Putting on weight - how to

charlilou · 04-24-2009, 11:06 AM

HI, we found a hamster at my place of work on monday and have been caring for him there.
He has a large cage, fresh drinking water each day, a wheel, toys etc and he has been having hamster food. WE dont know how long he had been escaped for and hadn't eaten.
He hasn't seemed to really pigged out on his food but he is rather skinny.

Is there anything i can do to help him put on weight? He looks healthy, shiny coat, bright clear eyes and clear nose and bottom.

Any ideas?

souffle · 04-24-2009, 03:46 PM

He may just be a naturally thin hammy. You can help him bulk up a bit by feeding litle bits of chicken, cooked pasta, tofu, porridge with wheatgerm added, cooked and raw veg and egg.
Try one food at a time and fingernail sized bits to see they agree with him. Lucky you finding him. He sounds healthy enough. Have you tried to trace his owner?

charlilou · 04-25-2009, 03:27 AM

No we havn't as we have no clue where she could of come from. We have decided to keep her at work (its a nursery) as all the children love her. So we are taking it in turns to take her home at weekends.
Shes very friendly though and doesnt mind the staff handling her, shes not nippy at all.

Emmurz · 04-25-2009, 03:04 PM

If she seems to be a happy hamster with a great coat and clear eyes etc then like Souffle said she is most likely just a skinny little lass.
Have the kids given her a name?
I look forward to hearing more about her!

charlilou · 04-26-2009, 06:48 AM

she is named Lopez.
We came up with the name because of jennifer lopez's song love don't cost a thing. Lopez has cost my workplace over £300 as she chewed through fridge wiring so we need a new fridge and broke the alarm.

She is def a girl, my mum looked to see on friday when she came home for the weekend.
She is brown and white with a few bits of black and i so friendly i want to keep her at home for myself, but i already have my own hammie.

loyal_tree · 04-27-2009, 04:16 PM

She sounds lovely. Cute name too for the cheeky girl! I hope you'll draw up like a 'rule sheet' for when people take her home so she's not stuffed with different foods she can't have or any other change in diet could mess her up. Mealworms or kitten food are pretty high in protien and can fatten a ham up too.

I have had a rescue girl, Gypsy, for a little over three weeks, and I don't think she's gained much weight either. I feed her the same as my other chunky babies, but she's not packing it on. Could just be her build.