Porridge?

annc · 01-28-2008, 01:49 AM

Is it OK to give a little porridge to my Syrians? I wouldn't want to block their pouches.

Holly · 01-28-2008, 02:58 AM

Porridge is fine for hamsters and very much loved by most of them. Many show breeders give it 2-3 times a weeks to growing young hamsters and it's great for older hamsters as well. All mine get it once or twice a week, they seem to like it made with full fat milk though and some turn their noses up at even semi-skimmed!

I_am_plankton · 01-28-2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holly

Porridge is fine for hamsters and very much loved by most of them. Many show breeders give it 2-3 times a weeks to growing young hamsters and it's great for older hamsters as well. All mine get it once or twice a week, they seem to like it made with full fat milk though and some turn their noses up at even semi-skimmed!

That is what Chris Logsdail finds - she sometimes adds some cream in also and she says they hate it with anything less! I don't bother with Lactol, the boiling of the milk when I make the porridge I think dramatically reduces the lactose which is what many breeders also agree with.

Holly · 01-28-2008, 03:22 AM

Yes! It was Chris who told me that on Saturday at Bradford - and it wasn't until Saturday night when I gave mine their porridge made with green-top (as that was all we had) and over half of them left it that I realised mine are the same. I've got a carton of full fat in thre fridge now specially for the hams

**Spuds Mum** · 01-28-2008, 02:36 PM

I do use lactol, basically because we only drink skimmed milk, and I just put the porridge oats into a bowl, add a spoon of lactol, then add warm (not boiling) water. I think I would use the full fat milk if we could make use of the remains.

Ours love it, and it is one way that i can guarantee that my hams will actually come out at a reasonable time, by waving the porridge in front of their nest!

Hanlou · 01-28-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spud's Mum

Ours love it, and it is one way that i can guarantee that my hams will actually come out at a reasonable time, by waving the porridge in front of their nest!

Herbert's just the same! He absolutely loves his lactol-porridge, bless him. I don't use boiling water to make it either, just warm (pre-boiled) water.

He fairly jumped out of John's arms into the cage the other day because he could smell his lactol!

souffle · 01-28-2008, 03:58 PM

We use the lactol too and I add a teaspoon of wheatgerm. I do use boiling water and let it cool or cool with cold water to a paste.

Holly · 01-29-2008, 01:38 AM

I did start giving it made with Lactol (and I use it for my babies) but after chatting to the breeders at Gatcombe last year and hearing that they make it with ordinary milk (apparently boiling the milk boils off the lactose content) I started using normal milk and mine seem to prefer it (maybe they got fed up of lactol rice pudding, lactol with breakfast cereal, lactol porridge, lactol and scrambled egg etc etc!).

Basia · 01-29-2008, 06:48 AM

I've always used ordinary milk for my adults and the babies. Jenny told me to when I got Chunky and Berry. She gives all of her hamsters bowls of milk to drink and they certainly looked well on it.
I still give my adults baby food as a treat as well as porridge, readybrek, rice pudding, cooked & raw vegetables, chicken, egg. Come to think of it, they eat better than us.

annc · 01-29-2008, 07:17 AM

I am getting less and less porridge - some for Milly and Poppy (adult ratties), some for Peanut and Snowy, now a little for Ratina - new baby rat!