Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Feeding/Nutrition

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-15-2017, 12:38 AM   #1
AprilPearl
Hamster Hugger
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
Smile Seed stick recommendations

I'm looking for a suitable seed stick for Quigley. I threw out his last one, because it purported to contain artificial colourings, which Amity let me know are carcinogenic.

However, I have been struggling to find a replacement. Most of the ones in P@H seem to contain colourings and/or flavourings (these are not listed as ingredients on the website, but when you look at the packaging they are on there).

For example, this is a treat stick I have fed in the past. However, when you look at the packet, it turns out that it contains colourings (although these are not mentioned on the p@h site):
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...-hamsters-112g

Same with this one:
http://www.petsathome.com/webapp/wcs...hamster-treats

There are a few options which did not seem to contain colourings or flavourings, but they had gelatin in them and I don't know if this is ok or not.

I believe this one contained gelatin (as referenced on its packaging) though the website, once more doesn't mention this:
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...er-fruit-stick

So, are any of these treat sticks actually ok?

What treat sticks would you recommend (preferably sold at p@h because I have to go there for cat food this afternoon!)?
__________________
Over the Rainbow:
Alfie, Kevin, Pip, Jordy, Scamp, Sooty, Mushu, Quigley
AprilPearl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 12:46 AM   #2
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

I'm not sure if P@H sell them but the Rosewood naturals range are good, they do a few different sticks & the dandelion ones are popular with most hams.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 12:57 AM   #3
Coco61
GrannyHam
 
Coco61's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: London
Posts: 4,261
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

At P@h locally to me, they do have a couple of the rosewood natural nibble pots. There are about 6 fillings, 3 fruit/veg and 3 flowers. P@h have the one with apple. I like these and so did Mocho until I got a 12 pack online and he got bored with the same casing!
Last week I bought p@h hamster pack of 2 seed and nut flavoured sticks and I have also had vitacraft emotion ones. I avoid those saying honey or fruit because I know Mocho does not have a sweet tooth. As for the small print ingredients, I must confess that at Mocho's age, I am more concerned with making sure he uses his teeth and eats as well as he can and I don't worry about maintaining total dietary balance.
Coco61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 01:05 AM   #4
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

A lot of treat sticks have vague ingredients,and lots of nasty additives that really shouldn't be given The Rosewood sticks as mentioned tend to be quite good though,so if you can get your hands on those that would be a great idea!However I'm sure there's some sort of DIY alternative if you can't

Gelatin is something I'd personally avoid,being essentially boiled bones and therefore not that digestible.
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 01:12 AM   #5
AprilPearl
Hamster Hugger
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

Thanks very much Cypher, Coco, Amity

The Rosewood sticks look really good. Quigley actually has a Rosewood carrot stuffed wood log, which he loves and has no nasty additives, so I have cinfidence in the brand already.

I looked on the p@h site and can't see the Rosewood sticks, so I may have to buy them online, but I'd rather wait a bit longer and to be sure that I wasn't feeding anything harmful.

Amity I'm sure there are plenty of DIY options too, but to be honest I don't trust myself not to muck them up somehow!
__________________
Over the Rainbow:
Alfie, Kevin, Pip, Jordy, Scamp, Sooty, Mushu, Quigley
AprilPearl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 01:34 AM   #6
velma
Moderator
 
velma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 3,365
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

I think a lot of things which may have question marks over them in the USA are already prohibited in the UK/Europe are strongly discouraged so personally I'm not sure if the colourings used are anything to be concerned about. And seeds are, well, seed coloured so they'd have no reason to overly Colour them to make them more attractive. I'd more likely want to look for something sugar free. Although a lot of the things that say sugar free seem to have honey to compensate. I have a packet of Vitakraft Rollinis that I got from p@h and I just checked them, no mention of colourings on the packet and they do contain honey but it's the smallest ingredient used.
velma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 02:07 AM   #7
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

I'd just stay away from artificial dyes and such period.They have no purpose for hamsters,and are not worth the huge risk of being used(even E&C approved,considering they allow the use of BHA/BHT/ethoxyquin which are already known to be unsafe).Red 40 is one very common example of an approved dye that is also known to be unsafe,and that's just one dye!

I'm sure a DIY alternative with no added sugar could be managed using a homemade flour glue Of course,with non-diabetes prone species you could use a high quality honey.It doesn't have to look perfect either,so even if it looks a bit odd as long as it serves a purpose it's still a good idea!
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 02:27 AM   #8
AprilPearl
Hamster Hugger
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

Velma I know, isn't it odd! So many of the seed sticks I looked at which contain artificial colours are a very natural plain colour so I've no idea what the colouring was used for!

On the topic of colourings, I've just noticed that the Harry Hamster Muesli itself contains colourings. Obviously, I cannot avoid these. So, are these the safe type?
__________________
Over the Rainbow:
Alfie, Kevin, Pip, Jordy, Scamp, Sooty, Mushu, Quigley
AprilPearl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 02:41 AM   #9
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

Looking at the actual website for the ingredients artificial colors aren't listed at all,so that is a bit strange to me.I think they might have used unsafe ingredients in the past but don't anymore(and have been very impressive in regards to addressing that from what I've seen!).
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2017, 02:50 AM   #10
AprilPearl
Hamster Hugger
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: London
Posts: 2,327
Default Re: Seed stick recommendations

Amity it seems that colourants are not mentioned in the ingredients of most things online (perhaps because they are an additive and therefore, unlike ingredients, don't need to be mentioned online? I don't know).

Anyway, "colourants" are listed as "additives" on the packaging of Harry Hamster. Here is a photo of the pack I just bought yesterday:

IMG_1532.JPG

It is true that it does not say whether these colourants are natural or artificial. But, the same goes for the treat sticks which simply list "colourants" under additives, without saying whether or not they are natural. However, I rather suspect that colourants are not natural if they do not say so, as usually if colourants are natural the manufacturers are keen to say as much.
__________________
Over the Rainbow:
Alfie, Kevin, Pip, Jordy, Scamp, Sooty, Mushu, Quigley
AprilPearl is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
colourings, p@h, stick, flavourings, treat, sticks, seed, website, packaging, contained, gelatin, referenced, suitable, gelatine, preferably, recommend, sold, afternoon, food, cat, mention, options, recommendations, ingredients, told

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:11 AM.