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Yes, hamsters can eat hazelnuts as a rare treat. Give a Syrian hamster a quarter of a plain, unsalted hazelnut once a week at most, and a dwarf a crumb. Hazelnuts are very high in fat, so a whole one is far too much in one go. Never give salted, roasted, chocolate-coated hazelnuts or chocolate hazelnut spread, which contains chocolate and sugar.
| Safe? | Yes, plain and unsalted, as a rare treat |
| How much | A quarter of a nut (Syrian), a crumb (dwarf) |
| How often | Once a week at most |
| Best served | Raw, shelled, broken small |
| Watch out for | Weight gain, salt, chocolate, hoarding |
Are hazelnuts safe for hamsters?
Yes. Woodgreen names plain, unsalted hazelnut and walnut as the nuts it is happy for hamsters to have occasionally. A vet-reviewed guide from The Vet Desk lists hazelnut as safe for special occasions. The PDSA treats nuts as an occasional treat.
Woodgreen's reason for keeping them rare is fat. Burgess, a vet-led food maker, says hamsters do not eat nuts in the wild and avoids them for that reason. We think a quarter of a hazelnut once a week is a fair treat for a healthy Syrian at a good weight, and skip it for any hamster carrying extra weight.
How many hazelnuts can a hamster eat?
Woodgreen suggests treats about the size of your hamster's ear, once or twice a week. For a hazelnut, that is roughly a quarter of a nut for a Syrian. For Campbell's, winter white, Chinese or Roborovski dwarfs, a crumb no bigger than a sunflower seed. One nut treat a week is enough, so if you give hazelnut, skip other nuts and seeds that week.
Our hamster diet guide shows how treats fit around a Syrian's daily 10 g (0.35 oz) of dry food.
Shells, skins and roasted hazelnuts
- Shell: a hazelnut shell is very hard and too much for most hamsters. Crack it and give the nut alone.
- Brown skin: The Vet Desk suggests taking the skin off before feeding. Rub the nut in a dry cloth and most comes away.
- Raw: best.
- Plain roasted, no salt or oil: fine in the same small amount.
- Salted, honey-roasted or chocolate-coated: no.
- Chocolate hazelnut spread: no. Chocolate is on Burgess's avoid list, and the spread is sugary and sticky enough to clog cheek pouches.
How to prepare a hazelnut
- Crack the shell. Use nutcrackers and pick out the nut.
- Rub off the skin. A dry cloth or a quick rub between your fingers does it.
- Break it into quarters. Keep one piece and save the rest.
- Scatter it. Hide the piece in the bedding so your hamster has to forage for it.
The Bunnyjackpot Foundation lists hazel leaves and twigs among safe hamster forage. A clean, washed twig from a hazel tree that has not been sprayed is a lovely gnaw.
Who should skip hazelnuts?
Overweight hamsters, older and less active hamsters, and any hamster with soft droppings. Young hamsters still settling in should wait until they are eating well.
What to offer instead
For other occasional nuts, see our pages on pistachios and peanuts, or compare them all on which nuts hamsters can eat. For a lighter treat, a slice of cucumber works well. The full list is in what can hamsters eat, and our hamster care guide covers the rest.
Hazelnut questions
Can dwarf hamsters eat hazelnuts?
Yes, but only a crumb, rarely. Hazelnuts are low in sugar, so they are not a diabetes risk like fruit, but they are very fatty for a dwarf's small body. A piece the size of a sunflower seed once a week is plenty, and skip them if your dwarf is overweight.
Can hamsters eat Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread?
No. Chocolate is on the avoid list for hamsters from Burgess and Jollyes, and the spread is mostly sugar and fat. It is also sticky, which can clog cheek pouches. If your hamster licked some, remove it, offer water and ring your vet if they seem unwell.
Can hamsters eat whole hazelnuts in the shell?
Most cannot crack a hazelnut shell, and a whole nut is far more than a safe portion. Crack it for them and give a quarter. If you want a gnawing challenge, a safe wooden chew or a cardboard tube stuffed with hay is a better choice.
