Although peas are commonly thought of as vegetables, they are in fact small legumes, and part of the same legume family as beans, chickpeas, lentils and peanuts
Peas are contained in a pod that grows on a vine. Once the pod is plump, the peas inside are ripe and ready to be picked.
There seem to be an endless list of peas available these days, including garden peas, peas greenfeast, Allderamn or Tall Telephone peas, snow peas, sugar snap peas and black-eyed peas.
Let's not forget the field peas, including the blue boilers, the yellow split peas!
- Garden peas: also called hull peas, or shell peas, English peas. These are your standard, everyday peas. Only the peas are eaten, the pods are not and get discarded.
- Petit pois and petite green peas: they are smaller and sweeter younger peas.
- Mangetout which are either sugar peas, or snow peas; you can find them fresh or frozen.
They simply are garden peas picked so early that the whole pod is almost flat, the peas inside not yet developed so are very small. You eat the whole lot, pod and peas.
Mangetout are also the snap pea, or sugar snap pea, rounder because they have been given more time to develop but pods and larger peas inside are still eaten whole. You can find them fresh in spring.
- Field peas , or dry peas.
called because they are sold dried , they are also used as cattle field.
The same as lentils, they are toxic when they are raw. The fully ripe ones must be soaked and fully cooked.
- You might be surprise to find peanuts in the list.
They only grow underground because the pods bend over as they grows and end up underground. You can find them the green peanuts, the fresh ones, in their native growing areas
and of course dried, also called raw peanuts.
Such a wide variety make things confusing, and hamster owners often wonder if their furry friend can eat peas.
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Can Hamsters Eat Peas?
Hamsters love peas! Peas are a nutritious treat full of essential vitamins and minerals. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which helps keep your hamster's digestive system healthy. Peas are also a good source of protein and contain essential antioxidants that help protect your hamster's cells from damage.
While they shouldn't be the main diet of your little hamster, peas make a delicious and healthy snack. So, go ahead and enjoy those peas! Your hamster will thank you for it!
Keep to your regular feeding schedule and regular portions, but add peas as a treat a couple of times a week. Don't offer too much, or the hamster will likely pouch them then hide them. It's not uncommon for hamsters to do this with their favourite foods but it means it can rot and go mouldy when hidden somewhere in the enclosure. Some hamsters even decide to pee on their food stash to 'mark' it as their own! Smaller por
Remember to be careful with Campbell Dwarf Hamsters prone to diabetes, because of the sugar content. With these little animals, you need to give food with even more moderation.
Can Hamsters Eat Pea Pods?
Yes, hamsters can eat peas pods. They might not be as fond of the peas pods as they are of the peas themselves, or even interested, but it's absolutely fine to offer peas pods to your hamster as part of a healthy diet.
Mangetout which are eaten whole, pod and peas inside, are also a safe treat.
Can Hamsters Eat Fresh Peas?
Yes, hamsters can eat fresh peas. It is better to stick to organic vegetables and legumes, but always make sure you rinse them thoroughly to get rid of any harmful pesticides or chemicals. You can shell them and only given some of the content to your little friend.
Can Hamsters Eat Frozen Peas?
Peas usually go through the freezing process very quickly after being picked, so they tend to retain most of their nutrients.
On a normal day, there's no reason or value in giving frozen peas to your hamster.
They are desert animals, their little digestive systems are not built to process frozen food. They don't naturally come in contact with any. The advice is to only give food to your hamster that is room temperature or warmer. Let the peas defrost fully before giving them out.
However, if you happen to live through a heat wave, you need to keep your hamster cool. Desert animal or not, they live in deep burrows and naturally protect themselves from the heat of the day.
To help your hamster survive a heat wave, you can give them frozen peas as a way to lower their body temperature.
Can Hamsters Eat Cooked Peas?
Yes, hamsters can eat cooked peas. In fact, peas are a good source of protein and essential antioxidants when they are cooked. They are also a good source of dietary fiber, which helps keep your hamster's digestive system healthy.
The peas need to be cooked without any additive or flavouring. You cannot add butter or salt or anything else before given them to your hamster.
Of course, just be sure to let them cool down before giving them to your furry friend.
Can Hamsters eat Pea Flakes?
Crushed pea flakes are very commonly sold in the hamster snack sections, and most hamsters absolutely love them.
How to make your own pea flakes treats:
You can use split peas. First let them soak in water, then drain all the water and dry them on a kitchen towel. If you only need a dozen peas or so, you can squash them individually under a glass or similar. otherwise, space them out neatly on your kitchen towel sheet, cover, and gently squash with a rolling pin. Make sure you leave enough space between them all, so they can dry out evenly. If you make them too close together, they will stick and be difficult to separate later.
Place on baking paper.
Heat your oven to approx 125F. You need a low temperature to ensure the peas are dehydrated, not cooked. Leave the peas for about 30 mn, until fully dried. They keep their green colour.
Store in an airtight container.
Can you use canned peas?
You absolutely can. Simply drain all the liquid from the can, place the peas on a kitchen towel, squish them gently.
Now lay the flatten peas on a baking tray, then put the tray in your toaster oven, set for 5mn. Once cool down, let them dry for 3 to 5 hours (ideally in the sun!), to give them a chance to harden.
Once they are full dry, they can be stored in an air-tight container.
Can Hamsters have Pea-based Baby Food
Given that hamsters love peas, it's no surprise that they can also enjoy pea-based baby food as a special treat. As long as you check the list of ingredients to make sure there are no harmful additives, your hamster will appreciate these snacks. You can find a variety of different combinations of fruits and vegetables in pureed form, so feel free to mix it up. Just be sure to start with a small amount and increase if there are no problems after feeding. Baby food can be frozen into cubes and defrosted one at a time as needed.
The varieties you can find are as follows:
Carrots, Peas + Kale puree
Carrots, Peas + Pears
Peas, Peas, Peas First Taste
Smooth Pears, Peas + Broccoli
Peas + Sweetcorn Puff Pops
To Conclude
Peas, in moderation, can be a healthy and tasty treat for your hamster. Just be sure to introduce them slowly to avoid any digestive issues. As always, consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your hamster's health or diet.