Is it ok to feed a hamster assorted bird seed?

Question

I supplement her diet with nuts, vegetables and fruit (lettuce, celery, grapes, apples) and even some cat food since I've read that hamsters are NOT vegetarians. Is all this enough or do I absolutely have to buy hamster food?

Answer 1

The one thing that is found in hamster/gerbil seed mix that isn't in bird seed is alfalfa pellets. The alfalfa pellet supply necessary fiber. This pellets are very similar to guinea pig and rabbit food pellets but if you're going to buy guinea pig or rabbit food or straight alfalfa, then you might as well buy hamster food!

If the cost is the issue, find a feed store. The feed store by me sells 25 lbs of hamster/gerbil food for $7.50. A 25 lb bag of food will feed one hamster for well over a year, maybe two. Just be sure to freeze as much of it as you can to keep it fresh. This is the cheapest hamster/gerbil food they sell. I'd recommend buying the SunSeed Vita Hamster/Gerbil food. This also sells in a 25 lb bag and sells for around $15-$20.

With any seed blend though, it is good to suppliment with other fruits and vegetables. A hamster will happier with some variety in its diet.

-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com

Answer 2

It's fine to feed hamsters bird seed. BUT, what you've got there really isn't "enough". You need to get some alfalfa, clover, hay.... In short, roughage. It aids digestion and is an important part of the hamster diet.

If you have a farm near you, see if you can't pick up some fodder for cheap. If not, you can find it in blocks in the animal care section of any petstore.

Answer 3

Bird seed is fine, our hamster lived on it for 5 years, and never had any problems, the only reason we don't have him anymore is because the cat finally got him ;-)

Answer 4

No bird food,otherwise it'd be hamster and bird feed lol

Answer 5

no bird food only