Switching to burgess - Page 2

racinghamster · 11-09-2011, 06:46 AM

I`ve read that Pets At Home only sell the dwarf version? You would be able to get the normal Hamster Harvest from the Burgess website or perhaps from a local pet shop/suppliers? The bag is yellow and has a golden syrian on the front cover. The dwarf version has dwarf hamsters on the cover and as I mentioned above, it`s naff!

CoolcatNatNat44 · 11-09-2011, 10:28 AM

I got the dwarf version first just to try it out, i didnt see the syrian version

The dwarfies seem to like burgess so far

racinghamster · 11-10-2011, 04:44 AM

Great.

I use the syrian version, I have to pick out the banana pieces, along with the corn/maize and pea flakes, but I replace these with other goodies anyway and my syrian benefits from what my wee chinese can`t have.

CoolcatNatNat44 · 11-10-2011, 06:54 AM

Im really impressed with burgess so far they seem to be eating tons lol

racinghamster · 11-10-2011, 07:06 AM

Variety is the spice of like as they say! Nothing wrong with using one mix or mixing two or three variations.

**Hamtastic** · 11-11-2011, 07:36 PM

I want to get my hands on that stuff so badly... Why won't it be sold near me!

racinghamster · 11-12-2011, 03:08 AM

Hamtastic, if you read the list of ingredients on many hamster mixes here in the UK, sometimes it`s easy enough to buy the grains and flakes individually from stores and healthfood outlets in their organic form. Things like rolled oats, wheat, barley, puffed rice, soya flakes, lentils, peas, rye, Buckwheat, linseed, millet etc....

I know you are in the US and apart from Hazel Hamster (known as Harry Hamster in the UK) it can be difficult to find a mix that has lots of good grains and seeds included. This is why many of us (especially in the mouse keeping world) add these in as seperates to a shop bought mix. You do need to be careful with the possible dilution of the levels of protein/fat etc, but I find that if I need to remove the corn for example, I replace the corn with another complex carbohydrate that doesn`t contain the same levels of natural sugars. Jumbo or porridge oats for example, or Buckwheat. So removing one thing that isn`t great and replacing it with something better is beneficial.

It can be a good thing aswell if you have an older hamster that doesn`t require the same high protein levels that a growing youngster might need and adjusting the mix accordingly. It`s not an exact science right enough especially if like me, you judge these things by instinct rather than nutritional science.

**Hamtastic** · 11-12-2011, 03:41 PM

Yes, I have been getting some of those grains in loose grains section, but some ingredients are not easy to find, such as soya flakes and veggies in flaked form. I've yet to find them even on-line.

racinghamster · 11-13-2011, 01:49 AM

It can be a pain when you don`t have healthfood stores within reach. I can buy a few of the ones I use in local supermarkets, but for others like hemp seed and the flaked varieties, I usually have to look elsewhere. It`s a shame we can`t buy things like this as easily as we can all the junk food!