Food Bowls - Who Doesn't Bother?

[RedStarBlackpool]

I've decided to do with my new hammy what I used to with my other two - not bother having a food bowl. Instead I scatter the food around the cage, the reason being that I think it's more interesting for the hamster having to search around for its food, as it would in its natural environment. The new guy seems to appreciate this - he has a look round, pouches some and then dashes back to his nest with it. Just wondered if any others on here do the same thing, or am I actually getting it wrong?

[Kirsty1987]

I think a lot of people on here scatter feed especially with pairs so your not doing anything wrong just making it more interesting for your hammy. With my 2 dwarf hams i put there main mix in a bowl then i hide mealworms and other treats round the cage for them to look for :)

[RedStarBlackpool]

Thanks for the reply, Kirsty! As I'm writing this, my little Syrian is doing the rounds of his cage pouching stuff - seems to be enjoying himself!

[Willow's mummy!]

We scatter feed both hamsters but they do both have cute food bowls that match their sand bowls ;-). I often put the treats in the food bowl, or when they have wet food it goes in there.

[Lougarry]

I scatter feed. I only use bowls when the hams are having 'wet' treats, like baby food.

[GhostsInSnow]

I used to use a bowl for my Syrian but I switched to scatter feeding and she seems more interested in her food now

[Gizmo_Gonzalez]

I removed Gonzalez's bowl after having it in the cage for the first 8months of his life and found he stored everything i scattered, in his bed and stopped eating. It was like he paniced that there would be no more food! Bless him. So he always has a bowl with a little food in. then treats like dog biscuits, meal worms, veg etc, scattered and hidden. Occasionally i put a square of cardboard in a random place with scrambled egg or porrige on for him. Now he never hoards food and is a healthy weight. Try experimenting different ways of feeding and observe if you can how his behaviour/ or weight changes and go from there. You'll begin to get to know whats normal for your hammie. x

[Biscotti]

I also scatter feed for all my hams, it's fun for them to forage and dig around the bedding for their food and also prevent my pairs from fighting over the food bowl. I keep a small pile on their roof in case they're lazy and just want food quickly though.

[Flamestriker]

I used to scatter feed squeak when she had her digging box, but she has a bowl now..but I might go back to scatter feeding because she was a lot happier and more interested in her food!