September 10, 2026, 11:12 am | Read time: 4 minutes
A hedgehog house offers the spiky garden residents a safe retreat for the winter. There, they can hibernate and are better protected from predators such as cats. Our video guide shows step-by-step how to easily build a hedgehog house yourself.
Hedgehogs are wild animals that typically hibernate between November and March. To support the animals, you can use the time now at the start of fall to build them a small shelter. For our hedgehog house, we used untreated spruce wood and a waterproof plywood panel for the roof. In addition to the appropriate parts, you’ll need a saw, screws, and weatherproof varnish. You can find the complete instructions here and in the video.
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Building a Hedgehog House – What Do You Need?
For the dimensions of the winter quarters, there is a cat-proof guide from NABU that we followed. The house has a removable, slanted roof, which can optionally be equipped with hinges for opening. There are no limits to the visual design. The myHOMEBOOK editorial team chose the lettering “HEDGEHOG HOTEL.”
Material List:
- Wood board (here spruce, 150 x 40 cm, 2 cm thick)
- Plywood panel
- Varnish
- Wood screws
- Sandpaper
Tool List:
- Cordless screwdriver with wood drill bit
- Jigsaw with saw blade
- Carpenter’s square
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- Brush
Building a Hedgehog House – Step by Step
Once you have the materials and tools ready, you can start building the hedgehog house. Here’s how to proceed:
- Mark dimensions: Use the measuring tape and square to first measure the individual parts and mark them with a pencil.
- Saw parts: Use the jigsaw to cut out the parts and then deburr the edges with sandpaper.
- Pre-drill holes: Choose the appropriate wood drill bit to prevent the wood from splitting when screwing.
- Screw parts together: Connect the outer walls and the partition at the drill holes with wood screws. The screws must be long enough for this.
- Install strips: After measuring the interior, screw two slats to the underside of the removable roof (here made of plywood panel). Alternatively, you can equip the roof with hinges for opening.
- Varnish: Finally, paint the finished house with wood varnish for outdoor use and decorate as desired.
Also interesting: Recognizing and properly disposing of animal droppings in the garden
What Filling Goes in the Hedgehog House?
To make the house cozy, it needs suitable filling material. The most natural nest consists of leaves and hay. Even better is torn and crumpled newspaper, as it doesn’t absorb as much water and is less prone to mold.
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The Right Place for the Hedgehog House
Hedgehogs like bushes and hedges. The house is best placed there. If there’s a pile of leaves nearby–even better. The shelter should also be rain and snow-proof to prevent waterlogging. Avoid a spot with direct sunlight, as the animals could wake up from hibernation too early and find no food.
Note: Hedgehogs should be left alone as much as possible while preparing for hibernation or during their rest phase. They are shy and nocturnal animals, not pets!
What to Do If You Find Hedgehogs in the Garden in Winter?
Hedgehogs wandering around in winter or even young animals can be fed. Since these spiky animals are carnivores, the food should contain enough fat and protein to build reserves for the winter. Cat wet food without jelly, fried ground meat, and scrambled eggs are tasty and suitable for them. Do not season the food. For drinking, water can be provided in a shallow bowl or plate. They do not tolerate milk. Food and water go in the small “entrance area” of the hedgehog house, while the larger space is used by the animals for sleeping.