Lactol, Wheatgerm and more!

[Mollz]

Right well I got some lactol today and am planning to make some ready brek with it tonight. How much lactol do you put with how much water? Also (other than in porridge and rice pudding) do you put it in anything else or just give it as a drink?
Now I keep hearing people mentioning wheatgerm and that it is really good for hamster. Where do you get it, what is it and what does it do?

I'm looking for food to boost my hamsters' growth and then in a few months time to feed a pregnant Amelie and her babies on (hopefully). So far I know of: Scrambled egg, porridge, rice pudding, lactol, baby food (what do you find they like?) and pasta. Anything else?

Thanks!!!

[Spuds Mum]

We had a right job finding wheatgerm tbh and finally found it in Julian Graves the high st health food shop. Other things I use with lactol, mm basically cereal - cheerios sometimes, shredded wheat, wheetabix.
some people also give bread and milk.

For small quantities Mollz, I just sprinkle in a bit at a time (about quarter of a teaspoon, until the water looks like milk.

Maybe we should start up a hamster recipe thread, as Im sure others will have some really good ideas!

[Mollz]

Originally Posted by Spud's Mum

We had a right job finding wheatgerm tbh and finally found it in Julian Graves the high st health food shop. Other things I use with lactol, mm basically cereal - cheerios sometimes, shredded wheat, wheetabix.
some people also give bread and milk.

For small quantities Mollz, I just sprinkle in a bit at a time (about quarter of a teaspoon, until the water looks like milk.

Maybe we should start up a hamster recipe thread, as Im sure others will have some really good ideas!

Thanks again - what would I do without you So it should be about the same consitancy of milk - not thicker or thinner?

The recipe thread is a very good idea!

[souffle]

You can get Jordans Organic wheatgerm in the 'organic section' in Sainsburys. Sometimes they also have it by the Muisli and stuff too.
To serve 4 hamsters we mix two heaped teaspoons of ready brek, one teaspoom wheatgerm, half a level teaspoon of lactol powder then add boiling water from the kettle to a paste. You should make it a little thinner than you would feed as it thickens when it cools. Leave till almost cold and serve with a nice Chablis
If you want it cooled quicker add cold water after the paste mix!

[Hanlou]

I got some wheatgerm from my local Holland & Barretts , there's several different types to choose from. They sell all sorts of things you could use for a hamster in there, I add lots of the flaky things to their food to add interest, such as barley flakes, spelt flakes and other errr, flaky things (I can't remember all the different ones offhand!).

They sell 'soup mix' there too which I also sometimes use with lentils etc in, an idea I stole from Nicola on here.

For a special treat for the rats, hamsters and mice I sometimes mix their lactol with a no added sugar Farleys rusk.

Yesterday I sort of tripped over my own feet as I walked in and nearly went flying through the doorway of H & B - a member of staff was really nice and made a kindly joke about it - I tripped on thin air, tried to recover myself, tripped again and then finally managed to steady myself in front of the rather large queue at the till......... Fortunately I did manage to save myself and didn't quite fall flat in my face, but it was rather embarrassing!

[Basia]

I'm always in Holland & Barratt buying things for the hamsters. They must look at me and think how is such a regular customer so unhealthy! I haven't managed to trip up in there yet though :P
Molz I also buy pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, linseed (good for coats), sunflower seeds (good for new mums) and you can get wheatgerm in there.

[Spuds Mum]

Oh I use Holland & Barrett for hamster shopping too - loads of lovely seeds, dried fruit (like dried cranberries etc.) and fun stuff as everyone has said.

It sounds like all of our hams eat better than I do!

[Yaffle]

I've never thought about going to Holland and Barrett although I think a shopping trip may be in order, saying that Neil already complains that the hamsters eat better than he does!
Also, where do you buy lactol? I've always just used kitten milk which has reduced lactose but it sours quickly.

[Spuds Mum]

Vets and pets at home seem to sell it Claire, and I am sure some other pet shops will, though the small ones near us dont seem to. Problem is you get quite a large tin, but at least being dry, it does last ages.

Have to say though, lots of the breeders (like Chris who looked at Minx at Bradford) just use full fat milk.

[Mollz]

Just to update and say that my hammies loved their lactol porrdge last night (I mixed a bit of muesli in too), and they all wolfed it down!