Skewer sticks, that you can typically purchase in your grocery store, offer a good option since you know they are safe for human use, which means they are also safe for your hamster. Chew sticks purchased in a pet store are typically made of balsa, so if you want something similar to what you find in the pet store, search for those. [3] X Research source If you want to use natural wood from the outdoors, clippings of small twigs from fruit trees are safe for hamsters. However, you should be certain that the tree was not treated with chemicals or pesticides. [4] X Research source
Also avoid wood from the yew and oleander tree as these are poisonous for hamsters. [7] X Research source
If you want to make your chew sticks more interesting for your hamster, add a splash of fruit juice such as apple, blueberry, cherry, peach or mango to the glue. Additionally, you can also add tiny bits of dried fruit to the paste.
You might also want to coat the other side of the sticks in glue. If so, wait until the first side is dry, then flip each bunch over, and repeat the process of brushing on the glue.
Try rubbing the sticks with a carrot. Rubbing the stick with a carrot coats the stick in a flavor that hamsters enjoy. [8] X Research source Coat the stick with a bit of honey. Coating the stick in honey shows your hamster that the stick is something he can and should eat. [9] X Research source However, do not use this trick often, as your hamster may refuse to use the stick unless it has honey on it. Hamsters can be susceptible to diabetes if they consume too much sugar. [10] X Research source Shave off the outer layer of the stick. Using a small, sharp knife, wittle away the top layer of the stick. This releases a strong wood scent that may be appealing to your hamster. [11] X Research source vhttp://animals. mom. me/hamster-bite-chew-stick-1306. html
