How to feed a Dzungarian hamster?

Hamsters are interesting to a large number of people, even children like them. But in order not to be disappointed in your choice, you need to be able to choose the right food for your pets.

A common misconception is that Dzungarian hamsters eat whatever their owners give them. In fact, the animal is able to eat everything that it can gnaw, but a lot - only once. The consequences of making the wrong food choices can be fatal.

Dzungaria is called the area formed by semi-deserts, and partly by dry steppes. This left a characteristic imprint on the entire diet of animals originating from there.

Hamster digestion is not adapted:

• to sweet foods;
• to foods with a high fat content;
• to an abundance of carbohydrates and increased calorie content.

Under natural conditions, this species eats mainly grains and seeds. When autumn comes, the rodent seals the hole into the hole. And until the onset of spring, he will only eat what he has collected in the pantry, that is, dry stocks.

In the spring, the hamster will eat green herbaceous plants., and in the warm season it will willingly consume berries and insects. Due to its small size, the Dzungarian hamster has an intensive metabolism: even a short fasting affects it negatively.

Composing a diet for your hamster is not necessary if you use special foods.

Standard kits contain a complete set:

• vitamins;
• basic nutrients;
• microelements.

The use of such formulations allows you to improve the diet of the animal and balance it.In addition to food, you need to provide for water. It cannot be replaced by even the most succulent plant foods. If the hamster receives too little water during the day, he may even die or become disabled. From food, in addition to specialized feed, the Dzungarian species will eat:

• fruits;
• various vegetables;
• shoots of green plants;
• animal protein.

Hamsters may well eat oats. But they eat rice only in limited quantities. Corn, wheat, rye and barley can be given without hesitation. But buckwheat and lentils can only be used in small quantities. As for berries and fruits, they may well be given both fresh and dried.

All fresh fruits are cleaned of seeds and seeds in advance. Without these components, such food does not pose any danger. It is worth considering that the bulk of juicy fruits are rich in carbohydrates, as well as glucose. Therefore, a severe limitation is imposed on the amount of such ingredients.

Their maximum share in the daily menu should not exceed 5%. Otherwise, the life of the hamster is at risk. Fruits and berries accumulate well in advance. Both dried and frozen blanks are suitable. Dried fruits (bananas, dried apricots, raisins, dates) are soaked for 3 or 4 hours before being placed in the trough.

Succulent feed of any type must be thoroughly washed. In addition, you should try to remove as much pesticides and nitrates as possible. To do this, you will have to soak the greens, and remove the peel from the apples. Dzungariki love:

• oatmeal;
• buckwheat;
• barley;
• oats;
• beans;
• sunflower seeds;
• pumpkin and melon seeds;
• Walnut;
• peanuts and hazelnuts;
• sprouted wheat;
• sprouted oats;
• cashew.

It makes perfect sense to feed the Djungarian hamsters with germinated alfalfa. From green plants, nettle leaves, clover, basil, celery are recommended. The use of dill, pea pods in general is appropriate. Vegetables are also popular, such as:

• broccoli;
• cucumber;
• carrot;
• cauliflower;
• tomato;
• turnip;
• beet;
• pumpkin;
• radishes and other crops.

Of berry and fruit crops are good plums, peaches, pears, cherries, gooseberries, grapes, cherries, rose hips. Going pretty good and blueberries and apricots... The hamster's teeth are strong enough for the animal to eat small twigs and bark of deciduous fruit crops. The main "candidates": cherry, apple, poplar and maple.

Beech, willow and birch branches, pieces of the bark of these trees are also suitable for feeding a rodent. On such solid food, he can sharpen his teeth.

Protein meals should be added to the hamster's diet every 2-3 days. Optimal options: boiled chicken, boiled eggs (quail are also acceptable), worms from a pet store or dug out by yourself, shrimp. Some hamster breeders use yogurt (only without any additives) and low-fat cottage cheese varieties.

Hay for a hamster will give alfalfa and timothy... Such food will provide the animal with plant fiber.

When compiling a list of foods that should not be given to a hamster, you can mention:

• bakery products;
• pasta;
• peas;
• beans.

An indisputable requirement is the prohibition of all food that contains sugar, salt and other spices. It is unacceptable to feed dzhungariks with fatty or fried foods. Everything that is intended to feed people falls under the ban. The highest risk is confectionery: biscuits, muesli and kozinaki are on any prohibited list. Dangerous for the animal and honey, and ice cream, and all chocolate products.

Since hamsters can be fed quite a lot of food, there is no need to experiment with junk food. Even if something seems unjustified or incomprehensible, there is always a reason. Any prohibition was developed on the basis of many years of practice.

What is quite usual to see on the table, the body of a dzungarik may not be able to tolerate. Almonds, as well as apricot pits and other plant parts containing hydrocyanic acid, are extremely dangerous for hamsters. Nitrates accumulate in watermelon pulp. Because of the honeysuckle and elderberry, the animals may undergo convulsions and suffocate. Solanine contained in potatoes is dangerous.

It is important to consider that a hamster is much smaller than a person and even most pets. Therefore, the seemingly insignificant portion of toxins can destroy it. All astringent substances (for example, contained in persimmon) inhibit digestion. Tanning components disrupt the normal functioning of the intestines and pose a huge risk to the animals. But the opposite malfunction (diarrhea) is also bad for the hamster.

Therefore, the ban includes:

• spicy ginger;
• salt;
• paprika.

