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Old 11-08-2018, 09:24 AM   #1
BorisPasha
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Angry Important info - Burgess hamster foods

I came across somebody saying today on instagram that Burgess were no longer producing the dwarf hamster mix. I decided to get in contact with Burgess myself to make sure it wasn't some internet rumour and unfortunately it is true.

This is the message I got from them today:-

"Burgess have discontinued the Dwarf Hamster food as based on research and observation Burgess Pet Care believe that selective feeding occurs across all species and this may have an impact on the health and welfare of the animals. With this in mind we are in the process of discontinuing all of our muesli style products and replacing them with single component nuggets.

For any species there is a range of nutrient intakes between the minimum and maximum that will deliver the correct level of nutrition and taking this into account it is possible to formulate one product which is suitable for Dwarf Hamsters, Hamsters, Gerbils and Mice. We have also taken care to ensure that the nugget size is acceptable to all the species

We do have some stocks of the old Dwarf Hamster product available and you can either purchase this direct from our website or find a local stockist, see below link you can pop your postcode in and it generates names addresses and telephone numbers of stockists in your area."

https://shop.burgesspetcare.com/othe...593.1404731135

So it would seem from this email that there will be only the pellet food to cover all hamsters, gerbils and mice.

I'm a bit disappointed by this news really as I never feel that pellets allow them to forage very well and they're not the most interesting. I'm all for pellet based food for very fussy hamsters but it's a shame they couldn't have introduced that to their range and maybe made the dwarf mix a little more interesting and varied.

Anyway just wanted to give a heads up in case anyone wants to get their supplies up
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Old 11-08-2018, 09:40 AM   #2
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

This is really disappointing, a full pellet diet is completely unnatural for them not to mention just miserable. I agree they should’ve changed the mix up a bit instead as a lot of dwarfs do tend to leave some of that mix.
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Old 11-08-2018, 09:58 AM   #3
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

That's not good news. I won't be feeding a complete diet like that. I like hamsters to be able to express natural behaviors in feeding be that foraging, shelling nuts and seeds and having a selection of different textures and tastes to explore. I love to see them digging around in the bowl and choosing what they like best. Can you imagine eating the same old all in one food every day!
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Old 11-08-2018, 10:06 AM   #4
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

It is a shame, just pellets all the time isn't so exciting for hamsters.

Burgess has always done me well with my little guys and gals, though I'll definitely be checking out their new product, may be good to have as something to mix into their current hamster mix!

I have to admit my dwarf hamster, Pomegranate, is picky and mixing in the pellets that have "a bit of everything" into her mix gives me peace of mind!
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Old 11-08-2018, 10:48 AM   #5
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

It is a real shame that the whole concept of enrichment & a natural diet is lost on them when they could have done a lot to improve their mix rather than go down this route, especially when they must have a large slice of the Uk market for dwarf food.
It's just as well there are good alternatives out there although sadly not so easily or cheaply available.
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Old 11-08-2018, 02:01 PM   #6
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

I switched all of my hamsters over to Harry Hamster recently because the last few bags of Burgess I’d bought were mostly millet and peas so I felt they weren’t getting the right nutrients. It is disappointing that instead of improving the current mix, they’ve replaced it completely.

Does anyone know a good alternative? I’m not completely happy with my hammies being on HH either with it’s high sugar content and I’m starting to contemplate making my own mix if I can’t find a good Burgess alternative.
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Old 11-08-2018, 02:30 PM   #7
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

The Bunny Dwarf HamsterDream Expert from Zooplus is a good alternative, there's also the Rodipet mixes which are pretty good & delivery is only about £3.50 at the moment so not bad if you buy a few bags & keep them in the freezer, Mixerama also do a really nice mix but delivery is vey expensive.
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Old 11-08-2018, 03:13 PM   #8
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

I remember asking Burgess if they were planning to make a pellet based food several years ago when I had an extremely picky eater and they’d said that they weren’t planning to so it’s interesting to see that they have now decided to do so. My fussy hamster died several years ago and I have no real need for it any more but I wonder if they’re applying the same approach that is recommended for rabbit and guinea pig food to foods for hamsters, gerbils and mice? Rabbits and guinea pigs have vastly different dietary needs to hamsters and are grazers rather than foragers.

I won’t be buying it as the two mixes I use are popular with my hamsters and they seem to do well on it but it’ll be interesting to see how it compares to Science Selective.
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Old 11-09-2018, 08:52 PM   #9
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

This is really disappointing . I really loved the food. Luckily I still have a whole bag.
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Old 11-10-2018, 03:00 AM   #10
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Default Re: Important info - Burgess hamster foods

Quote:
Originally Posted by alpacassei View Post
I switched all of my hamsters over to Harry Hamster recently because the last few bags of Burgess I’d bought were mostly millet and peas so I felt they weren’t getting the right nutrients. It is disappointing that instead of improving the current mix, they’ve replaced it completely.

Does anyone know a good alternative? I’m not completely happy with my hammies being on HH either with it’s high sugar content and I’m starting to contemplate making my own mix if I can’t find a good Burgess alternative.
Harry Hamster doesn't have any sugar in the ingredients

I would second the Bunny mixes for dwarf hamsters - they also contain mealworms I think (the Syrian version does). Although it's a pain getting it from Zooplus and you have to pay postage, it's not so bad if you get 2 or 3 bags at the same time and only pay one lot of postage. I get two at a time (Syrian version) and keep on in the freezer.

I think it's good that there are all in one foods (for emergencies) but we already have science selective and that is specifically for hamsters - that has also been changed recently - not sure why - small wriggly shaped pellets instead of the heart shaped biscuits. I add the odd one or two as a treat occasionally.

The Rodipet mixes vary I've found the adult syrian ones - including the new organic one, seem to have an awful lot of chopped dried herbs in and Newt leaves these and a lot of small seeds. ie he is leaving quite a lot of it - I mix it with the Bunny dream and now give the occasional science selective extras.

The "young syrian" standard Rodipet mix is ok - it's the one I used to mix with Bunny. The young Syrian organic mix is even more chock full of herbs that get left.

I am not sure what the Rodipet dwarf mixes are like - maybe Cypher knows? But it seems the Bunny mixes are the only other specific dwarf hamster mixes.

I think you can get them on ebay as well but not sure if it's from the Uk or still from Germany.

I think it's cost cutting. And suspect that's why Science Selective has changed too - maybe Brexit type thing? Or some other economic reason.

Have also meant to mention for ages - has anyone noticed Tiny Friends (ie supreme) chinchilla bathing sand has changed too?! Coarser and darker - Newt doesn't like it.
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