Too small???

[WinnieTheHam]

Sorry I've added to the post I made because I forgot they were lab blocks.

The Kaytee lab block is actually okay nutritionally, but hamsters need variation of food and seed mixes helps give them variation. They will also have more fun breaking into the seeds, and you can also scatter feed the seed mix which helps encourage natural foraging behaviours.

Both the seed mixes have too low protein content, so feeding it as well as the Mazuri lab block will make a better protein content because 23% is a little high.

[Cinnamon Bear]

One last thing is that I don't think my hams like the Vita Smart thou?
They'd have more fun with Sunburst because it's filled with a wide variety of seeds?

Is it ok to still use Sunburst instead & still be healthy

or can I mix 1 teaspoon of Vita Smart & 1 teaspoon of Sunburst
then the 2 teaspoons of bits of Mazuri lab blocks?

[WinnieTheHam]

Yeah you could just use Sunburst, Sunburst with the Mazuri block will make;

Protein 18.5%
Fat 6.75%
Fibre 7%

This is still fine although fat is a little high in my opinion so make sure you don't over feed extra seeds for treats and such

[Cinnamon Bear]

Ok great appreciate your time!
Want to get this right!

[WinnieTheHam]

No problem, Let us know how they get on

[Cinnamon Bear]

Will do

[Cinnamon Bear]

So I stopped using Vita Smart & guess what??? They stopped stashing. So it was true, they didn't like that food. Latte & Koala my ex-stashers. Cinnamon didn't like that food either. It should be interesting to weigh them again soon?

Now I'm using Higgins Sunburst & broken pieces of Mazuri Rat & Mouse lab blocks. I'm soooo happy they aren't emptying the food dishes anymore. I'm giving them enough for two days.

Rose will probably always be on Kaytee Forti Diet. That's all she knows & seems to enjoy for 18 mo now. She's a little older than that though. Izzy & Maddi are still on Kaytee & Sunburst until I decide if I want to switch them over to Mazuri or not?

So 3 are on Mazuri & 3 are on Kaytee & all of them get Sunburst & it's one big happy hamily! That Sunburst is awesome dwarf hammie seed mix!!!

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Be aware that the Kaytee Lab Blocks have Molasses in them which is a big No No when feeding Hybrid Dwarf hamsters. The Mazuri has no Molasses and is a far better block food.

[oddlyoblivious]

I'm curious now, how do you calculate the dietary percentages when mixing feeds?

[Cinnamon Bear]

Originally Posted by Nancy's Hamsters

Be aware that the Kaytee Lab Blocks have Molasses in them which is a big No No when feeding Hybrid Dwarf hamsters. The Mazuri has no Molasses and is a far better block food.

Nancy, Molasses is also in Mazuri? I don't know which has less of it though?