Organic bird seed, unsalted raw sunflower seeds, dried corn, unsalted nuts, unsalted and unsweetened nut butters, cooked potatoes, and grains of all kinds are great sources of carbs and fat for her diet. [2] X Research source
You can feed your hamster organic chicken, turkey, or eggs to provide the needed protein for her diet. Cook it thoroughly but do not season it with salt or pepper. Do not serve it hot as it will burn the hamster. You can also serve your hamster live insects such as mealworms or crickets. You may have trouble finding organic varieties in pet stores, but you can find them from online vendors in select countries. Other great sources of protein for your hamster also happen to be good sources of carbohydrates, like beans, barley, peas, nuts, oats, or wheat. [3] X Research source
Keep track of what she eats and what she rejects. In some cases, if she rejects a particular food it is because she has enough of that particular nutrient in her diet and doesn’t need it. [5] X Research source If you find that your hamster rejects all of a particular category of food (for instance, all sources of calcium), you might need to invest in a hamster health supplement to prevent deficiencies. These are available at large pet stores or online.
Never offer any sugary or salted foods or processed human foods. These can’t be digested properly by a small rodent and could be deadly.
Fruits like apple, banana, melon, or grapes are great choices, but you should not offer them too frequently because of the high sugar content. Every few days is plenty. More frequently, try pieces of vegetables like cucumber, corn on the cob, carrot, peas, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, or beansprouts. Don’t offer citrus fruits like lemons, limes, or oranges, and don’t offer onions, leeks, chives, or garlic. These types of food are too acidic and can cause stomach issues for small rodents. You should also never offer raw potato, aubergine, or avocado, which are toxic to hamsters.
Dog and cat biscuits are both available in organic varieties online, or try your hand at making your own: Combine two cups of whole wheat flour, a cup of rolled oats, a tablespoon of dried parsley, and half a cup of powdered milk in a mixing bowl. Add a cup of unsweetened peanut butter, two large eggs, and half a cup of water, and stir to combine. Shape the dough into dog-biscuit sized logs and bake for about fifty minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. [7] X Research source Experiment by adding different types of seed or nut butters and other healthy additions like flax seed, millet, or different types of whole grain flour.
Just remember not to serve any foods to your hamster with added salt or hot from the oven!
The best way to ensure that your hamster is getting all the right nutrients is to serve a diet that varies every day and includes grains, seeds, herbs, vegetables, protein, nuts, and treats. You can create a hamster mix using organic ingredients, or you can simply offer a small amount from each category of foods every day. Be sure that your hamster’s menu includes protein, carbohydrates and fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The first four elements of a healthy diet will be discussed in more detail in the next step.
Hamsters will also instinctively eat more of what they need and leave behind some of what they don’t. If your hamster always ignores particular food, offer less of it and more of what he eats. [10] X Research source
Keep a hamster water bottle full of clean water in the cage. Change the water every day. Don’t offer other liquids. Hamsters will get plenty of fluids from fruits and veggies, but straight juice or milk is too strong and contains far too much sugar for a hamster.
