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Old 06-27-2021, 03:18 PM   #1
Quin
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Default Quaker Oats

Hi, I am currently feeding my hamster Vitakraft Vita Smart. I've talked with a woman (who stated that she had experience with hamsters), and she recommended that I buy Oxbrow once the food is gone. And to give sunflower, oats, etc as it may not be featured in the food.
Anyways, can I feed Samuel, Quaker Oats? There's no added sugar and I'm aware that it can be fed raw. How many oats should I feed a Robo dwarf? And how often should I feed it?
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Old 07-26-2021, 10:27 PM   #2
LlamacornBob
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

I wouldn't recommend you switch with oxbow because it's simply not a good brand for hamsters and if you're talking something else, just remember that a hamster's food must contain a great variety of things like seeds, grains or whole ingredients, around 18 to 20 percent protein,
8 to 15% fiber, and around 6 to 7 percent fat. If you're still a little confused try doing some more extensive research, even those out of this topic.

If you will give your hamster sunflower seeds give it sparingly because it is known to be high in fat.

also, I believe those oats are completely safe as long as they don't contain many extras like flavors! I think you can feed him quite an amount regularly as oats are pretty healthy and not very fatty but be careful and make sure it doesn't become most of his diet.

Try getting a decent food mix as a base diet so you don't have to worry about food mixing and giving extras or supplements daily.
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Old 07-26-2021, 10:48 PM   #3
LlamacornBob
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Also, an all pellet diet (I am assuming oxbow's Hamster and gerbil pellets ) is not very good at all even if you mix it with oats and sunflowers it needs way more variety than that
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Old 07-26-2021, 10:55 PM   #4
LlamacornBob
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Your current hamster's diet seems pretty decent too I'd just recommend a HIGH protein lab block and maybe some mealworms. you should calculate these though and not randomly mix them in your food mix.

When I say calculate I mean actual mathematics this calculator might help you: https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=...deHeaders=True.

And this is helpful too: What To Feed Your Hamster | Hamster diets - YouTube
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Old 07-27-2021, 02:47 AM   #5
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

If you're in the US the proper diet is Higgins Vita Garden with Pure Bites added for extra protein - not Sunburst, and no lab blocks added(not high quality etc, just best avoided).

Oxbow pellets aren't a species appropriate diet anyways as they're an all in one type pelleted food which is incredibly unnatural for hamsters who really do best with a mixed food. Oxbow also from a nutritional perspective in terms of ingredients isn't exactly biologically appropriate for hamsters either. Vitakraft foods tend to not be very high quality either - typically loaded with added sugar, dyes, dried fruits, etc.
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Old 07-27-2021, 07:12 PM   #6
Quin
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
If you're in the US the proper diet is Higgins Vita Garden with Pure Bites added for extra protein - not Sunburst, and no lab blocks added(not high quality etc, just best avoided).

Oxbow pellets aren't a species appropriate diet anyways as they're an all in one type pelleted food which is incredibly unnatural for hamsters who really do best with a mixed food. Oxbow also from a nutritional perspective in terms of ingredients isn't exactly biologically appropriate for hamsters either. Vitakraft foods tend to not be very high quality either - typically loaded with added sugar, dyes, dried fruits, etc.
First off, thank you for the replies. My hamster is eating (sliced) carrots as we speak. Whenever I can, I’ll either grow the herbs or buy them but it's fairly far to find one that's good for hamsters. Although, certain ones like parsley, mint, basil, thyme, and grass are freshly and locally grown. I’d have to do more research in that area and see if there's a difference between dried & fresh. (I know there's an obvious one)
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Old 07-27-2021, 07:58 PM   #7
Imogen
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

As with Llamacorn's suggestion on the %'s. They're a little out. Hamster diet % can vary on the hamster themselves as well as age as a possible outcome. This means most hamsters can tolerate 17% fat diet but some may still put on weight, so some hamsters will be recommended slightly under the minimum so they stay a healthy weight. But as stated from hamster hideout (a website that is an American equivalent to hamster central but with a few 1000 more members) "At most health levels and life stages, protein should be between 17% and 19%, Fiber - 6% - 15% and Fat - 4% - 7%"

[HAMSTER NUTRITION I] Nutrition, Variety, and Quality - Food & Nutrition - Hamster Hideout Forum

[HAMSTER NUTRITION IV] Commercial Hamster Food List - Food & Nutrition - Hamster Hideout Forum

[HAMSTER NUTRITION V] Safe Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Dietary Supplements - Food & Nutrition - Hamster Hideout Forum

Pets at Home muesli mix meets all the dietary requirements and is actually recommended by hamster hideout (again is the American version of hamster central)

Their muesli mix is the only thing P@H has done right, and both my hamsters are obsessed with it. My dwarf will actually only eat their muesli mix as well. I was on harry hamster before but saw that they didn't recommend it because the fibre is so low for it.

