Is your hamster getting bored with the same food you keep feeding it every day? If that is the problem, you’ll be glad to know that there are many different foods your hamster can try.
For example, some hamster owners are completely unaware that they can feed meat to their little furry friends. It would be best if you were careful, though, since not every meat is safe for your pet.
Whether or not you can share your favorite meat dish with your hamster will depend on what type of meat it is and how it has been prepared. Deep-fried and overly processed food can damage our health, so you can surely imagine how devastating it would be for a creature as tiny as a hamster.
We need to start somewhere. Today we will answer the question: Can hamsters eat chicken?
The shortest possible answer is yes, but it does not mean that you should go feed your furry friend some chicken nuggets right away. Stay tuned to learn how your pet can enjoy chicken meat without having any health problems.
If you keep scrolling, you will learn why you should include chicken in your hamster’s diet and how to prepare the meat before giving it to your hamster friend. So, stay put!
Can Hamsters Eat Chicken?
Chicken meat is one of the best diet options when it comes to us humans – it is low in calories and high in proteins which is the best combo ever! What about hamsters?
Not all the things that are good for you will be good, or even safe, for your tiny pet. Hence, before you let your hamster try some chicken, you need to know a few essential things. Let’s dive in together!
As we have already established, hamsters can safely consume chicken meat. These tiny mammals are omnivorous, which means their digestive system is ready for both meat and plants.
In their natural habitat, hamsters will eat all the animal-based protein they can get their tiny little paws on. They will catch insects and small frogs and lizards, but they will gladly pick up and eat anything they find too.
We know that hamsters cannot tackle a whole chicken, nor are they likely to find cooked or fried chicken meat out in the wild, but it is still perfectly safe for you to feed your pet with some plain chicken from time to time.
Can Hamsters Eat Raw Chicken?
Now that you know you can feed your hamster some chicken, the next logical question that needs to be answered is: Does the chicken need to be cooked before you give it to your hamster?
Raw chicken is not safe for your furry friend. Moreover, you need to make sure the chicken is well cooked before you serve it to your hamster since undercooked chicken can be dangerous as well.
So remember well: Never give your hamster any raw or undercooked chicken since both can cause dangerous food-borne illnesses that can make your hamster sick or even end its life prematurely.
How Much Chicken Can Your Hamster Eat?
When it comes to hamsters, chicken is not an all-you-can-eat type of food. It would help if you were very careful when you first introduce it to your pet’s diet, as well as when you decide how much and how often you will feed chicken to your hamster.
You need to take baby steps whenever you introduce a new food to your hamster, and chicken is no exception to this rule. You can start by giving your pet a tiny slice of chicken meat – as small as it can be. The point is to let the hamster smell and taste chicken so that you can see whether or not it will like it and if there will be any adverse effects.
If the first reactions are positive, and you do not notice any problems with your pet’s health or behavior, slowly increase the “dosage” to a certain limit. What is the limit? How much chicken can a hamster have?
Once your hamster is fully adapted to chicken meat, you can start serving up to ¼ of a tablespoon of chopped chicken once or twice every week. A lot depends on the size of your pet, too. Yet, even if your hamster is as big as they come, you should not serve chicken more than three times per week, especially if you are already feeding your pet other proteins.
Hamsters that already have eggs or fish incorporated in their regular diet plan should be given chicken only once a week.
Why Should You Feed Your Hamster With Chicken?
Here is the list of reasons why your hamster should have some chicken from time to time:
1. It Is An Excellent Source Of Lean Proteins
You want to be fit, don’t you? It can be for your looks or your health, but whatever your reason is, you simply know that is the best thing to aspire to. Things are the same for your hamster. Even though chubby hamsters are adorable, it is not healthy for them to be like that.
Lean proteins are the best allies when it comes to staying fit. Chicken is loaded with them and has low-fat content and no sugar or carbohydrates. As a result, both you and your hamster can eat it guilt-free. If your hamster is prone to obesity, chicken is a great treat that will not contribute to that problem.
Foods that are low in carbohydrates and high in lean protein can help your hamster get an adequate amount of protein in its diet without contributing too many calories. The proteins will also keep your pet satiated longer, so it will not be hungry right after having a meal.
2. It Is Relatively Inexpensive.
Chicken is the least expensive type of meat you can purchase nowadays. It is widely available as well, so you do not have to make an effort to get a hold of it – simply put it in your cart next time you go to a supermarket and share it with your hamster friend.
3. It Is A Good Source Of Some Valuable Nutrients.
Even though it costs less than most other proteins, chicken has a lot of valuable nutrients to offer and can thus satisfy a couple of important nutrient requirements of your hamster. It is a good source of:
- B vitamins
- Iron
- Potassium
Additional Tips
Here are some valuable tips for you to read before you start feeding your hamster chicken:
- Avoid feeding your hamster dark chicken meat; it is higher in both fat and calories.
- Never give your hamster chicken skin since its fat content is sky high; better stick to chicken breast.
- Your hamster cannot digest chicken bones. They represent a choking hazard as well. Always remove all the bones and cartilage before you give the chicken to your hamster.
- Canned, marinated, or seasoned chicken should be avoided at all cost, too – stick to plain boiled or baked chicken.
- If you notice your hamster has stomach issues or diarrhea after consuming chicken, stop giving it.
- If your hamster has some health issues, consult a vet before including the chicken meat into your pet’s diet.
- Your hamster’s digestive system is not ready to handle chicken as a staple food – give it as a treat only!
In Conclusion
You can make your hamster’s diet more interesting by introducing chicken as an occasional treat. As long as you stick to the commercial food of the highest quality as a base for your pet’s diet, there is no harm in surprising your furry friend with a couple of meaty bites every now and then.
Most hamsters enjoy the taste of chicken, so there is no need for any spices or marinades, not even any salt. You should best stick to white chicken breast meat and make sure it is well cooked at all times to avoid any adverse effects.
