Bird seed?

bonkers4hamsters · 02-23-2013, 07:26 AM

Which bird seeds do you recommend? I want to buy some for the hams to mix in with their foods so they can have more variety but I was wondering if there is a particular one I should go for or if there is anything I need to look out for that shouldnt be fed to hamsters, thanks!

**Silver** · 02-23-2013, 07:34 AM

If you mix anything into a hamster mix, it makes the mix % wrong & that's why you buy a hamster mix to be correct % for them.

You can feed seeds as treats this will alter the % less as you will not be feeding the mix, extra seeds & treats, & be more healthy than sugary treats

If you look online at my mixes you can see those are good for hams

xxx

racinghamster · 02-23-2013, 09:18 AM

The only bird seed I add these days is mixed millets. I have bought a pre-weighed 1kg bag of Premium Wild Bird mix from my pet supplier as this mix contains various millets aswell as broken corn and oat groats etc... If you google the name you will be able to see some brands and what`s in them. Pet shops usually weigh their own bird seed mixes in smaller bags though so it`s a cheaper way of buying them.

Silver is right about the % of a normal mix being added to and diluting a mixes balance, but you also need to consider that some contents of a mix never get eaten, like grass/alfalfa pellets, maize or pea flakes, so by adding other seeds like millets and puffed/flaked grains, these can sometimes be more beneficial than the wastage from the things the hamster won`t touch. That`s the way I look at it anyway. I try to stay as close to a mixes balance but know that my robo doesn`t always eat some of the ingredients within his mix, which is why I buy in some extras for him. Dwarf hamsters do love variety after all.

POLAR WHITES · 02-23-2013, 11:26 AM

hamsters can eat bird seed
my mix has in it wild bird seed, budgie bird seed hamsters also like meal worms.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 02-23-2013, 11:59 AM

We just bought a mix of parakeet food to mix in with our ham food - we found out that regardless of the percentages it actually seems to be causing problems for some hams so we're trying to reduce the risk of problems before we can change.

We also feed niger seed, wild bird seed, canary seed, budgie seed... Lots of seed mixes are fine

Vectis Hamstery · 02-23-2013, 12:16 PM

Several posts have been moved from this thread for moderation. Please keep on topic to help answering the OP's question which was:

Quote:

Which bird seeds do you recommend? I want to buy some for the hams to mix in with their foods so they can have more variety but I was wondering if there is a particular one I should go for or if there is anything I need to look out for that shouldnt be fed to hamsters, thanks!

Bonkers4hamsters, I add budgie tonic seed, linseed, hempseed and mixed millets to the mixes I feed my hamsters. The dwarves seem to enjoy the small seeds (apart from one who seems to have a dislike of hempseed), but the Syrians tend to ignore them. I've also used niger seed before too.

TraceyH · 02-23-2013, 12:45 PM

As I've two birds I always have stacks of bird seeds so throw a handful to the hams if I remember. Budgie seed, cockatiel mix, millet and canary seed. No idea if any of them eat any of it though.

Kissa · 02-23-2013, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

The dwarves seem to enjoy the small seeds (apart from one who seems to have a dislike of hempseed), but the Syrians tend to ignore them. I've also used niger seed before too.

My Syrian is the exception to this rule, she loves millet

The only seeds I've heard that are bad for hams are almonds, because of the cyanide -- I'm fairly sure there's not actually enough cyanide in edible almonds to kill a hamster, but not sure enough to risk it myself. Similarly with apple seeds (and possibly pear seeds?).

RachK · 02-23-2013, 03:29 PM

I buy the Trill Budgie Food. I only sprinkle a little on a few times a week as a treat. The dwarves love it a lot.

The little seed bells are good as a treat too. All my hams love them.

Here demonstrated by Ebony.

vanilla-yazoo · 02-23-2013, 04:15 PM

i order millet seed and dori seed as added goodness when i order from rat rations, or from other places if i find them, you can always get millet sprays, and take the stem out so theres little clusters of millet they can forage the seeds from.
also adding plain porridge oats is good, its good fiber and mine all love it!