Our hamsters are omnivorous creatures who enjoy and benefit from variety when it comes to their diet. From simple veggies to home-baked treats, there are numerous ways to get creative with your hamster's food and treat selection. Broccoli is a bright-green vegetable that has known health benefits when it comes to human consumption, but is it safe for your furry friend? We have done the research to provide you with a complete breakdown of the relationship between your pet and this tasty snack.
Hamsters can eat broccoli. It is safe to feed them any part of this vegetable, including the leaves and stems. Like any treat, you need to feed your hamster broccoli in moderation. This treat can be fed raw or cooked, but it is safer to go with the latter.
Before introducing a new food or treat to your pet, it is always best to familiarize yourself with feeding and preparation guidelines. Continue reading as we talk about the health benefits provided to your hamster from broccoli, how often they should be eating it, and more.
![A cute hamster lying down after eating a lot of broccoli, Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli [Inc. Cooked or Raw]](https://hamsters101.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Can-Hamsters-Eat-Broccoli-Inc.jpg)
Your Hamster And Broccoli
Your hamster will enjoy munching on this scrumptious treat. Whether it is added to their nutritionally balanced pellets or given on its own, your hamster will appreciate the diversity in their diet. Let's talk more about feeding guidelines to ensure your hamster can reap the benefits of this vitamin-filled veggie.
How Much Broccoli Can Hamsters Eat?
While broccoli contains vitamins and nutrients, it is also very high in water. Due to the size of your furry companion, excess water consumption can lead to health issues. These possible complications stress the importance of feeding your hamster the appropriate amount of broccoli.
You can feed your hamster broccoli 2-3 times a week. You should be feeding about one teaspoon of broccoli each time.
Too much broccoli can lead to a condition called "wet tail." This appears as watery bowel movements and happens because of a large increase in water intake. If you have concerns about your hamster's health, it is always best to get a veterinarian's opinion.
Does Broccoli Provide Health Benefits To Hamsters?
If fed correctly, broccoli does provide health benefits to your hamster. This veggie is rich in vitamin C, K, B6, B5, and B2. It is also high in minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron.
When this green is cooked, it releases certain enzymes, like indole. These enzymes play a part in combating carcinogens, keeping your hamster's healthy cells protected. This treat will give your hamster energy, keep their metabolism up, and benefit their eyesight.
Keep in mind that broccoli should be added as a treat to an already balanced diet. While broccoli does provide all these great benefits, you should not depend on this vegetable for the main contributor to your hamster's needed nutrition. Each hamster needs a high-quality pellet or mixed food diet as its primary food.
Wild Harvest offers a hamster specific diet here on Amazon.
You can read more about hamster food in our blog post, How To Feed Hamsters - A Guide For Beginners here.
How Should Broccoli Be Prepared For A Hamster?
Broccoli is a beneficial and fun treat for your hamster. Preparing this treat can be done in a few different ways. You may find that your hamster prefers one prep method to another. Broccoli can be fed to your hamster in the following ways:
- Raw
- Dehydrated
- Roasted
- Steamed
Each technique holds its advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at each preparation method.
Raw
Feeding your hamster raw broccoli is fast and easy, but should be done with caution. Raw broccoli from the store can contain pesticides, other chemicals, or bacteria that are harmful to your pet. You should wash the small broccoli pieces thoroughly to protect your hamster. You can consider growing your broccoli in a home garden or buying from an organic market to avoid this risk.
Dehydrated
Using a food dehydrator, you can prep broccoli pieces for your furry friend. This will create a small, tougher snack that hamsters seem to love. Dehydrating broccoli will remove most of the water content, making it safer to feed in slightly larger quantities.
Roasted
Broccoli can be roasted in the oven. Place a few small pieces onto a baking sheet and place in the oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes. Roasted broccoli becomes crunchy and creates a unique texture to your hamster's snack.
Steamed
You can steam broccoli using a small amount of water and placing it in the microwave or on a stove top. This method is quick and easy. Keep in mind that steamed broccoli will have a higher water content. Consider feeding a bit less than the recommended amount when using this technique.
Due to possible risks, feeding raw broccoli is the least desired prep method. All broccoli that is fed to your pet should not include any oils or seasoning. While these additives are tasty to us, they can harm our furry companions. Remember to remove any uneaten broccoli from your hamster's cage to avoid rotting treats.
What Veggies Can Hamsters Eat?
Does your hamster hate broccoli? Don't worry. There are many other vegetable options you can play around with. You'll be sure to find something they love. It is important to know which food items are safe for your companion. It is safe to feed hamsters the following veggies:
- Spinach
- Bok choy
- Swiss chard
- Dandelion leaves
- Kale
- Squash
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Sweet potato
- Cauliflower
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
There are many options from which you can choose. When introducing a new vegetable treat to your hamster, you should monitor your pet after to ensure they do not have a negative reaction to it, like diarrhea. While there are quite a few veggies they can eat, keep in mind that there are some they cannot. Some vegetables to avoid include raw potatoes and onions.
Read more on our blog post, 14 Foods That Are Dangerous To Hamsters.
What Fruits Can Hamsters Eat?
Your hamster's treat selection should vary and keep them stimulated. Most common fruits are safe for your hamster. Just like vegetables, some are safe and others are not. Fruits that you can feed your hamster include:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Mangoes
- Plums
- Watermelon
- Nectarines
- Most berries
- Pears
Hamsters are sensitive to the seeds found in fruit. Make sure you remove any seeds before feeding. Any fresh produce should be washed to decrease the chances of pesticides or bacteria affecting your furry friend. Another option, other than fresh fruits, is dehydrated or hamster-specific dried fruit treats.
Amazon offers yogurt dipped tropical fruit treats here.
Can Hamsters Eat Peanut Butter?
Hamsters can eat peanut butter. There are even some health benefits to this scrumptious snack due to its nutritional value and role in weight reduction. Peanut butter is another food item that should be viewed as a treat and not as a main part of your hamster's diet.
The video below highlights the pros and cons of peanut butter and a DIY recipe for a hamster-safe peanut butter.
With all treats, make sure you are familiar with the recommended feeding guidelines. You want your hamster to get the appropriate amount of each treat to maximize the benefits. Feeding the appropriate amounts of snacks is crucial to your pet's health and well-being.
What Can Hamsters Drink Besides Water?
Water is always the best beverage choice for your hamster. Hamsters can drink juice or milk with extreme caution.
Any store-bought juice will contain sugars or other ingredients that are not healthy for your companion. If you are feeding it juice, it should be freshly squeezed and offered only a drop or two at a time. You can give milk to your hamster in the same fashion - only a drop or two at a time. Milk is not toxic to your hamster, but it doesn't provide any benefits to them either.
Your hamster should never be offered coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages.
Read more on our blog post, How Much Water Do Hamsters Need?
What Taste Do Hamsters Hate?
Two tastes that hamsters hate include lemon and olive oil. Individual hamsters will all have their quirks and will let you know what they like and don't like by what they won't eat. However, lemon and olive oil seem to have consistency amongst hamsters. In fact, these flavors will sometimes be used to coat the bars of a hamster's home to stop them from chewing the walls of their enclosure.
Time For A Snack!
It is up to you to keep your hamster well-fed and happy. Adding a variety of treats to their already balanced diet keeps them stimulated. Broccoli is just one of many options for a hamster snack. All treats should be fed in moderation and given in the recommended amounts. We hope you found this article helpful when choosing which snacks will be best for your pet.
Looking for more treat ideas? Read our blog post, What Treats Can I Give My Hamster?
