good at it - but I am NO expert. Every mating can give a WIDE range of colors, and you never know what color the babes' will be. I identify the hoglets' color the best I can, but the color could change drastically during their adult quilling - usually this is seen more with snowflakes.

Registration

Hoglets are not registered before they leave. This is because color cannot be confirmed before 12 weeks of age. Once your hedgehog is 10-12 weeks old, we will be MORE than happy to help you register them with the IHR. Not only this, but this allows you to register with your hedgie with his/her new name!

 After-Sale Support

I offer 24/7 after sales support. I'm only a phone call or e-mail away. E-mails are more likely to get a timely response due to my schedule! Please don't call me before 10:00 AM or after 10:00 PM unless it's an emergency. If I don't answer right away, leave me a voice mail with your name, your problem/question, and when it's okay to call you back.

(270) 999 - 0728   or   bigfeatherfarm@yahoo.com

No Shows

If you have an appointment to visit set with us and don't show up, you will be permanently banned from visiting us if you don't give us 24 hour notice. I have had to deal with far too many no-shows, hence why this policy was set in place. When I make appointments in my busy schedule to allow you into my home, I am under the assumption that you are not going to waste my time. 

If you have an appointment to pick up your chosen hoglet and you don't show up, your deposit will be revoked, you will be taken off the waiting list, and you will be banned from buying a baby from us if you don't give us 24 hour notice.

I completely understand if you have legitimate emergencies!
Death, sickness, etc are always out of your control. In the event that happens, I will expect you to call or text me as soon as you know, tell me what's going on, and I will do my best to reschedule. 

 What should I expect when I come to pick up my hoglet?

 When you come to pick up your baby, you'll be welcomed into our home. We have cats, a dog and of course the hedgehogs so please be aware of this beforehand. We will put our dogs/cats away but if you are allergic it probably won't help! I do ask that if possible, any young children not to come with you unless they are *very* well behaved or they will be one of the supervised caretakers. This is so that you can be more focused on learning about your baby, and because my home is not childproofed. 

I'll first give you the packet, food sample, and hedgie bag. We'll have a heart to heart and I'll answer any of your questions. I'll take a minute to explain why hedgehogs behave the way they do, about quilling, and how to properly hold and handle a hedgie, along with the importance of socialization for maximum pet potential. Once that is taken care of you will sign the contract. 

After that, I'll go into the "hedgehog room" and get your baby. Depending on what's going on in the room - if we have pregnant females, recovering females, new arrivals, etc - you may or may not be allowed to go in. However, I'll show you your baby and have you handle him/her for a bit to see how you all do and give any gentle corrections as needed. 

After that I'll make sure you're set, the transaction will take place and you'll be free to go home with your baby

Can we come visit your facility? I'd like to see your hedgehogs, your set-up, and see if a hedgehog is right for me.

Yes, you can! I run my business out of our home, and we are currently renovating. It may be a while before we can make an appointment for you to visit, but we would be more than happy to help you decide if a hedgehog is right for you. However, our house is run by a  60 pound dog, two 15 pound cats, a hoard of hedgehogs, and "guard chickens"! Please be sure you're not allergic to anyone. 

 Depending on what's going on in the "hedgehog room" - if there are any newborn babies, nursing mommas, etc, - you may not be allowed to go in, but you will get to peek in. I will do my best to schedule a time when you can go in the room and see our set-up fully. I will get out one or two hedgehogs for you to handle, and be more than happy to answer your questions.

Why hedgehogs?

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a Hedgehog

1. They are probably the cutest creatures on the face of the planet.
2. They don't bite like hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits.
3. They are a *great* conversation starter!
4. They are exotic and unique in every way.
5. They are relatively low maintenance compared to other exotics.
6. It is highly amusing to watch them get their head stuck in toilet paper rolls.
7. They don't make much noise.
8. They love to cuddle with you while watching movies.
9. They use a litterbox, and it's super cute when they do.
10. They don't smell like rodents do!  

I've heard that my new baby hedgehog will be grumpy. Is this true?

Sadly, it is true for most hedgehogs. This is because they are going through a process called quilling, where they get their new, adult quills in. Quills are falling out, new quills are pushing through the skin - it's a trying time for some babies, yet others aren't as bothered. It's just a phase, so don't be worried. Not only this, but they have just been taken out of their home and their bonded human - me - is no longer in the picture! Patience and love are key. They are just hurting and need some TLC.

Why don't you sell any of your babies as breeding stock publicly?

This is hard to answer. I don't personally feel that I have enough hedgehog breeding experience to definitively say "This hedgehog is breeding quality stock", and it be sold to new or inexperienced breeders. Yes, I can gauge their personality and look at a pedigree, but I don't believe that's all that goes into an animal being "breeding quality". And just because their parents are breeding quality, doesn't necessarily mean the offspring are.

 I'm not ashamed to say it; I'm very new to the world of breeding hedgehogs, but I've done a lot of homework and I have a great mentor. The next step for me is to gain experience, and with it will come confidence and comfort in my decisions that the animals are fit enough to help better the species.

I also do not sell breeding stock to just anyone because not just everyone is capable of breeding hedgehogs to better the species - and I believe that is the most important thing to consider.

More FAQ coming soon!