BARF & fresh meat diet

BARF, short for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, is a feeding method designed to replicate the composition of whole prey. For hedgehogs and tenrecs, this approach has gained attention among experienced keepers. While traditional diets rely on cat food or insectivore pellets supplemented with insects, BARF offers a more natural nutrient profile that mimics what hedgehogs would consume in the wild.

Importantly, BARF is not just a short-term trend. Many keepers report long-term benefits, including improved coat and spine quality, balanced weight, and even support in metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes. However, this method is not without risks; precision and responsibility are crucial.

Biological Background

Wild hedgehogs consume mostly invertebrates (grasshoppers, beetles, larvae, moths, bees, snails, crickets) and, to a lesser extent, small vertebrates such as mice or birds, as well as eggs and carrion. Their teeth are built like those of carnivores, reflecting their adaptation to animal-based food.

Unlike omnivores, hedgehogs lack a small intestine and the enzymes required to break down plant fibres. This means they cannot efficiently digest or absorb nutrients from plant material. They need the complete nutrient package of a prey item in one meal, rather than spreading nutrients across multiple meals as a dog might. Their feeding behaviour resembles that of a cat more than a dog: immediate consumption of the whole prey.

This is why BARF formulations are often adapted from feline diets, but with additional insect components to reflect the hedgehog’s mixed prey spectrum.

Composition of a BARF Mix

A balanced BARF mixture typically follows this guideline:

• 85% muscle meat (including ~100 g heart per kilo and 8–10% fat content)
• 5% bone (e.g., chicken necks, finely ground)
• 5% fibre (e.g., digested stomach content or substitute such as leafy greens)
• 5% organs (ideally a full range: liver, kidney, spleen, lung)

To every kilogram of meat mix, the following supplements are added:

• 50 ml blood (as a natural sodium and iron source)
• 200 µg iodine (from seaweed or fish)
• 2 g taurine
• 1000 mg EPA/DHA (fish oil, e.g., salmon oil)
• 50 mg vitamin E

Why Supplements Are Essential

Blood
Provides sodium and iron. If unavailable, blood can be replaced with a pinch of salt plus extra spleen (e.g., 20 g per kilo instead of lung).

Iodine (seaweed or fish)
Small prey items naturally contain iodine. Without supplementation, hedgehogs risk hypothyroidism; too much can cause hyperthyroidism. Accurate dosing is critical.

Taurine
Vital for eyesight, fertility, fetal development, cardiac and nervous system health. A mouse contains high taurine levels; therefore, either 50% of muscle meat can be replaced with heart, or pure taurine should be added (2 g per kilo to reach ~2000–2500 mg/kg). Taurine cannot be overdosed, excess is excreted.

Omega-3 fatty acids
Commercial livestock meats are high in omega-6. To restore balance, omega-3s (EPA/DHA) are added. Plant-based oils (like flax) are useless for hedgehogs, as they cannot convert alpha-linolenic acid into EPA/DHA. Fish oil capsules (e.g., salmon oil) are recommended. Target ratio is 5:1 (omega-6:omega-3).

Vitamin E
Needed as an antioxidant alongside fish oil. Hedgehogs cannot absorb vitamin E from plants directly; they rely on prey digestion. Supplementation is necessary, but must be controlled: vitamin E is fat-soluble and can accumulate in the liver.

Vitamin D
Supplied naturally through liver. No additional supplementation is needed. Be cautious: oily fish like salmon, herring, or eel contain very high vitamin D; avoid combining them excessively with liver to prevent overdose.

Biotin (Vitamin H)
Supports skin, spines, claws, and regeneration. Best source: raw egg yolk. Important: always cook egg white, as raw egg white contains avidin, which blocks biotin absorption.

Sample Recipes

Basic Adult Mix (per kilo)

• 700 g chicken breast (8% fat)
• 100 g turkey heart
• 100 g chicken necks (50 g bone, 50 g meat)
• 20 g chicken liver
• 10 g rabbit kidney
• 10 g rabbit lung
• 10 g rabbit spleen
• 50 g lamb’s lettuce (or similar greens for fibre)
• 50 ml bovine blood

Supplements:

• 3 salmon oil capsules (~1000 mg EPA/DHA)
• 2 g taurine
• 0.5 g seaweed powder

Juvenile Mix

Same as adult, but with 140 g chicken necks (70 g bone + 70 g meat) and 1 teaspoon finely ground eggshell for additional calcium.

