Page:The Golden Hamster Manual.djvu/65

 in the mixture may be altered experimentally. If rolled oats are unavailable, rolled barley is a good second choice. If neither rolled oats nor rolled barley may be obtainable, any mixture of either rolled or finely cracked grains may be substituted.

Should one wish to mix up lesser amounts, ingredients may be mixed up on basis of 1 lb. grains to 3 lbs. rolled oats, and other elements in the same ratio to them as in foregoing list of ingredients. With only a few pairs, one may wish to mix up only about $1/4$ of the amount specified for each item going into the mixture.

Wheat, rye, barley, rice (unpolished), kafir corn, buckwheat, maize, and other mixed whole grains do well in this mixture. If available, cow peas, soy beans, and corn, all coarsely cracked or mill split, may be included in the mixture of smaller whole grains. None of the elements in the forcing feed mixture are expensive. All are procurable at most good poultry and small stock feed stores, with exceptions of oil of anise from the drug store and the cane molasses of cheapest cooking grade from the grocer.

Approximately $1/2$ oz., or a well-rounded tablespoonful of this mixture is a good one-day feed per adult hamster. Breeding males, as well as bred females and nursing mothers, profit by use of this mixture instead of grain on the whole grain days in either feeding schedule in Chap. 27. If out of pellets, the mixture is a good substitute. In fact, some users prefer it to pellets for general use. To undersize weaned kittens it may be fed daily with green foods to help bring them to standard weight, an occasional moderate feeding of pellets added if desired.

SUPPLEMENTAL NEST FEEDINGS: For production of super-litters—maximum of either size or count per litter—the author recommends his practice since 1943 of using this mixture or some modified form of same for such purpose. Technique for usage: Beginning on about the 9th day after litter birth, for a litter of 10, approximately one level tablespoonful of the mixture may be placed on the top edge or rim of the nest, shown by S.F. arrow point in Illus. 31, so that part will spill down into the nest among the young; quantity may be Increased daily in proportion to growth of young. BUT, likewise; on same daily basis, to aid in prevention of bowel trouble as well as to furnish essential balancing food elements, MUST be fed an equal or greater amount of water content vegetables such as potato, carrot, lettuce, etc. Such vegetables should be diced or cubed, not too carefully, to approximately $1/4$-inch pieces for the 9th day of age feedings, and increased to approximately $1/2$-inch pieces by 15th day of age. By the 14th day, supplemental feedings to a litter of 10 may be about 2 well rounded tablespoonfuls of the mixture and equal amount of green food. After kittens are observed to have open eyes the supplemental feedings may be discontinued as the young then freely share the general pen feedings at F.P. with the mother. General feedings must increase according to her litter's needs. This technique may enable 21-day weaning of 10 to 16 kittens of 1 oz. or more apiece from mothers whose litters of same count without supplemental nest feedings might normally have been kittens approximately $3/4$ oz. each. Supplemental feedings are always done through front door. Rear door is used only for nest inspections and cullings.