Extruded complete diet vs. mixed diet

[BrainGirl]

I typically feed my rodents a self-mixed diet of rabbit pellets and seeds, nuts, beans (no soy!) and grains, with occasional fresh food thrown in. I was given a partial bag of Living World's Extrusion diet for hamsters. I had seen it in the store but I tend to be leery of claims like that for processed foods. IMO a varied, unprocessed diet is much better. However, she absolutely loves this stuff! I also think it's good for her teeth because she not a big chewer and the pellets are large and hard so I know she's getting the tooth wear she needs. Has anybody had experience feeding this type of extruded pellet to hams? I still give her healthy treats but since she picks these out first I'm thinking I'm just going to have to buy this hamster diet from now on.

[souffle]

There are not that many complete diets in the UK. We have tried the supreme selective but the hammies were less than impressed and I know a few people whose hams lost weight on it. If your ham likes the complete diet then I'd go with it but still offer some variation as you are doing. I like to think their natural instincts to select food, shell nuts and seeds and pouch and store bits are still challanged as this adds to their life enrichment.

[fluffymunchkins]

I make my own mix and i find mine love it much more than store bought stuff.
Since i make sure they eat nearly everything tilll i give them more, they are fab and get all the best from the stuff that is most healthy.

But different hams have different tastes and some may prefer pre made hamster food.
maybe you could mix the LW extrusion diet into your normal mix. Or replace the rabbit pellet part with it, as the protein will be provided in the pre made and you don't want too much.

[BrainGirl]

Thanks for the input! I finally read the ingredient list and surprisingly soy meal is listed. Perhaps it's had the nasty substance taken out of it in the processing but I was told that soy can be toxic to some animals over on the gerbil forum. I do still give her the seeds and grains in her bowl though she grabs the big pellets first. It was quite funny watching her stuff 4 of these inch-long pellets into her cheeks!

I also scatter the sunflower seeds in the bedding of the third floor cage where her wheel is. It's sort of the "fun" cage and I think it's good for her to have to "hunt" for her treats