This is especially true of the most salty varieties. But even those that do not taste very salty are also unacceptable. Moreover, cheese is also an abundance of fat.

If a hamster's intestines are swollen, then even the most qualified veterinary care often does not save him. You can provoke bloating by giving the animal:

• black bread;
• cabbage;
• beans.

The liver of a herbivorous creature is evolutionarily not adapted to very fatty foods. Even the seeds of various plants, usually included in the lists of permitted foods, can only be consumed in a limited way. But vegetable and butter, all types of fried foods are 100% excluded. Of the fruits, avocado has an excessive fat content.

It is worth remembering that the danger may be not only due to chemical and biological reactions. So, the Dzungarian hamster eats wheat willingly and calmly. However, if you give him spaghetti, other dry pasta, the animal can injure the bags behind the cheeks.

For the same reason any bones (not only vegetable), sharp and too hard types of food are unacceptable. Inflammation, especially an abscess, is very difficult to treat. Many breeders of hamsters, in order not to repeat the tedious and expensive therapy, even begin to give seeds to pets in a purified form.

Essential oils of any kind and bright, saturated colors can provoke allergic reactions. Strawberries, tangerines most often initiate them. Typical manifestations are constant tears, skin redness, scabies. Antihistamines are not available for hamsters. Therefore, the only thing that remains is to exclude problematic products.

Lactose, which is rich in milk and dairy products, including cheese, is extremely difficult to digest. Drops for rodents are given a maximum of 1 time in 30 days. Strictly prohibited:

• grain mixtures for other rodents and parrots;
• brazil nuts;
• oak acorns;
• all citrus crops;
• pineapples;
• kiwi;
• Garnet;
• mushrooms;
• branches and bark of coniferous trees;
• sausages;
• garlic and onions;
• green plants grown within the city or in other places with an unfavorable ecological situation.

It is better to alternate fruits and vegetables in the diet of the Dzungarian hamster. The optimal ratio of components is 65% carbohydrate food, 16% protein and 4 or 5% fat.

A rodent will grow teeth throughout its life. It is required to provide an opportunity for grinding each of them.

To properly feed hamsters at home, you need to prevent the onset of diabetes and obesity. Disruptions in metabolism are mainly associated with excessive amounts of food. Therefore, it is a gross mistake to feed the dzungariks just for their own pleasure, for "funny" photographs.You can not give food in response to each rise of the animal on its hind legs. By nature, the hamster already selects the most nutritious cuts of food. And keeping in confined places makes the care and maintenance of the animal's activity only more relevant.

Food should be given no more than twice a day. You can often find the statement that the Dzungarian species does not develop diabetes. This is true, but the problem lies in the frequent uncontrolled crosses with other species. If the animal is not bought from professional breeders, but in a regular pet store, the risk of buying a hybrid is quite high. Therefore, it is better in any case to strictly follow the dietary recommendations.

The most reliable type of food is a combination of:

• factory-prepared feed;
• a set of grain crops;
• continuously available drinking water.

As practice shows, the life of hamsters with such food is as long as possible, there is no special need for other delicacies. As for fruits, even completely safe types of them are cut into pieces no thicker than 1 cm. Vegetables should be given every other day. The breaks between the addition of berries to the diet are at least 7 days.

Feeding your hamster with something new can only be done after thorough testing. The first time, after checking the list of allowed foods, they still give the smallest portion possible. Then, with complete success, the amount of the product is carefully and gradually increased. Changing dry food to a different composition, especially from another manufacturer, is done smoothly. This takes about a week - if you hurry, you can provoke a digestive upset.

The diet should be varied. By giving homogeneous food every day, the owners create problems for themselves. The only exception to the rule is the dispensing of dry food, it is done rhythmically and every day. The hamster must continuously receive juicy greens, dry food, and proteins.

Since the dzungarik instinct tells them to stock up, giving out large food is simply dangerous. Food hidden in the house will begin to rot and decompose. The owners should not rely on the natural understanding of the animal, but systematically check all the "stores" for it. Every spoiled piece is immediately disposed of. Dry food supplements are issued as follows:

• fruits, berries - you can 1 time in 14 days (at least at first);
• garden greens - every 48 hours (it is advisable to dry it);
• vegetables of white and green colors - every day;
• colored vegetables - twice a week;
• meat and boiled eggs - weekly;
• nuts and seeds - as a delicacy and a rare promotion.

But it is also important to take into account specific nuances. So, during pregnancy, protein should be given 2 or 3 times a week. Of course, the freshness and quality of the food should be carefully checked. Experts advise (and veterinarians fully support) feeding the animal at the same hours. Then a biological rhythm will be developed and there will be fewer problems with assimilation.

It is recommended to feed your hamsters in the evening. At night they will be active, and therefore they need energy very much. If any food provokes malaise, it is immediately excluded from the diet. You can return a problem delicacy back only after consulting a veterinarian. Anything that the rodent does not eat right away or hide in the house must be removed immediately.

In most cases, 0.03 kg of dry feed per day is sufficient. If the trough is empty, do not immediately think that all the feed has been eaten. It is likely that some of it is hidden behind the cheeks or in the litter. Green plants and any succulent food should be scalded with boiling water before serving.

We recommend using metal bowls. Too large containers should not be taken - they should fit freely in the cage.

The bowls should be kept in the cleanest place. They are washed weekly, and ideally more often. Water is given only unboiled. Distilled water will not work; it is best to pour in settled or filtered tap liquid.

For information on what can and cannot be given to a Dzungarian hamster, see the next video.