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Yes, hamsters can eat eggs if they are cooked and plain. A piece of hard-boiled or plain scrambled egg about the size of your little fingernail, once or twice a week, makes a good protein treat. The PDSA names small pieces of boiled egg as an occasional treat for hamsters. Never give raw or runny egg, or egg cooked with butter, salt, milk or cheese.
| Safe? | Yes, cooked and plain, as a treat |
| How much | A piece about 1 cm (0.4 in) across for a Syrian, half that for a dwarf |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Hard-boiled, cooled, white and yolk together |
| Watch out for | Raw or runny egg, seasoning, butter, leftovers going off |
Are eggs good for hamsters?
Yes. Hamsters are omnivores: in the wild they eat insects as well as seeds and plants, as the RSPCA notes, so a little animal protein suits them. The PDSA lists boiled egg alongside mealworms and nuts as an occasional treat, Woodgreen says a small amount of boiled egg can be offered now and then, and Omlet suggests unseasoned scrambled or boiled egg for protein. The Bunnyjackpot Foundation, a UK small-pet rescue, agrees, but says egg must be plain and cooked first.
Egg is rich, though. The Vet Desk, a vet-reviewed guide, notes it is high in fat, and that too much fatty food can cause diarrhoea and weight gain, so keep it to a small piece.
How much egg can a hamster eat?
For a Syrian, one piece of cooked egg about 1 cm (0.4 in) across, once or twice a week, as The Vet Desk suggests. For a Campbell's, winter white, Roborovski or Chinese dwarf, half that. The Bunnyjackpot Foundation suggests fresh food and protein only a couple of times a week, so on egg days skip other protein treats such as mealworms.
How to prepare egg for a hamster
- Hard-boil it. Boil an egg in plain water until the yolk is fully firm, with no salt added.
- Cool and peel. Let it cool completely so it cannot burn a small mouth.
- Cut one small piece. A 1 cm (0.4 in) cube, white and yolk together, is a full treat.
- Clear leftovers within a few hours. Egg spoils quickly, especially if hoarded in a warm nest.
Boiled, scrambled, raw and eggshell
| Form | For hamsters? |
|---|---|
| Hard-boiled | Best choice |
| Scrambled, plain | Fine, with no butter, oil, milk, salt or cheese |
| Dry-fried or baked, plain | Fine if cooked with no oil or butter |
| Soft-boiled, poached, runny yolk | No: The Vet Desk advises against runny yolks |
| Raw egg | No: salmonella risk and sticky in cheek pouches |
| Egg mayonnaise, egg fried rice, quiche | No: seasoning, oil and other ingredients |
| Eggshell | Not needed; ask your vet before giving any |
The Vet Desk says washed, finely ground eggshell can be given very rarely as calcium, but adds that a balanced diet does not need it and to check with a vet first. We would leave it out.
Egg, mealworms and crickets all do the same job. Rotate them through the week rather than adding them together, and you cover your hamster's protein treat without overdoing the fat.
Who should have less egg?
Overweight hamsters and any hamster with loose droppings. Dwarf hamsters can have egg, since it has almost no sugar, but in a half-size piece.
Other protein treats
Swap egg with a dried cricket or mealworm. Our page on cheese explains why we skip dairy, and our page on rice covers another kitchen staple. Our list of what hamsters can eat, hamster diet guide and hamster care guide cover the rest.
Egg questions
Can hamsters eat scrambled eggs?
Yes, if they are plain. Scramble the egg with no butter, oil, milk, salt, pepper or cheese, let it cool and give a piece about 1 cm (0.4 in) across, once or twice a week. Omlet and The Vet Desk both say plain scrambled egg is fine.
Can hamsters eat raw eggs?
No. The Vet Desk advises against raw egg because of the salmonella risk and because raw egg is sticky and can lodge in cheek pouches. Runny yolks from soft-boiled or poached eggs carry the same worries. Always cook egg until the yolk is firm.
Can dwarf hamsters eat eggs?
Yes. Egg has almost no sugar, so it suits Campbell's, winter white, Roborovski and Chinese dwarfs. Give a cooked piece about half the size of a little fingernail, once or twice a week, and skip other protein treats that day.
Can hamsters eat egg yolk?
Yes, cooked yolk is fine as part of a small piece of boiled egg. It is the fattier part, so give white and yolk together rather than yolk alone. Never give raw or runny yolk.
