sters develop at a remarkable rate. Feeding schedules will be discussed later in this chapter.
Hamsters are fond of all grains, but If fed too much field corn may eat only the germ end of the kernel. They eat almost all kinds of vegetables and fruits. The outer green leaves of higher moister content vegetables, such as lettuce, cabbage, etc., have greatest value, although the animals relish the white inner leaves when fed them. Many kitchen and store vegetable trimmings are of the valued, sun strengthened, vitamin laden outer leaves.
Avoid feeding mushy foods, over-ripe fruits, mashed potatoes, etc., since these may dirty the pens, especially the nests, and invite odors, mold, worms, etc. Certain varieties of apples fed in quantities may cause digestive disturbances, although a little apple peel fed occasionally may do no harm.
With the exceptions of citrus fruits, bananas, garlic, onions, radishes and tomatoes, they relish the peelings, trimmings, flesh and seeds of practically all known fruits and vegetables. Kitchen peelings and trimmings of such usually furnish the total green food needed for 6 to 10 females with kittens. Larger commercial or mass producers of hamsters may readily obtain extra vegetable trimmings on a regular basis at little or no cost by arranging to call regularly for same at stores or markets where buying other merchandise as regular customers.
Hamsters are fond of nuts, raw or toasted, shelled or whole, though the shells of extremely heavy nuts may be just slightly cracked for them. They have a delightful time with peanuts and almonds in the shell, and are fond of table scraps, toast, vegetable tops, leaves and roots.
Hamsters kept as pets do well on almost any diet or feeding schedule. But high production of top quality requires feedings in keeping with expectations.
Such balanced feeding for high productivity may be followed in a 3-day schedule: 1st day—A generous feeding of whole grain. It is found more appetizing to have 2 or 3 different kinds of grains, and feed a different kind each grain day, although some owners prefer feeding mixed whole grains. 2nd day—Green foods. 3rd day—Pellet food, not in such quantity as to be stored in large amounts. Either dog pellets or cubes, or poultry breeder laying mash (pellets) may be conveniently obtained and both are highly satisfactory. One kind of such commercial food, animal or poultry, may be fed for a few weeks; then, if desired, change to another to give the animals a slight variation. In following the 3-day feeding schedule, it is highly profitable to feed small amounts of green vegetable leaves as extras on both grain and pellet days.
Another feeding plan bringing good results is a 2-day schedule: 1st day—Grains and vegetables. 2nd day—Pellets and vegetables.
A third plan is to feed pellets and vegetable trim daily. In such schedule, some grain or other variety of different food must be fed occasionally to prevent monotony in diet.
Hamsters are especially fond of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, turnips, beets, etc., and also relish the tops of carrots, turnips and some other vegetables.
Green foods tend to prevent constipation in un-
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