Because hamsters can eat chicken in moderation, it seems logical that hamsters can eat eggs, too.
However, it’s important to remember that chicken meat and eggs aren’t the same. They have different nutritional content. Eggs aren’t even meat.
So, back to the question: can hamsters eat eggs?
Yes, hamsters can eat eggs! And not just chicken eggs but duck eggs and other types of eggs, as well. As long as you feed this treat to your pet in moderation, everything should be fine.
For simplicity’s sake, we’ll be discussing chicken eggs in this article.
Read on as we talk about the health benefits of eggs and why consuming an abundance of this delicacy can be bad for your pet hamster.
The nutritional content of eggs
Eggs are well-known for their high nutritional value. If your hamster eats eggs, they’ll enjoy the benefits of the following nutrients:
Protein
Every egg is rich in protein, but the protein content varies between the yolk and the albumen (egg white). Typically, the yolk has around 16% protein while the white has around 10%.
Protein plays a major role in the development and repair of the muscles. It helps transport oxygen throughout the body to facilitate the conversion of food into energy and other biological processes. It also keeps the immune system healthy, preventing infections and illnesses.
Protein is especially useful to hamsters experiencing physical stress, such as pregnant hamsters, hamsters that have just given birth, and hamsters recovering from an injury.
A hamster that doesn’t get enough protein will grow weak and sickly.
Fat
The egg yolk is 26% fat.
Fat is an excellent source of energy every complex organism requires to move around. A hamster that doesn’t get enough fat in their diet becomes weak.
Fat also allows the hamster’s body to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are essential to their health and survival.
Vitamins
Eggs contain many vitamins, including those that every hamster needs.
Eggs have vitamin A, which is good for your hamster’s growth and eye health.
Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties allow the hamster to ward off diseases.
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) converts carbohydrates into energy your hamster’s body can use. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) releases energy from the food your hamster eats.
Minerals
Eggs contain minerals, including iron and zinc.
Iron is necessary for the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which allow oxygen and nutrients to be transported throughout the hamster’s body.
Hamsters use zinc to break proteins down. Zinc also helps in growth, blood formation, wound healing, and tissue maintenance.
Why eggs should be eaten in moderation
It’s not a good idea to have your hamster eat eggs too often. Here are the reasons why:
Obesity
Remember what we said about the egg yolk containing 26% fat? That’s way too much fat for a hamster to eat per week let alone per day. This is why pet owners should ensure their hamsters eat eggs sparingly and in tiny amounts (more on the appropriate serving size and frequency below).
Hamsters – especially dwarf hamsters – are prone to obesity. Obesity, in turn, is associated with many health issues, including heart disease and diabetes, which can affect poor hammy’s quality of life and even shorten their lifespan.
Not to mention all that extra weight makes it harder for your pet to perform regular physical activities. Such difficulties discourage exercise, causing the hamster to gain even more weight.
Digestive issues
Consuming a surplus of fat can also wreak havoc on your hamster’s digestive system, resulting in stomachaches and diarrhea.
Kidney issues
While hamsters need protein, their body finds it difficult to process an excess of the nutrient. In fact, consuming too much protein can lead to kidney damage and related complications.
Biotin deficiency
This problem can arise if you feed your hamster too much egg white.
When eaten raw and in abundance, egg white can prevent your hamster from absorbing vitamin B7 a.k.a. biotin. This can lead to anemia, lethargy, eye infections, skin lesions, and dryness of the hair or coat.
Feeding eggs to your hamster the right way
Pet owners who want to feed hamsters eggs should take into account various factors, including the serving size and frequency, the egg’s parts, and cooking style.
Serving size and frequency
You shouldn’t feed your hamster a whole egg.
Half an egg, divided into 1 to 3 feeding sessions per week, will do for average-sized to large hamsters. A quarter of an egg will suffice for smaller hamsters.
Make sure to adjust the feeding size and frequency if you plan on giving your hamster other types of protein in the same week. For instance, if one week you want them to have egg and chicken, you can give them egg twice and chicken once (or vice versa) that week. If you want to feed them egg, chicken, and fish, you can give them each type of treat once that week.
Yolk or white?
Both the yolk and albumen are good for hamsters to eat. You can give your pet either the yolk or white only or a mixture containing both.
However, keep in mind that the yolk has far more protein than the egg white. So, while the yolk is usually the better choice given its higher protein content, consider giving your pet the egg white instead if they’ve already eaten a lot of another type of protein-rich food (e.g. chicken) that week.
Cooked or raw?
Always cook the egg before feeding it to your hamster.
Raw eggs may contain salmonella, which can make your hamster severely ill if consumed. There’s also the biotin deficiency risk we mentioned earlier.
How you cook the egg matters, as well. Hamsters can eat eggs that are hard-boiled, soft-boiled, scrambled, baked, poached, or pan-fried. Your hamster might have a difficult time eating anything runny, however, so a hard-boiled is preferable to a soft-boiled egg.
Never use seasonings such as salt, butter, or spices when cooking an egg for your hamster. Avoid using ingredients such as milk or ham. Don’t use fat or oil, either. All that extra fat and salt can harm hammies.
It’s also a bad idea to give your hamster sunny-side-up eggs, as their yolk is still raw.
Can hamsters eat eggshells?
Opinions vary on this one. Some say the eggshell is good for hamsters given it’s high in calcium, and hamsters need calcium for healthy bones and teeth.
However, eggshells are hard and sharp, which can cause your hamster injury. As it’s better to be safe than sorry, we recommend you don’t give your hamster eggshells. There are better, safer sources of calcium, anyway.
If for whatever reason you absolutely must give your hamster eggshell, grind it into a fine powder, first.
Introducing eggs to your hamster
Take it slow when giving your hamster a treat they’ve never eaten before.
The size of your hamster’s first serving of egg should be even smaller than recommended. After your hamster eats this tiny portion, observe them for a few days for health issues such as diarrhea. If no problems occur, give your pet a slightly larger serving.
Continue doing this for a week or more with the serving size getting larger per feeding session. This will allow your hamster’s system to get used to digesting the food. Once you’re confident eggs aren’t making your hamster ill, you can start giving them the suggested serving size 1 to 3 times every week.
It’s extremely rare for hamsters to get sick from eating eggs. Not every hamster is the same, however, and your pet might be among the few that are allergic to eggs. Should eating eggs cause an adverse reaction in your pet, seek veterinary aid immediately.
To conclude…
Yes, hamsters can eat eggs! Given the treat’s high protein content, it can do wonders for your hamster’s health. However, as too much of a good thing can be bad for any pet, make sure you don’t overfeed your hamster eggs.
Remember that moderation is key. Give your hamster the right amount of egg per week to keep them healthy and happy!