How to Make The Best Hamster Treats

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Hamsters are omnivores pets and live in the wild. Their diet should resemble the same. However, treats are only part of their diet and if you are looking for ‘how to make hamster treats‘ you are in the right place! Its not very difficult to care of a hamster. They are cute pets and as to easy to handle. You can feed your pet hamsters veggies and even insects. It is not difficult to make treats for your hamsters. Treats can help you teach your hamsters tricks and help you train them. It can also be of assistance when you need to make your pet hamster’s diet interesting. Some people think treats are harmful for your hamster, however if you can make them at home, you are in control of the ingredients!

What does a hamster require in its diet?

Before proceeding with ‘how to make hamster treats’, it is important to understand their dietary requirements. Hamsters are omnivores animals, and they should be given food that is specifically fit for them. Hamsters like to often store their food in their cheeks for them to consumer it later.

The diet of a hamster should resemble what they would eat in the wild. This might consist of fruits and vegetables, insects, and sunflower seeds. The correct balance of these aspects are important. They should have enough portions that can fulfill their mineral and vitamin content. With hamsters, you cannot overfeed them because no matter how much you fill their bowl, they will only eat as much as they want. They do require some amount of protein which they can get from insects and other options that are mentioned below.

What all can you feed your hamster?

1. Pellets for hamster: Pellets are hamster foods which are a complete food in themselves. They are highly recommended for hamsters. They might look like cereals and small biscuits. Usually, pet parents feed seed mixes to their hamsters, but these cannot fulfill their dietary requirements. Pellets might not be your pet’s favorite food, but it is important.
2. Fruits and Vegetables: You can feed your hamsters foods that you eat yourself. These can include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that these should be fed in moderation because it can cause stomach issues for your hamsters. If your hamster belongs to a breed which is prone to diabetes, avoid fruits. Some safe fruit and vegetable options are: apples, cucumber, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Grapes, peas, sweet potatoes, to name some.
3. Gnawing and chewing: Your hamster also needs something to gnaw and chew on. You can give it cardboard, hay cubes, Pumice stones and sea-grass. You can also give them untreated softwood to keep their teeth healthy and pass their time.
4. Meat: Some people assume hamsters are herbivores, but they are not. They do require some higher level of protein. You can feed your hamsters insects such as meal worms. Apart from insects, hamsters can also eat cooked chicken and beef. Never give your hamster raw meat and cook without any seasoning. Do not fit large portions of meat to your hamster either. You can also add protein to their diet in the form of low fat cheese or cottage cheese.
5. Turkey: Apart from common forms of meat you can also feed your hamster cooked small pieces of turkey. Make sure the turkey is unsalted because it can be harmful to your pet.

What to avoid feeding your pet?

There are certain foods that should avoid when deciding your hamster’s diet. Citrus fruits should be avoided. These include oranges, you should also avoid pineapple, peaches and rhubarb and even raw beans are harmful to animals. While it’s okay to keep food in your hamster’s cage for too long, do not let it rot in there. Do not feed them junk food or any sugary foods. Check the expiry dates of all the items before proceeding to add them into the recipes. This will ensure safety of your pet. You can also get treats, and other food items ready-made. There are pet owners who might be skeptical of feeding that. So let us learn how to make hamster treats, at home, with your own ingredients.

Now, let us understand how to make hamster treats. You can spare a few minutes and make these at home!

Quick Homemade treats recipe

1. Step 1: Pick ingredients such as sunflower seeds, spinach, lettuce and cauliflower to put in your treats. You can choose the ingredients you want to put.
2. Step 2: Avoid ingredients such as junk foods and chocolates that could harm your hamster.
3. Step 3: Take 1 teaspoon of sunflower seeds, 3 tablespoons of hamster food (pellets and seeds), 3 tablespoons of wholegrain flour, and 3 tablespoons of hot water.
4. Step 4: Mix all the ingredients – dry for now. Now, add the hot water to the mix. Make sure it forms a sticky consistency.
5. Step 5: Now mold it into several shapes and do not make it too big. Depending on the portions, you can make a lot of treats.
6. Step 6: Once you have molded it into shapes, put the treats in the microwave for 4 minutes in total. Once two minutes are over, flip the shapes to the other side. Let them cool down before feeding it to your hamster.

Sugar free treats – how to make hamster treats

1. Step 1: Purchase cheerios which are sugar-free. Do not take this casually, sugar is very harmful for your hamster. Feeding them sugar can have serious consequences. Double-check if the cheerios are sugar-free.
2. Step 2: Take a bowl and add cheerios to it. Keep other ingredients such as sesame seeds, honey and oats. Add sesame seeds and oats into a bowl.
3. Step 3: Stir the dry ingredients. Take the bowl with cheerios and transfer the cheerios in a plastic bag. Crush it using a ladle. The aim is to make the pieces smaller but not as fine as dust.
4. Step 4: Add cheerios to the bowl with sesame seeds and oats. Mix all three of them together.
5. Step 5: Now add honey to the mixture. Make sure you coat the ingredients well with honey.
6. Step 6: Now mix it all well. Once you are done, take portions of the mix and mold it into shapes you would like. The size should be small and comfortable for your hamster. Do not make the shapes be too edgy, the corners should be soft.
7. Step 7: Heat your oven at 190 degrees. Bake the treats in the oven for around 8-10 minutes. If need be, flip them halfway.
8. Step 8: Let them cool down and see if your hamster likes it!

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The ideal diet for your pet hamster should be balanced and must include all the nutrients that are required by it. Pellets are a balanced food in itself. However, your hamster might get bored with it and not consume as much as you would like them to. It is important to incorporate different types of food to keep it interesting for your pet as well. Do not be casual with your pet’s diet. Make sure you do not feed them any junk or sugary foods.

There are some signs that might show your hamster is not feeling well. Loss of appetite, inactivity, sticking to a corner and not moving around, sneezing, discharge or Diarrhea are some signs of your hamster not feeling well. If you notice these signs make sure to visit or consult a vet. This could happen due to feeding them the wrong things as well. Do not let food rot in their cages.

Diet is an extremely important component of any pet’s health. This can define their everyday health. Hamsters do not require a lot of maintenance, but if you are doing the right thing in terms of food and activity levels, you are good to go! Hope this article helped you understand what your hamster needs and how to make hamster treats at home.