The muesli mix is...
17% fat
7% fat
7% fibre.

You don't have to but I've optionally chosen to add different flower petals and mealworms as well, but that's because corn is a slight filler but again, all information provided by hamster hideout is always updated with correct information.
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Last edited by Imogen; 07-27-2021 at 08:04 PM.
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Old 07-27-2021, 08:21 PM   #8
Quin
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
If you're in the US the proper diet is Higgins Vita Garden with Pure Bites added for extra protein - not Sunburst, and no lab blocks added(not high quality etc, just best avoided).

Oxbow pellets aren't a species appropriate diet anyways as they're an all in one type pelleted food which is incredibly unnatural for hamsters who really do best with a mixed food. Oxbow also from a nutritional perspective in terms of ingredients isn't exactly biologically appropriate for hamsters either. Vitakraft foods tend to not be very high quality either - typically loaded with added sugar, dyes, dried fruits, etc.
I was thinking of mineral chews, but I currently feed him the mix above and Zilla Munchies Omnivore Mix. It contains: dried bok choy, dried carrots, freeze-dried meals worms (Or dehydrated), freeze-dried silkworms, freeze dried crickets, dried zucchini, dried bananas and dried zucchini. He also eats meat one or twice a week during her period of feeding. Of course, he’s not fed everyday and there’s some time between his meals. The herbs, I’m working on the research more (I’m in a low-income area) and everything is fairly far. I may grow some of the herbs myself and dry some, but I need to do more research. And do you mean pure bites as in frozen chicken, fish, etc given to cats and dogs?
His current protein meets 17%, fat is 4, and fiber is 10,
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Old 07-27-2021, 11:35 PM   #9
AmityvilleHams
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Quote:
Originally Posted by Quin View Post
I was thinking of mineral chews, but I currently feed him the mix above and Zilla Munchies Omnivore Mix. It contains: dried bok choy, dried carrots, freeze-dried meals worms (Or dehydrated), freeze-dried silkworms, freeze dried crickets, dried zucchini, dried bananas and dried zucchini. He also eats meat one or twice a week during her period of feeding. Of course, he’s not fed everyday and there’s some time between his meals. The herbs, I’m working on the research more (I’m in a low-income area) and everything is fairly far. I may grow some of the herbs myself and dry some, but I need to do more research. And do you mean pure bites as in frozen chicken, fish, etc given to cats and dogs?
His current protein meets 17%, fat is 4, and fiber is 10,
Pure Bites are the freeze dried cat & dog treats. Personally I would stick with chicken, turkey, shrimp, etc and not the fish or liver options - shrimp in particular is actually much healthier than mealworm since it has a lower fat content. Unlike dried mealworms and similar dried insects, you won't have pieces of potentially pure chitin(which isn't necessarily nutritional beneficial). I would stick to those instead of the Zilla omnivore mix, you're trying to add protein with things like Pure Bites not extra vegetables and such. Vegetables tend to have the most nutritional value fresh anyways when possible, with some exceptions needing to be cooked for safety or rarely having better nutrition cooked!

Container gardening is definitely a good idea. I've even found organic seed in Walmart of all places, but if you have the option to order online(not through Amazon, look for places with the safe seed pledge) you might find better deals and more variety. I would also highly recommend looking into ways to grow more of different produce in general from what you buy - not just for the hamster but for you as well.

Overall though it's important not to just go by the macro nutrients. These are important, but ingredients in general can also impact the quality of a food. It's easy to meet protein, fat, and fiber requirements even if something is the hamster equivalent to junk food.
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Old 07-28-2021, 08:31 AM   #10
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Quaker Oats

Amity knows more about the best hamster diets in the US. But to answer the question about Quaker Oats - yes they're fine! Rather than add it to a mix, a lot of people just make up a bit of porride in a mug with a bit of water, in the microwave, and put some on a teaspoon. Most hamsters love porridge. Just as a kind of extra treat now and then. Best made with water than milk and make sure its cooled down a bit!

Providing these are actual oats for porridge and not the "instant" porridge which can contain sugar and all kinds of things other than oats.
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