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Old 05-04-2016, 03:06 PM   #1
pinkneon
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Default Bird seed?

I have a couple of questions about bird seeds. A previous hammy I had used to like Trill as a treat, but I was going to get some the other day and noticed an ingredient called "Shell Grit". I just wondered what this was and if it was ok?

My next question is about how much and how often? Sweep has had canary seed before, but today at the market I bought him some budgie seed to try. Now, he's quite good in that if I put some in a bowl he won't take it all at once and it is usually still sitting there a couple of days later. I am wondering how much he can have and how often? I don't know how fattening they are?
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Old 05-04-2016, 03:36 PM   #2
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Bird seed?

I don't know about other syrians, but Charlie seems to find seeds too small to bother with. They could be good for making baked hammy treats though! I tend to stick to pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
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Old 05-04-2016, 10:33 PM   #3
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Default Re: Bird seed?

Most mixed seed sold for birds does contain oyster shell grit, it's meant to help break down food in the crop & provide extra calcium to form shells & isn't something I'd choose to give to a ham personally.
I would get a selection of individual seeds to feed if you want to give extras.
As well as pumpkin & sunflower (always best in the shell) most hams of all species enjoy flax seeds which are really good for them & hemp.
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Old 05-05-2016, 12:11 AM   #4
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Default Re: Bird seed?

I'd agree with Serendipidity as well, Willow doesn't bother with any foods if they're very small (I.e millet) but I use them all the time to make inexpensive (and healthier!) seed treats and Willow loves them. I prefer to stick to pumpkin and sunflower seeds for feeding on their own and linseed helps with the coat
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Old 05-05-2016, 04:41 AM   #5
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Default Re: Bird seed?

I've never heard of linseed or flax. Sweep loves the millet spray and seems to like the bird seeds too but if they have things in he shouldn't have I can stop giving them to him
What do seed treats do you make?
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Old 05-05-2016, 05:07 AM   #6
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Default Re: Bird seed?

Flax & linseed are the same thing, a bit confusing I know!
A very healthy addition to your hams diet, in moderate amounts & most hams love them.
You can get them in Tesco or any supermarket.
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Old 05-05-2016, 09:03 AM   #7
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Default Re: Bird seed?

Great thanks Cypher. Will take a look tomorrow when I go to the shop. Any idea where abouts it would be? I'm thinking possibly the baking section as that is where they tend to keep nuts and dried fruit?
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Old 05-05-2016, 09:28 PM   #8
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Default Re: Bird seed?

They won't be in the baking section, they have a kind of whole food, "free from" allergy section & they'll be there, I think they sell brown & gold but it doesn't matter which one you get.
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Old 05-06-2016, 01:29 AM   #9
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Default Re: Bird seed?

Lidl & Aldi as well as the other supermarkets sell small bags of mixed nuts and dried fruits. I buy the small bag from Lidl that has the name Alesto fruit and nut mix. The nuts and fruit are roasted hazelnuts, cashews, cranberry and golden raisin. I only break off small pieces of the dry fruit though as I have a Russian hybrid and I break up the nuts into smaller pieces and add these to my Russian dwarf`s normal dry mix. They are a tasty addition.

I find Syrians don`t mange millet seeds as much as the dwarf hamsters do. My Russian male seems to love the millet seeds the best and always has the empty shells lying around his little box where he eats them during the night!

As far as buying bird seed, you may want to stick to Canary seed mix or special budgie mix. The are normally pre-weighed from 20kg bags in many independent pet shops, so should NOT have grit included. Canary seed and mixed millets are found in the Burgess dwarf food mix, so even buying a bag of that would give you that millet within a hamster food itself, rather than buying it separately and wondering what`s in it. It also has pea flakes. x
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Old 05-06-2016, 01:43 AM   #10
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Default Re: Bird seed?

Quote:
Originally Posted by racinghamster View Post

As far as buying bird seed, you may want to stick to Canary seed mix or special budgie mix. The are normally pre-weighed from 20kg bags in many independent pet shops, so should NOT have grit included.
What makes you think that RH? Not many bird seeds don't have the grit added.
Before buying any unlabelled bags of food that are just weighed out from larger sacks or bins I would always ask about ingredients, if in doubt don't
If it's been kept in open bins as it sometimes is I wouldn't buy at all tbh.
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