Hamster Central - View Single Post - Getting female hammie that’s use to only a seed diet

Pebbles82 · 08-28-2021, 05:19 AM

With veggies - every 3 days initially until her digestive system adjusts - just a very tiny bit - about 1cm cubed size (doesn't have to be cube shaped but very small amount - ongoing as well. They don't need a lot and it means none is likely to be left to go rotten). So every 3 days for a week to 10 days and if all fine then go to daily. IME they really look forward to their bit of veg every day. I wouldn't give fruit until she's well used to veggies - and rarely - as a treat. Eg a blueberry or tiny piece of banana. They can have too much fruit and don't really need it if they have daily veg.

Re a hamster mix. Not sure which pelleted mix you use, but they do do better with a muesli mix, being natural foragers. I give a muesli mix but with 2 or 3 pellets daily of an all in one food (science selective) added. Sometimes I just scatter the 2 or 3 pellets for foraging. I only do that if the muesli mix is a bit low in protein - during their first year.

I hope it isn't Oxbow - as that really isn't good for hamsters - sorry! Far too much roughage and not suitable for their digestive systems. I don't know what you can get in Canada, but Harry or Hazel hamster is a reasonable all in one muesli mix with correct levels of protein. Has whole peanuts in shells, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and some "all in one" type biscuits. Anything else can then be treats. Eg scattering the odd pumpkin seed or sunflower seeds as treats. I usually give a pinch of linseeds daily on a separate little dish. Not essential but very good for their coat condition!

08-28-2021, 05:19 AM
Pebbles82 Hamster Antics Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 23,533	Re: Getting female hammie that’s use to only a seed diet With veggies - every 3 days initially until her digestive system adjusts - just a very tiny bit - about 1cm cubed size (doesn't have to be cube shaped but very small amount - ongoing as well. They don't need a lot and it means none is likely to be left to go rotten). So every 3 days for a week to 10 days and if all fine then go to daily. IME they really look forward to their bit of veg every day. I wouldn't give fruit until she's well used to veggies - and rarely - as a treat. Eg a blueberry or tiny piece of banana. They can have too much fruit and don't really need it if they have daily veg. Re a hamster mix. Not sure which pelleted mix you use, but they do do better with a muesli mix, being natural foragers. I give a muesli mix but with 2 or 3 pellets daily of an all in one food (science selective) added. Sometimes I just scatter the 2 or 3 pellets for foraging. I only do that if the muesli mix is a bit low in protein - during their first year. I hope it isn't Oxbow - as that really isn't good for hamsters - sorry! Far too much roughage and not suitable for their digestive systems. I don't know what you can get in Canada, but Harry or Hazel hamster is a reasonable all in one muesli mix with correct levels of protein. Has whole peanuts in shells, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and some "all in one" type biscuits. Anything else can then be treats. Eg scattering the odd pumpkin seed or sunflower seeds as treats. I usually give a pinch of linseeds daily on a separate little dish. Not essential but very good for their coat condition!