For Dry Skin

• 700 g beef mince (10% fat)
• 100 g veal heart
• 100 g rabbit carcass
• 20 g beef liver
• 10 g veal kidney
• 10 g veal lung
• 10 g veal spleen
• 50 g cucumber
• 50 ml blood

Supplements:

• 3 salmon oil capsules
• 2 g taurine
• 0.5 g seaweed
• 1 tablespoon brewer’s yeast

Wild-Based Variation (without commercial supplements)

• 200 g venison (8% fat)
• 100 g pollock
• 500 g chicken hearts
• 100 g chicken necks
• 20 g venison liver
• 10 g venison spleen
• 10 g venison kidney
• 10 g venison lung
• 50 ml blood
• Only vitamin E supplementation remains essential.

Feeding Amounts

15–20 g BARF mix per day (depending on activity and size)

Always combine with insects and snails:
Example: 20 g meat mix + 1 grasshopper, 1 roach, 3 crickets, 2 snails

Treats:

• Rose chafer larva, waxworm, or mealworms (moderation due to fat content)
• Once a week: raw egg yolk (biotin)
• Occasionally: baby mice or day-old chicks (natural whole-prey enrichment)

Advantages of BARF for Hedgehogs (and Tenrecs)

1. Long-term health improvements: better coat, spine strength, body weight regulation.
2. Supports metabolic balance; positive results observed even in hedgehogs with type 2 diabetes.
3. Greater nutrient density and bioavailability compared to dry kibble.
4. More natural feeding behaviour; chewing, tearing, and variety.

Risks and Responsibilities

BARF is not for beginners. It requires precision and careful monitoring.

• Nutritional imbalance: Over- or under-supplementation (especially iodine, vitamin E, or calcium) can cause long-term harm.
• Pathogen risk: Raw meat can carry bacteria and parasites. Safe sourcing, freezing, and hygiene are essential.
• Not a sole diet: Insects must remain a significant component, as BARF cannot replace their role in digestion (especially chitin).
• Monitoring needed: Weight, stool quality, skin condition, and blood work (if possible) should be checked regularly.,

Why Meat for Human Consumption Is Not Suitable

At first glance, using supermarket meat for hedgehogs or tenrecs may seem convenient. However, meat intended for human consumption is not appropriate as a staple for insectivores. There are several reasons for this:

1. Wrong nutrient profile

Human-grade meat cuts are selected for people, not animals. They are often too lean (chicken breast) or too fatty (skin, trimmings).

Muscle meat alone has a severe calcium–phosphorus imbalance, far too much phosphorus, almost no calcium, which over time causes metabolic bone disease if not corrected.

Crucial insect-based nutrients such as chitin are completely absent.

2. Additives and processing

Many meats sold for people are injected with salt solutions, marinades, or preservatives that are harmless for humans but harmful for small mammals.

Even “plain” meat may have been processed in ways that alter its nutrient content.

3. Pathogen and storage risk

Human food safety standards assume that meat will be cooked before consumption. For raw feeding, this means bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, or parasites remain a real threat.

Freezing reduces but does not eliminate these risks.

4. Evolutionary mismatch

Hedgehogs and tenrecs evolved to consume insects, small vertebrates, and carrion. They did not evolve to process large portions of farmed poultry or beef. Feeding only supermarket meat is therefore not “natural,” even if raw.

For these reasons, meat intended for human meals should never be used as the sole or primary diet. It can be included in a carefully balanced BARF recipe alongside insects, organs, bones, and supplements, but only when the full nutrient profile is adjusted to meet the animal’s needs.

In Summary

BARF and fresh meat diets can be a valuable option for hedgehogs (and in some cases tenrecs), but only when handled by experienced keepers with knowledge of supplementation and hygiene. Done correctly, BARF provides long-term benefits, supports natural physiology, and can even help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes. Done incorrectly, it poses serious risks. For this reason, BARF should never be a casual choice, but rather a carefully studied and responsibly implemented method.