A small, absolutely charming creature appeared in the house - a hamster. It would seem that such a baby needs: a small cage, a feeder and a drinking bowl. But this is not entirely true. In addition to a good, spacious cage, your pet needs proper and balanced nutrition. Yes, yes, no matter how strange it may sound, it is balanced. This article explains how to feed a funny rodent.
Is it possible to feed a hamster cucumbers, apples, seeds, meat and other foods? All the goodies allowed by the diet are divided into subsections and given in lists.
Basic diet
Some people mistakenly think that a hamster can live in a three-liter jar and eat what is given to it from the table. For example, fried potatoes, sausage, meat. And as a treat you can offer him sweet cookies or candy. If the animal has such a diet, then the baby will not stay long in the house of such an “owner”.
How to feed a hamster? Does its menu depend on the breed of rodent? For example, can a Djungarian hamster have a cucumber as a vegetable? Or is it acceptable to treat a Syrian baby to a piece of watermelon? No, the diet of a cage resident does not depend in any way on the breed. The main food of any domestic rodent is food designed specifically for a particular type of rodent. In the case of hamsters, this is, accordingly, food for hamsters.
Foods for hamsters come in different varieties: from economy options to premium ones. It is not recommended to buy a very cheap one, since it contains mainly millet and sunflower seeds. No nutrients. It is better to choose an intermediate option between cheap and expensive food for rodents.
Can hamsters eat cucumber and other vegetables? Yes, you can. Read about what vegetables you should offer your pet in the next subsection.
Can a hamster get cucumbers from the store?
Buying vegetables in a store or market is fraught with a high content of nitrates, which can provoke poisoning in an adult, not to mention a small animal, whose body is tens of times smaller. If it is not possible to test the fruits for the concentration of harmful substances, give the hamster the plant in small portions and peel off the peel. It is safer to treat your pet with the top part, since the bulk of nitrates collects at the base of the fruit.
You can please your pet with cucumbers grown on your own plot more often. In domestic plants, the amount of harmful substances is minimal or completely absent if the plantings have not been treated with chemicals. You can feed your hamster with juicy pulp after one month of age, and by the age of 1.5 years, vegetables should be included in the rodent’s regular diet.
Cucumbers will be a useful addition to your pet’s diet if you maintain balance and do not overfeed your pet with green vegetables. It is very important to offer only fresh fruits, excluding pickled varieties. It is recommended to always clean the skin to protect the hamster from unwanted consequences, since they are very sensitive to pesticides even in small quantities.
When creating a thoughtful diet for a rodent, consisting of a variety of plant crops, do not forget about the additional vitamin complex. The presence of useful elements in food does not guarantee the animal a complete set of micro- and macroelements, so the correct selection of vitamins is indispensable for a pet.
Feed the animal cucumbers that you are completely sure are safe. If in doubt, it is better to treat your hamster with food from a pet store and not risk his health.
We treat you to vegetables
They are given to the sweet baby in raw form. And for some reason, the first question for most inexperienced owners is whether it is possible to feed a hamster with cucumbers and cabbage. The list of allowed vegetables is presented below:
- Carrot.
- Bulgarian pepper.
- Zucchini and squash.
- Fresh corn.
- Fresh peas.
- Beets in small quantities.
- Pumpkin.
And finally, the answer to the question: can hamsters eat cucumber? Yes, it is possible and necessary. Only previously peeled.
Let's sum it up
Hamsters should not be fed human food. They are not omnivores, but their diet is naturally varied. Cucumber is a fresh, tasty and nutritious vegetable. Low in calories and easy to digest. It is better to give hamsters cucumbers grown with your own hands in your own garden. Or buy from those you are confident in. If the product is purchased in a store, it is better to soak it in cold water for a while, this will dissolve most of the nitrates. A small organism cannot resist pesticides and other chemical additives. It is recommended to start cucumber feeding when your pet is 1 month old. This vegetable can be given daily in reasonable quantities. Unlike many others, there will be no harm from it. If the fruit is bitter, trim off the skin.
Fruits
We sorted out the question of vegetables and the question of whether hamsters can have fresh cucumbers. Now let's move on to fruits. So often you want to pamper your funny hamster with something tasty and healthy. But what can you give a rodent? What fruits will not harm the health of the baby?
First of all, hamsters can't eat citrus fruits. Secondly, their diet should not contain “overseas” fruits. For example, kiwi and bananas. And before you treat the animal, you need to wash the fruit, ideally scald it with boiling water and cut off a small piece. The list of healthy fruit goodies is below:
- Apples.
- Pears.
- Peaches.
- Apricots.
- Plums - a little.
- Dried fruits: raisins, dried apricots, dried apples.
Fruits must be fresh and in no case rotten or spoiled.
