Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/64

 hamstery must meet all competition, maintain a full-time business with hired help, heavy advertising schedule, etc. To the novice, a few such larger operators may appear to be specializing in breeding stock of highly superior grade, but to the laboratories each such is just another source of laboratory animal supply.

Much of the finest breeding stock in the country is produced in hobby and small commercial hamsteries operated by those who really enjoy small stock and have thoroughly informed themselves in the field of genetics. One of the best ways of adding new blood is that of exchanging males with one such producer and females with another, exchange being made on age-weight basis.

Hamsters seldom start the habit of urinating near the nest in pens of 8-inch width. When they do, the habit may be broken by placing a 2x10x12 piece of board upright along the inside of the pen, starting at the back and running forward. This narrows the nesting area 2 inches, but does not narrow the bare area of the floor where the animals obtain their exercise.

If you have a garden, plant extra amounts of carrots, loose-leaf lettuce, etc. Sun strengthened out leaves of vegetables do most for hamsters. For that reason the loose-leaf lettuce is a preferred all season vegetable that may be depended upon for about six months of the year; less time in the north, more time in the south. Hamsters like both tops and roots of carrots and carrot roots are good for moisture content food for stock in shipment. Most garden vegetables are eaten up entirely or in part by the animals. Exceptions noted In Chap. 27.

Domesticated hamsters are not overly fond of many American grasses. To avoid financial loss, one should let hamsters try samples of any dry or baled grass or hay before buying same in quantity.

The animals are fond of peelings and cut or diced portions of sweet and Irish potatoes, beets, turnips and similar vegetables, as well as leaves of cabbage, etc.

FORCING FEED MIXTURE: Ingredients—1 heaping tablespoonful of Iodized table salt; $1/2$ cup of A and D feeding oil; 1 cup of cane molasses; 2 or more tablespoonfuls of wheat germ oil; 25 to 35 drops ($1/2$ to $2/3$ teaspoonful) of oil of anise; 7 lbs. mixed whole grains (not more than 2 lbs. of which should be field corn; no oats, since rolled oats are to be added later); 2 or 3 heaping tablespoonfuls of ground calcium carbonate, such as fed to livestock; 4 to 8 heaping tablespoonfuls of steamed bone meal; 21 lbs. commercial rolled oats, same grade as fed to baby chicks. DIRECTIONS FOR MIXING: Stir together the A and D oil, wheat germ oil, oil of anise and the cane molasses; pour in salt and stir until thoroughly dissolved in the oil; pour this liquid into the mixed grains and stir thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes; add the calcium carbonate and steamed bone meal, stirring same through the entire mixture; next, thoroughly stir about 1 lb. or more of present grain mixture into 3 lbs. of rolled oats and empty into storage can, and repeat until grain mixture and rolled oats are all thoroughly mixed. A can with cover is preferred, since mice and rats are fond of this food and if permitted to contaminate it might bring disease into your hamstery. Any