How the Hamsters & Mice are fed at Home Sweet Hammy Home:
A variety of food is available to them at all times via their food bowl so I can monitor intake. Since store bought seed mixes are lacking in quality nutrition, I had to develop a better method here to ensure the rescues are properly nourished. I have included links but many of these items can be found in grocery stores, and you may already have them in your kitchen pantry! I am only linking to brands I use and trust. Purchasing any of the linked items might earn me a tiny commission which will be used to help offset the costs of operating my rescue.
I have owned hamsters as an adult for over 20 years and grew up as a child owning hamsters as well, but it wasn't until about 5 years ago when I started my rescue that I began to perfect how I feed them. This recipe works for mice with a few modifications. I make huge batches of this mix weekly and feed every other day along with appropriate lab blocks for each species which is:
For Dwarf hamsters and Mice:
Science Selective Hamster Pellets
For Syrian Hamsters:
Note: The following recipe is condensed down for one pet so adjustments to measurements may need to be made once you determine what works best for your own pet(s).
My DIY Feeding Method Recipe for Dwarf Hamsters and Mice:
1/2 cup Supreme Pet's Science Selective Pellets
--1/4 cup Dry Oats (any kind like old fashioned, steel cut, rolled etc. just not the packets with sugar and fruit flavorings)
(Oats are a good fiber source and replaces the hay pellets in the store bought seed mixes)
--2 Tablespoons Pea Flakes from Guinea Dad
--1 Tablespoon freeze dried veggies, make sure to get sodium free, I use 2 of the following at a time and rotate each time:
*Spinach *Kale *Peas *Broccoli *Bell Peppers *Corn *Carrots *Okra
--2 Teaspoons of 2 types of unsalted nuts broken into pieces:
*Cashews *Almonds *Pecans *Peanuts *Pistachios *Walnuts
(Serving nuts in their hard shells are great boredom breakers and helps keep their teeth trim. Nuts contain zero sugar and healthy fat and protein so don't believe what you read in forums about them because hamsters and mice love nuts. They are much better then store bought "treats")
--1 Tablespoon each of a few Different Unsalted Seeds:
*Unshelled Pumpkin or Sunflower *Flax Golden or Brown *Hemp Seeds or Hemp Hearts *Millet *Sesame
I especially like this variety mix: *Super Grains Blend
(Hamsters love seeds and they are full of nutrition which is easily digestible)
Note: I am on the fence about chia seeds; they swell when wet so although ethical breeders say they are okay for Syrians, dwarf hamsters and mice have smaller digestive systems. I fed them to mice before I learned of the controversy, without any known issues, but now I refrain from chia seeds for all the rescues here just in case.
--1 Tablespoon each of some of the following extra items but not all at once; each time I make the mix I change up the ingredients so they get a nice variety: * Hulled barley *Different colors of Couscous and Quinoa *Wheatberries
*Freeze Dried Tofu *Freeze Dried Chicken *Freeze Dried Shrimp *Freeze Dried Salmon *Banana Chips
*Lentils All Colors *Dried Apples * Shredded Coconut
*Low sugar cereals like: *Cheerios *Brown Rice Krispies *Regular Rice Krispies *Chex Rice or Wheat or Corn
(For cereals read ingredients carefully, choose low salt/sugar, minimum preservatives, no added flavors, frostings, or anything artificial)
Lastly I add a few Teaspoons of one or two of the following herb mixes: *Flower Power *Vitalicious
OR click the following link Guinea Dad and Search: Dandelion, Raspberry, Chamomile, Hibiscus, Marigold or Rose Hip to get single ingredients to add to your mix.
TIPS:
----I mix all ingredients really well and store in an airtight container. Each batch is made with different ingredients.
----My DIY mix can be fed by hand in your palm, in the bowl or scattered but use caution with scatter feeding, you won't know what gets eaten and how much so can't adjust accordingly. Also keep in mind even if hamsters empty their bowls, much of what they take is added to their hoard of food under the bedding.
----Making this mix adds the "fun" in eating for hamsters and mice plus is nutritious and a whole lot better than buying some of those sugar "treats" from the store like yogi drops, glazed donuts, hamster cookies!! Please refrain from feeding those as they are loaded with sugar and have zero nutritional value.
----Fresh vegetables can be a lovely treat but don't overfeed! They don't need an entire bowl of multiple veggies like guinea pigs do, just one kind of veggie per night is fine. Or I also like to give a few cooked unsalted beans or pastas as a treat.
---- Feeding Live Bugs? (You are brave :) Yes, live worms and crickets can be fed but crush heads first so they don't chew on your pet! Dried bugs can be a treat, but isn't necessary like so many people on forums and Etsy want us to believe, they don't contain a lot of nutrients and are high in fat.
Last bit of feeding advice I have is watch your pet eat, notate favorite foods and what gets left in the bowl; they are allowed to have preferences just like humans right? Ensure they are eating their lab blocks or pellets because those contain all the bulk of their dietary requirements, some pets love them and some don't, each is unique but you can adjust how you feed based on THEIR individual style.
Note: I have a feeding method for Syrian hamsters too as well as one for elderly hamsters or those whose teeth have had to be extracted. I'll add those to this page eventually once I get time in between rescue operation.
Thank you for reading! If you have any feeding questions click the contact button and I'll respond ASAP.