Useful properties and composition of the fruit
Fresh cucumber is a dietary product containing many vitamins and microelements. In addition, it consists of 95% water, which flushes the kidneys and removes toxins from the body. The familiar green vegetable is simply a storehouse of minerals:
- potassium (necessary for blood vessels and heart);
- magnesium (reduces the risk of heart disease);
- fluoride (has a beneficial effect on bone tissue);
- iodine (has a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland);
- sodium (participates in the production of gastric juice);
- zinc (strengthens the immune system);
In terms of fiber content, it is a leader among other vegetable crops. Need I mention that consumption improves intestinal motility and gently cleanses it, and is a prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
It is recommended to give cucumbers that are grown in season. Since for early harvesting nitrates are added, which in small quantities will not harm humans too much, but even small portions can be destructive for the animal.
Without protein you can't go anywhere
The protein component must be present in the rodent's diet. So what could it be? Boiled chicken meat, for example. Naturally, cooled, without bones and skin. What else can you offer a rodent?
- Boiled lean beef.
- Boiled fish without bones.
- Low-fat fermented milk products.
- Boiled eggs.
- Live food: bloodworms, mealworms, earthworms.
Protein is given to the hamster no more than 2 times a week. For example, on Monday you can treat your pet to chicken, and on Saturday you can pamper your pet with a piece of boiled egg. All products must be free of salt and spices.
Benefits and harms
Fresh cucumbers are a dietary product, rich in nutrients, and also a good way to quench your thirst. They are 90% water. Contains vitamins B, C, iodine, fluorine, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and sodium. Microelements are necessary for rodents to strengthen teeth and bones, and other vitamins and microelements are necessary for the proper functioning of the heart, nervous system, and metabolism. They are also an excellent anti-constipation agent and help cope with excess weight in obesity.
Article on the topic: Can hamsters have milk, cottage cheese, sour cream and kefir (dairy products for Djungarian and Syrian breeds)
Hamsters happily gobble up cucumber pulp, however, you need to be careful. Rodents under 1.5 - 2 months of age should not be treated in this way - they may not digest what they eat very well and will suffer from diarrhea for some time. Adult rodents can be offered cucumbers no more than once a day. The main thing is to observe moderation in everything, as this is very important for the health of your pet.
Gender is strictly prohibited
Finally, it’s time to talk about those foods that should never be given to a hamster. These include:
- Cheese.
- Bread.
- Potato.
- Cabbage.
- Spices.
- Fatty, fried, smoked foods.
- Sausages and sausages.
- Watermelon.
- Avocado.
- A pineapple.
- Sour cream, milk, butter.
- Mushrooms.
- Pasta.
- Chocolate.
- Ice cream.
- Honey.
- Paste.
- Marshmallow.
- Sparkling water.
- Juices.
- Candies and chewing gum.
In general, it is forbidden to give your pet everything that is considered tasty for a person. Such a treat can cause irreparable harm to a hamster, even death.
Possible problems in the diet of dzhungarika
The Djungarian hamster is a tiny animal (the average weight of an adult is about 50 g). This somewhat shortens the list of what you can feed your pet: what is good for other rodents, but death for the dzhungarika. For example, almonds contain hydrocyanic acid, which is harmless for a larger pet, but can easily poison your hamster.
The second important point is that Djungarians are prone to obesity and diabetes. They should not be overfed, given sweets, or fed flour or very sweet fruits. Despite the fact that they love to eat, we put them on a strict diet.
I can handle it, I can handle it without cookies!
Briefly about feeding
How should you feed your hamster? Should food be kept in the cage at all times? It should be borne in mind that a pet is a thrifty creature. And he will definitely hide food in his cheek pouches, carefully take it to the house and place it in a secluded corner. The rodent is fed twice a day. In the morning they pour a bowl of food and give him something tasty, in the evening the same scheme. There should be constant water in the drinking bowl. It is changed daily, and care should be taken to ensure that the drinking bowl is full. Once a week, the cage is disinfected, along with the feeders and drinking bowls.
Summary
Giving cucumber to hamsters is a must. This product is part of the natural diet of rodents, has beneficial properties, and helps get rid of some health problems. However, only adult animals should be treated to this delicacy in moderate quantities . It is also necessary to carefully ensure that vegetables are not treated with substances hazardous to animal health.
A small, absolutely charming creature appeared in the house - a hamster. It would seem that such a baby needs: a small cage, a feeder and a drinking bowl. But this is not entirely true. In addition to a good, spacious cage, your pet needs proper and balanced nutrition. Yes, yes, no matter how strange it may sound, it is balanced. This article explains how to feed a funny rodent.
Is it possible to feed a hamster cucumbers, apples, seeds, meat and other foods? All the goodies allowed by the diet are divided into subsections and given in lists.
Prohibited Products
There is an opinion among inexperienced owners that hamsters of other breeds can eat this or that food, but not Syrian ones. In fact, this assumption is not true and the list of prohibited products applies to representatives of all varieties.
Hamsters are contraindicated to eat:
- chocolate;
- mushrooms;
- canned food;
- fruit seeds;
- milk;
- citrus;
- bakery products;
- pine needles;
- cabbage;
- sorrel, lingonberry, sea buckthorn and other plants with essential oils;
- feed for other animals and birds;
- fatty, salty, spicy and sweet foods.
