Can Hamsters Eat Grass From Outside?

Wondering if can hamsters eat grass from outside? Yes, It is possible to give hamsters grass from outside. However, be careful with how much grass you feed them, as too much grass can give hamsters an upset stomach. Also, make sure the grass is organic and pesticide free. The grass should also be clean and bug-free.

Also, if you ever catch your hamster eating grass from the garden, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s natural for a hamster to consume grass from outside. It’s also possible for hamster owners to include grass in their hamster’s food.

Even though grass does not offer hamsters any specific advantage, it is a refreshing treat for them to chew on. So if you don’t want to let your hamster out into the yard in case it might run away, you can always cut some grass from the lawn and keep it in the hamster cage.

Introduce grass to your hamster’s diet slowly, so its digestive system becomes accustomed to ingesting it.

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Is Grass Safe For Hamsters?

Grass is safe for hamsters to consume but is not a replacement for other vital nutrients. Grass can be consumed as a snack, not as a meal.

The grass itself is not very nutritious, its biggest nutrient being fiber. It’s always advised to feed your hamster grass in small amounts. Hamsters should eat grass as a light snack, just for something to chew on.

The amount of grass you can feed a hamster also varies according to the hamster’s age. An adult hamster should not be fed more than three or four blades of grass at a time.

If your hamster is still very young, it’s best not to feed it grass. Also, ensure you feed your hamster healthy, nutritious food daily to ensure health and vitality.

Even though most hamsters like snacking on grass, some might not. It also depends on your hamster’s taste.

Research has shown that grass is also rich in antioxidants. Thus moderate, occasional snacking on grass can help improve a hamster’s immunity.

You can also feed your hamster grass as an add-on to their daily snack. Start by feeding the hamster a very small quantity of grass. Gradually increase the portion so your hamster’s stomach can be used to digesting it.

Make sure you feed your hamster organic grass freshly plucked from the yard. If you don’t have a yard, you can purchase packaged grass for your hamster from your nearest pet store. This grass is specially designed for hamsters, and frequent snacking on it can benefit your little critter.

Eating small amounts of grass can also help increase cholesterol levels in hamsters. As grass does not have a high sugar level, it can also help control blood sugar in hamsters.

Also read: How Long Do Robo Hamsters Live?

Downsides of Eating Grass

Feeding your hamster too much grass can cause digestive problems. It can give your hamster an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Even if you feed your hamster a small quantity of grass, it’s a good idea to keep it under observation for a while. If it shows any illness, visit your veterinary doctor and cease feeding it grass.

Also, make sure you know exactly where the grass came from. Feeding your hamster grass laden with chemicals or fertilizer can be toxic for your hamster.

Grass is a fun snack for hamsters but lacks nutrition and vitamins. Other great snack options for hamsters other than grass, such as apples or lettuce. Hamsters love munching on these and are also dense with vitamins and nutrition.

Check here: Can Hamsters Eat Strawberries?

Precautionary Measures

When feeding your hamster grass, proceed with caution. Grass isn’t specifically detrimental to a hamster’s health, but feeding the little critter too much grass is not advised. Too much grass can give hamsters an upset stomach. The hard texture of grass is sometimes too much for a hamster’s delicate digestion.

Also, ensure the grass you feed your hamster is clean. It should be pesticide-free and bug-free. Feeding your hamster grass with pesticide spray can be poisonous, if not fatal. Also, ensure no other animal has urinated on the grass previously, as that can be dangerous for your hamster.

Taking your hamster out into the garden frequently is a good idea. Hamsters get to munch on grass and enjoy running around. The exercise will also be good for your hamster as it will prevent obesity.

However, it’s vital to keep an eye on your hamster all the time. As hamsters are such tiny animals, they can easily run off and get lost. Also, when taking your hamster back inside, check it thoroughly for fleas or insects.

Also, when cutting grass to feed your hamster as a snack, avoid cutting grass near a busy road. This is because vehicles’ fumes may pollute the grass. If a grassy space has mildew or mold, avoid snipping grass from there.

