100% Chicken cat treat for hamsters?

[Peanut84]

Hi! I wanted to try out if my hamster likes chicken, but since I don't eat meat myself I would not want to buy chicken and let most of it go bad. I found this cat treats:
Chicken Cat Treat 25gm | Pets At Home
It says they are freeze-dried and made out of 100% chicken. Do you think they would be safe for hamsters?

[kyrilliondaemon]

If they're 100% chicken I'd think that they should be ok, we've fed ferret treats that were 100% chicken before

[KittyKatMe]

Yes, they're completely safe and are gaining popularity in the hamster world as a protein boost. For this reason, they can be given up to once a week.

[Munchalot]

Although you should be wary about the feeding of excessive protein (especially in older hams), something like this on occasion is fine. Being as they're 100% chicken with no rubbish means they are safe.
I've fed treats like this before. My guys are proper little carnivores, especially my hybrid Todd, who loves anything meaty. I give him a little snip of dried chicken I get for my dogs, but only as a rare treat. It could also be beneficial for young growing hams.

EDIT: I've just looked at the analysis, and it says they are 81% protein - which is really high! Far more suited to what they are made for: obligate carnivores like cats and ferrets. This is probably because they are freeze dried.
You could probably still feed some, but literally only a weeny little piece. Maybe if you were buying them anyway (if you have a cat) just snip a tiny bit off of a piece. But I wouldn't buy a pack fo these just for hams, because they would go bad before you got to use them.
Most dried meat treats similar to this are more like 45 - 60% protein, which is not so bad.

[JBH316]

Try the Applaws treats - they are 100% chicken breast.

[Peanut84]

Great, thanks everyone. I looked at the Applaws treats and they are much lower in protein, only 37%, so I think I will try out those! My flat mate does have a cat so the treats defiantly would not be wasted either way

[Artsy Hammy]

I never knew you could use some cat treats for hamsters. That's interesting.

I also don't eat meat, and never thought about other possibilities for treats like that.

[Vectis Hamstery]

I use cat food as treats for my hamsters and as extra protein. My hams don't like chunks in gravy/jelly but prefer the flaked style. The Applaws, Almo nature and Sheba prime cuts tins have gone down well. I give 0.5-1 teaspoon in a little cake case (I found washing up lots of little dishes rather tedious). How often depends on the hamster - anywhere between very occasionally as a treat for an older ham to several times a week for mums with pups. I have frozen excess in ice cube trays before and defrosted as needed when I had fewer hams.

When I had a ham with dietary allergies, I used diced/cubed chicken from the supermarket and froze any not used immediately in sandwich bags containing one hamster portion in each. I then defrosted and boiled each portion as needed.

[Peanut84]

Thank Vectis, I will try it out! I think it would be only an occasional treat. Mainly because he likes very few things and doesn't touch half of his regular food so I'm looking for things to make his diet more interesting and balanced. Oh and freezing chicken in hamster portions is such a good idea!

[DrKMcK]

I also use just plain chicken from when I cook it for myself. I'll set aside a small bit for Yoda, my Chihuahua and a little for the hams too. Boil it up and cool it and the pets have their treat. It's not a problem because I'm making it for myself anyway.