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Post by Dezzi on Jun 3, 2008 18:55:21 GMT -4
I was given a bag of timothy hay from a friend. Is this okay to give my hams? I've been letting them have the fluffy end parts, but I'm worried about the stalks.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 4, 2008 0:35:59 GMT -4
Long an issue. . .
Some are concerned about the sharp ends puncturing the cheek pouches and causing infection. I once had a Syrian get a cheek infection (I am not sure how).
Andrea, our rabbit expert, disagrees.
I personally do not give it to hamsters.
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Post by Dezzi on Jun 4, 2008 2:30:09 GMT -4
Yeah, I've heard mixed reviews about it. One of the vets in town said that it's fine, so I don't know. The boys don't seem to eat it, they use it more for bedding, and I haven't seen them try to pouch it. They seem to carry the stalks much like a dog carries a stick.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Jun 4, 2008 9:17:43 GMT -4
Can you take off the part that concerns you and then give them the rest?
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Post by Dezzi on Jun 4, 2008 13:33:39 GMT -4
That's what I've been doing, but that still leaves over half a bag of hay.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jun 4, 2008 21:10:11 GMT -4
Sounds like fun--picking over a big bag of hay. Yikes. Again, this matter was raised elsewhere a few weeks ago (search for it if you wish) and Andrea said it was a myth (to be concerned). But I don't know. I doubt if many Syrian hamsters encounter cut hay in their natural environment. Some hay is more "pointy" and sharp than others, such as Kaytee over LM (both are quite different): Kaytee loks better and fresher, but os the moist "pointy". *shrugs* I feel happier not feeding it.  |
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Post by Dezzi on Jun 4, 2008 23:18:17 GMT -4
I did a search, but couldn't find it. The boys don't seem to eat it, they're using it for bedding, so I'm not too worried. My best friend feeds it to her buns and GP, but her ham doesn't eat it either. (Then again, she feeds her hamster weird food, so who knows)
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Post by pinky on Jun 6, 2008 16:31:45 GMT -4
(Then again, she feeds her hamster weird food, so who knows) Examples?? |
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Post by hamwolf89 on Jun 6, 2008 23:36:08 GMT -4
The "shell" on the stark can get stuck in cheek pouches and can cause infection. Also the concern that the long starks can puncture through.
True it is a concern when feeding it, then again everything has some concern to it.
I suggest to break it up, probably into 1/4 pieces. Play around with it a little, get just "crusty shell" off. Then it should be fine.
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Post by Dezzi on Jun 7, 2008 18:01:24 GMT -4
>>Examples??<<
She gives him regular food, but on top of that he gets basically whatever she feels like seeing if he'll eat: candy, dog food, cat food, crackers, popcorn, crickets... A lot of it he won't eat. He's unnaturally large, and we think it's because of the bad food she gives him. (he gets bulk hamster food from what I know) She's been doing that since she got him, and he's about 18mo. Aside from him being long he's totally fine.
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