It is thought that there are at least 26 species of hamsters in the world, from part of Asia, Europe and even the Middle East, but only currently 5 species which are domesticated:
- Syrian Hamster.
- Chinese Hamster.
- Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamster
- Campbell’s Russian Dwarf Hamster
- Roborovski Dwarf Hamster
Out of these, the dwarf hamster is one of the most popular pets. Dwarf hamsters are small, usually only growing to about 2-4 inches in length.
Despite their small size, they are very active and playful animals. They love to explore their surroundings and will often play for hours at a time.
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What is a Dwarf Hamster diet?
Hamsters are often mistakenly described as herbivores, which is incorrect and could lead to a poor diet by their owners when they are kept in captivity.
All hamsters, dwarf hamsters and other hamster species, are omnivore. You will find many information sources describing them as granivore and insectivores. A dwarf hamster’s diet consists mainly of seeds, grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Wild hamsters will also eat insects, frogs, lizards and other small animals.
Knowing these facts, you might be wondering whether or not a dwarf hamster can eat chicken?
What’s the Diet of a Syrian Hamster?
There are no real difference in term of diet between Dwarf and Syrian.
Dwarf are a smaller species, and more prone to diabetes but you could even use Dwarf food mix for your Syrian as long as you add a few sweet treats, such as bit of apple. The Dwarf food tends to have more little seeds, and less flakes.
Can Dwarf Hamster Eat Chicken?
Yes, dwarf hamster can eat chicken. They actually need protein in their daily diet, so chicken is a good option to give them the nutrients they need. Just be sure to cook it thoroughly and remove any bones before feeding it to your hamster. You can either give them chicken breast or dark meat, whichever your hamster prefers.
Giving your dwarf hamster chicken as part of their diet is a great way to keep them healthy and active. It is important to remember that even though hamsters are omnivores, they should still have a diet that consists mostly of seeds, grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Chicken should only be given to them in small amounts as an occasional treat, not every day!
If you have any questions about what else your dwarf hamster can eat, please consult with a veterinarian or other pet care professional. They will be able to advise you on what is best for your pet.
Can Syrian Hamster Eat Chicken
Yes, Syrian Hamsters can eat chicken as well, but not as their main source of protein. They should only have chicken as an occasional treat, no more than once a week.
For all hamster species:
If a hamster’s diet includes too much protein, this might cause health issues. Protein should make up around 15% of a hamster’s food, so if they’re eating chicken every day, it could be harmful to their health. It’s also vital to remember that excessive amounts of any one thing are harmful for them; even if it’s part of their natural diet.
It’s important to give your hamster chicken that has been cooked, boneless. It may be shredded or chopped into small pieces. You should avoid providing your hamster with chicken skin because it might be difficult for them to digest.
How Often can you Give Chicken to your Hamster
As with anything else, moderation is key. Give them a few pieces of chicken as part of their weekly treat and make sure the rest of their diet is well balanced. This way, they can enjoy the occasional bit of chicken without running into any health problems.
Can you give Sandwich Chicken to your Hamster
On the other hand, packaged cooked chicken slices is heavily processed and should not be given to hamster, far too much salt and additive, not only is it not healthy but it can quickly give them an upset stomach. The worst and most unhealthy items are the “reformed” chicken slices, which have no benefit for the hamster but very likely make them unwell.
Chicken and Vegetable skewer for Hamster
Why not preparing a very cute and small chicken and vegetable skewer if you want to post cute photos about your cutest little friend.
Ingredients:
- Chicken, fully cooked and unseasoned
- Selection of vegetables, alternating colours
- Hamster safe cocktail sticks, such as wood sticks – for example, stay away from pine trees, soft woods which will splinter and damage their mouth or worst.
Don’t forget to remove any sharp edge and sand them down
Alternatively, you can purchase metal vegetable skewers
Instructions:
- wash the vegetables to remove any dirt or pesticides.
- Alternate vegetables and little bits of chicken on the cocktail stick.
Of course, you can use a sharp one to create a hole in the food elements first before using your blunt stick.
There you have it, a healthy and fun treat for your hamster that is sure to get their tail wagging!
Hamster Chicken Nuggets – Air Fryer Recipe
Prepare a few hamster-size slices of chicken breast
- Make a paste of flour and water
- Crumble some hamster bread
- Take your tiny slices of chicken, coat in the flour mixture, then cover in crumbs.
- Put the raw nuggets into your hair fryer, cook at 100C for 10 minutes.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked, but there you have it: golden chicken nugget snacks for your hamster!
As always, take care not to overfeed your hamster and make sure their diet is well balanced. Too much of anything is bad for them!
Why call your hamster Chicken?
Why not! There are a few different reasons why you might choose to name your hamster chicken.
Some people might choose to call their furry pet “chicken” because it’s just a fun and quirky name that suits their personality or appearance, others because it is seen as term of endearment. No matter what the reason behind it may be, there’s no denying that calling your furry friend chicken is definitely amusing!
Are Chicken-Shaped Ceramic Hide Safe for your Hamster
Maybe your hamster is called “chicken”, maybe you want to decorate their habitat for Easter and need a chicken theme. You can find the perfect Ceramic Hamster hide in many online stores or high street shops!
These handcrafted and painted ceramic hides are made to look like a real chicken, with all the characteristic details. They are the perfect place for your hamster to relax and feel safe, while also being super cute and stylish.
When you have to heat wave and are trying to keep your hamster cool, put the hide in the fridge for one hour or so, and put the cooled hide in the cage. It’s a safe way to lower the temperature in their little environment.
With any hide, you need to make sure the openings are big enough so hamsters can not get stuck – which is a horribly stressful situation for these little ones who are prey animals so their instinct is to hide away from predators. Being stuck might affect their breathing, or could lead to serious injuries when they panic and try to escape.
To conclude
When it comes to providing your hamster with a healthy diet, it’s important to remember that
Hamsters need a balanced diet, just like humans do, but that hamsters are basically granivores and insectivores. Too much protein can be harmful to their health, chicken is a high-protein food and should only be given in moderation so it’s important to only give them cooked chicken as a treat every once in a while.
There are many different ways to give your hamster chicken as a part of their diet, so you can choose what works best for you and your furry friend, but owners really enjoy sharing their favourite food with their pet.