[Feeding Issue] Chickens as food

[JackTar]

I don't own a Boa at the present but I am actively looking. A lot of people in my town are into raising chickens. Are there any forum members who feed their snakes chickens? Just wondering

[Morgans Boas]

Re: Chickens as food

Chicken is prone to cause runny stools (foul smelling too ) . I have done it, but only on an occasional switch - not as a common meal.

[Joba1972]

Re: Chickens as food

I have a 2012 dumerils who will only eat chicks (thus far), and I can definitely attest to the runny stool! I'm hoping to start scenting rats with the chicks and getting him switched over to rats asap.

[paulh]

Re: Chickens as food

It takes a day or two for a newly hatched chick to finish digesting the egg yolk. The yolk is probably the reason for runny stools. Try waiting at least three days after hatching before feeding the chick to the snake. By then the yolk should be gone, and the chick should be eating and drinking. I've fed adult and juvenile pigeons, doves and sparrows to various snakes with no runny stools, but I always fed after the yolk was gone.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Chickens as food

Even older chickens seem to cause nasty poops. I feed my boas quail on occasion with no issues, but I avoid chickens at all costs.

[chiflyer]

Re: Chickens as food

Even older chickens seem to cause nasty poops. I feed my boas quail on occasion with no issues, but I avoid chickens at all costs.

I wonder why this is? I also feed quail on occasion and have seen no difference at all with the stools.

[zamora]

Re: Chickens as food

I've fed adult and juvenile pigeons, doves and sparrows to various snakes with no runny stools, but I always fed after the yolk was gone.

A few years ago I bought an adult boa from someone and he mentioned that his last meal was a pigeon. The day that boa pooped the pigeon remains will stay with my husband and I forever. In the middle of winter we had to open all the doors and windows until that smell was gone. NEVER AGAIN. Just a little FYI for ya.

[DaChief]

Re: Chickens as food

I have been feeding my Burms and Boas chicken for years and the stools are the same as if I fed them rats and rabbits. The only difference I have notice are the feathers that come out with the stool, but hey, fur is in the stool when fed rats or rabbits.

[chiflyer]

Re: Chickens as food

I just fed my retic a 1.5 lb chicken for the first time about a week ago. I'm still waiting for it to pass through him. I'll post the results when it does

[Zincubus]

Re: Chickens as food

Has anyone ever fed a defrosted supermarket chicken ( minus feathers / head / feet ) .... I'm paying £3.50 each for jumbo / XL rats and the local butchers sell whole chickens for £3 sometimes ??!!??

[jOHNNY t]

Re: Chickens as food

Has anyone ever fed a defrosted supermarket chicken ( minus feathers / head / feet )

I think your boa may miss out on some of the nutrients from the innards, guts, heart, liver......... if you feed dressed chickens from the market. IMO

[Zincubus]

Re: Chickens as food

I think your boa may miss out on some of the nutrients from the innards, guts, heart, liver......... if you feed dressed chickens from the market. IMO

Ah. Not as a staple diet just a ONE off situation ?

[bcr_229]

Re: Chickens as food

I did see a feeding video not too long ago where a boa took just a chicken drumstick, not a whole chicken (it was a nice sized drumstick!). I guess in a pinch if you didn't have rats or rabbits available you could feed chicken pieces from the grocery store, but I wouldn't do it long term. In addition to the lack of offal found in whole prey, mass produced chickens are loaded up with abx, hormones, etc.

[Zincubus]

Re: Chickens as food

I did see a feeding video not too long ago where a boa took just a chicken drumstick, not a whole chicken (it was a nice sized drumstick!). I guess in a pinch if you didn't have rats or rabbits available you could feed chicken pieces from the grocery store, but I wouldn't do it long term. In addition to the lack of offal found in whole prey, mass produced chickens are loaded up with abx, hormones, etc.

Good point . Thanks .

[britt3591]

Re: Chickens as food

I think if I fed my snake stuff like that I'd never be able to eat it. I'd become a vegetarian. Growing up dad told me i was eating beef I said it was amazing but come to find out I ate bambi. Never really eat that now.