Can hamsters have baby porridge?

Hamster Dragon · 10-16-2005, 08:27 AM

My mum gives baby porridge to her rats and it gave me this question.

Anyway if they can, what extras can you put in it, for example, raspberry jam and syrup.

**pophammy** · 10-16-2005, 09:14 AM

Yes, hamsters can have baby porridge but you don't want to give them too much either as they can store it and it would go bad. Jams and syrups are not suitable for hamsters as they are too sweet and sticky and are bad for their teeth and bowels. It is better just to give them it plain.

**babyboos** · 10-16-2005, 12:55 PM

My guys love porridge oats or Ready Brek hot oat cereal. Just make them up with soya milk or water and no sugar or salt is required. I have it myself every morning at this time of year so there is always some lucky hamster who gets a teaspoonful each day, and all my pregnant and nursing mothers have it daily. Sometimes I may add some finely minced nuts or sesame seeds, chopped dried fruit, or a little grated raw vegetables such as carrot. Tastes yummy

Pendragon · 10-16-2005, 01:27 PM

Same here Babyboos - ReadyBrek is the easiest to make up, since you can use hot water then thin it out and cool it down with milk, no need for cooking or microwaving as with real porridge oats.

Don't use the new Oat-so-Easy Instant Porridge as it's full of sugar and flavourings!

For my babies and pregnant mums, I add a few teaspoons of Lactol powdered kitten/puppy milk (or you can also use SMA or similar human baby milk powder - soy version if you like) to the dry Readybrek, mix well then add hot water from the kettle. Then thin it out with a bit of cold water, and it's usually cool enough for them to have straight away. Instant creamy lovely hamster porridge with no messy washing up to do! I've been known to polish off the leftovers myself!! (Although, let me say, not if I use Lactol - then the rats get to finish it).

And yes, the grown-up hammies get a little bit now & again when I'm feeling generous or if they beg convincingly enough

I like your idea of adding bits to it - not tried that yet. I guess hemp seed and linseed, possibly some bird seed like millet, some scrambled egg and maybe a pinch of seaweed powder would be a nice addition.

*goes off to plan porridge menus*

PS: for our American friends - what we call porridge is what you call oatmeal

**babyboos** · 10-16-2005, 01:58 PM

I have tried adding hemp seeds to my own porridge oats. I also eat them on their own. Quite nice and I recommend getting ready shelled to anyone who wants to try them. They are so good for you :P I have linseed in my fruit juice every morning about 30mns after my morning hotwater and lemon

Had this for many years now. I buy lemons and slice them and then freeze the individual slices between clingfilm so I have a slice ready each morning and the lemon doesn't go off. Plus it helps to cool the water down

My Roborovski love linseeds so I give them a small sprinkling every couple of days.

Sea vegetables instead of salt is good but my other-half hates green bits in his porridge

I tried red macroalgae too but he still wasn't keen so we are used to none now. My mum's honey is all we need

Hamster Dragon · 10-17-2005, 12:11 PM

Thanks for all the ideas everyone now it's not just the rats which will get the porridge now

Hamster Dragon · 10-23-2005, 12:02 PM

I gave my hamster her first bowl of porridge today and she loves it !

she was shaking with happiness, I'm glad she likes it

**babyboos** · 10-23-2005, 02:32 PM

Lucky girl, bet she loves you even more now

Catherine Spark · 11-01-2009, 12:01 PM

I did an experiment a while back blending cooked porridge - and it just came out the same as ready brek! I expect this works out cheaper than the little jars of baby porridge, and you know exactly what's going in it. However, you do get quite a lot that way. Still, it can be used for making oatmeal biscuits (just add dried fruit, mould it and bake it until hard).

Catherine Spark · 11-03-2009, 01:41 AM

One question on the subject of baby food though - isn't it a bit of a waste buying a jar full and then only being able to store it for 48 hours when the hamster will certainly not get through it? Or do people buy it in powder form? I tried Oakie on chicken and vegetable and he adored it, but you can only store the open jar for 48 hours, it says.