Chicken Liver for Protein?

[Maz]

How about just mixing soya beans into the food? Organic ones are GMO free. They don't seem too expensive for a big bag. It's what Rodipet used to do to get the protein in their mixes previously. £4.86 for a kilogram. And you could give a bit of hard boiled egg every few days as well.

Organic Soya Beans

 

[heidi]

She makes it entirely herself (i.e; buying lentils, seeds, legumes, etc.) so she doesn't use any main mix.

Thankfully, my boys have those see-through underground hides, so I can actually monitor the hoard without disturbing anything. Chicken is usually first to go too, I don't think I've ever seen it be hoarded!

 

[elusive]

That info from Getoo is very dubious, if only it were that simple, they don’t seem to be taking into account the % of protein in the protein foods or the base mix.

If they like freeze dried chicken you could stick with that but it will be difficult working out how much you need.
I would keep the chicken liver as an occasional treat though due to the vitamin A.

 

[Maz]

I think the soya sounds like a simple inexpensive solution

 

[heidi]

Sorry, missed that! I live with people who are actually deathly allergic to soya, we try to keep it out of the house and in no food products. Not sure if it would be alright in a hamster mix though.

 

[Maz]

Not a good option then.

 

[Riven]

Would this be something that you could use? Crave Protein Chunks 6 x 55 g Snacks, Dog Treats Chicken with high Protein, Grain-free https://amzn.eu/d/abbCkuy

 

[heidi]

Would that be totally safe? Definitely will give it a go if it is!

I am quite careful with the chicken liver, only a few tiny cubes every 3 days, as that is how often the boys are fed. I gave them scrambled egg last feed. I did weigh Neptr and he has lost about 20g since last year, but I feel like that could be just him aging, as he is a senior. I think I will make them their own threads like I did on the past forum.

 

[Maz]

I would just stick to freeze dried chicken. Here you go - I found the ones I used to get - you get 12 bags which means they stay fresh a long time as you only open a bag when you've finished the previous one. It doesn't sound that cheap at £18 but it is for 12 bags.

100% chicken cat treats

 

[Maz]

Would this be something that you could use? Crave Protein Chunks 6 x 55 g Snacks, Dog Treats Chicken with high Protein, Grain-free https://amzn.eu/d/abbCkuy

Have you used those Riven? The contents kind of put me off . But then it wouldn't be me eating them. Personally I'd stick to freeze dried chicken. Assume your hamsters won't eat shrimps either Heidi?

 

[Riven]

@Maz hamsters and rats have had them for boost of protein but not fed everyday, no more than 1-2 times a week and small amounts only.

Offal is full of nutrients especially fat soluble ones so need to be fed in small amounts and not everyday.

Have you thought about cat/dog kibble to boost protein (something which is regularly done in the shunamite diet for rats). Or dried sprats which can be found in most pet stores.

Might seem like an obvious one, but have you looked on Etsy?

 

[elusive]

You probably don’t need that much extra protein, it’s not that the Getzoo mix has no protein (I do wish they would say though!) looking at similar things it’s most likely around the 12% mark so you only need about 6% on top of that.
If Neptr s about 18 months he’s not old yet & 20g is a big weight loss so he may need more than just extra protein to give him a boost. Things like a few nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds & flax seeds are all good for health & weight & will also give some additional protein although I do think you need the animal protein & freeze dried chicken could easily cover that.

 

[Maz]

Thank you Riven. It's not something I've come across before. Personally I don't like the idea of offal! I think dog kibble isn't recommended for various reasons. Elusive's suggestion sounds good.

 

[heidi]

I’ve been trying other proteins as I’ve always stuck to freeze dried chicken, including scrambled eggs and the chicken liver in very small quantities.

I’ve also gone ahead and bought some freeze dried chicken but that’ll be being posted as no nearby pet stores are offering them.

And I’ve JUST run out of sprats! I use them for my dogs so that’s a shame!

 

[heidi]

You probably don’t need that much extra protein, it’s not that the Getzoo mix has no protein (I do wish they would say though!) looking at similar things it’s most likely around the 12% mark so you only need about 6% on top of that.
If Neptr s about 18 months he’s not old yet & 20g is a big weight loss so he may need more than just extra protein to give him a boost. Things like a few nuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds & flax seeds are all good for health & weight & will also give some additional protein although I do think you need the animal protein & freeze dried chicken could easily cover that.

And that’s interesting! I never considered him old myself but I read online hamsters that are over a year are considered as seniors. I also noticed most senior mixes start for year olds?

 

[elusive]

Senior mixes are really meant for mature hamsters that are no longer growing & don’t need the extra nutrients they so when they’re younger, it doesn’t really mean for old hamsters.
What is actually old can really depend on the individual and on species. I don’t really think of them as getting old until about 2.

 

[Maz]

The Rodipet ones have a junior and senior mix and the senior one is from age 1 onwards. They tend to have slightly less protein.

 

[heidi]

I thought all Rodipet mixes were add your own proteins? In the very least for Syrians? I knew they had less protein, but I figured that was nowhere near their needed protein levels.

 

[elusive]

I think maybe Maz only mentioned the Rodipet mixes to give an indication of what age senior food is meant for & that senior doesn’t mean a hamster is old.

 

[Maz]

You’re right though - they have changed their mixes a bit and the junior organic Syrian mix is only 11.9% protein and needs supplementing. They also have a junior “teddy” Syrian mix which has sufficient protein though via organic toasted soya. So it looks like they have different options for Syrians now. Ones that need protein adding and ones that don’t.