If your hamster is new to eating grass, start with less so it can get used to digesting it.

Don’t ever let your hamster eat grass from the lawnmower. When you trim grass using a lawnmower, the hat injected from the lawnmower makes the grass go through fermentation. If hamsters eat this grass, they almost always get an upset stomach.

Also, it’s a terrible idea to let your hamster eat directly from the lawnmower, even if the machine is turned off. Lawnmowers have sharp blades and can unexpectedly hurt your hamster. A hamster might also lick the sharp metal, which can be very dangerous.

Alternative to Eating Grass

If you don’t want to feed your hamster grass, there are several other alternatives you can give it instead. These include broccoli, cherries, apples, cucumbers, and kale. Giving your hamster fresh hay or lettuce to munch on as a snack is also great.

Pears are also a delicious and healthy snack for hamsters. Snacking on vegetables like asparagus and store-bought mushrooms is also a good idea. Feeding your hamster oats and peaches is also suitable. They are easy to purchase, and your hamster will love them.

Best Meal Options for Your Hamster

Hamsters love eating different types of food. A varied diet also gives them the nutrition they need.

As hamsters are essentially omnivores, a large portion of their diet consists of cereals and seeds. If you buy hamster food from the pet store, it also mostly consists of corn, wheat, and sunflower seeds, among other ingredients.

If you can’t purchase hamster food from the pet store, you can always make it yourself home. You can use assorted seeds, corn, and cereals. You can also use nuts such as hazelnuts or walnuts. Including raisins in the mix is also a good idea.

Hamsters can also eat fruits and vegetables. Healthy vegetables and fruits like broccoli, apples, peaches, lettuce, and carrots should be included in a hamster’s diet.

Hamsters are not strict herbivores like many other rodents; hence they enjoy a variety in their food. Therefore, at times hamsters also enjoy boiled eggs and cheese.

However, hamster owners must remember that hamsters should be given fresh foods and vegetables in addition to their standard diet. This means that pieces of fresh vegetables and fruits should be given as a snack and not as the hamster’s primary meal. You can give these to your hamster several times a week.

Hamsters can eat fresh vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, and squash. They can also have ample leafy greens.

Fruits like blueberries, bananas, apples, and strawberries are delicious treats hamsters can enjoy.

When you feed your hamster fresh vegetables and fruits, ensure they are cut into small pieces. This is essential, so it’s easy for your hamster to eat them.

Hamster owners should avoid giving them foods with high water content. Such foods include watermelon, iceberg lettuce, and citrus fruits. Highly processed foods should also be avoided. Examples of processed foods include biscuits, bread, chocolates, beans, and chips.

Final Thoughts

Hamsters are cute, furry, and adorable. They make excellent household pets as they are also easy to keep. Hamsters prefer a solitary life, so their owners don’t have to worry about their socialization needs. These little critters are fine on their own.

As hamsters are nocturnal, they like to sleep and be lazy during the day. They are most energetic and alert at night. The best time to bond with your hamster is in the evenings.

You can hold your hamster in your palm and pet it. You can also let it loose in a limited space where it can run around and explore. Time out of their cage also gives hamsters the mental stimulation they require.

Hamster owners also need to be very careful with their hamster’s diet. Hamsters’ primary diet consists of cereals, seeds, corn, and wheat grains.

But you can also give your hamster delicious snacks to munch on. Fresh vegetables and fruits are excellent snack options.

Grass is also a good snack option for hamsters. But owners should be careful when feeding their hamsters grass. They should ensure the grass should be freshly cut and devoid of chemicals or preservatives.

Grass is also hard for hamsters to digest due to its hard texture. Therefore it should be fed in small quantities. Hamster owners should introduce grass in minimal portions and gradually increase the quantity. Usually, 4 to 5 blades of grass are enough for a hamster. Grass does not provide much nutritional advantage to hamsters but is simply a fun snack to chew on.