Is this a good idea?

[trailblazer295]

So I recently learned that there is a local source of frozen chicks and adult quail. My carpet breeder mentioned it for when the carpet is bigger as variety. Now high on more options I started to wonder about my other snakes.

2yr old BP (1100g) eating small rats bi weekly
1y 4 month boa (472g) eating wean rats weekly (will be changing schedule at 1.5yrs)
10yr old cali king (452g) eating wean rats weekly

Would day old chicks mixed into a variety rotation with any other snakes be okay or a bad idea?

[bigsnakegirl785]

I'm not sure I'd risk it with the ball python, they're notoriously picky.

While the boa constrictor is small, that should be good. I would let the boa get a bit bigger, though. According to Big Cheese, day old chicks are 30-35 grams and 4"-4.5", which is roughly equivalent to a small rat, and would be a rather large meal for a boa eating weaned rats.

Definitely get a few samples and compare them to your regular feeders, your source's chicks may be bigger or slightly smaller than Big Cheese's.

For the boa at least I say it's a great idea!

[EL Ziggy]

I don't keep boas but all of my snakes eat chicks as part of their diets.

[SnoopySnake]

I've been doing it for my rainbow boas and retic, my white lip doesn't take them so far but the others go nuts over them. Personally I like to offer variety

[Ian of Oldham]

Some one said to me that the nutritional value in chicks is very low and you have to feed a lot to get the value out from them, can anyone elaborate on that.

2 Royals, 1 Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

[trailblazer295]

These chicks are 12g

[sattva]

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

Some one said to me that the nutritional value in chicks is very low and you have to feed a lot to get the value out from them, can anyone elaborate on that.

2 Royals, 1 Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

This what I have read also... I don't understand the reasoning in switching! If your snakes are healthy and it an't broke don't fix it???

[bigsnakegirl785]

In a varied diet, chicks are just fine. There are quite a few species who are suited for very low-fat diets, such as boa constrictors, where chicks are actually a preferred food source. Of course, their diets still need to be varied as there are nutrients found in rodents that aren't as high in chicks, and they have more fat. I wouldn't use chicks as a staple, but they are a good food source.

Variety is always best! Our rodents are fatter than just about anything a snake would eat in the wild, and it's been proven they don't deal with fat well. Adding variety is a good way to lower that fat intake and keep them lean and healthy.

[Ian of Oldham]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

In a varied diet, chicks are just fine. There are quite a few species who are suited for very low-fat diets, such as boa constrictors, where chicks are actually a preferred food source. Of course, their diets still need to be varied as there are nutrients found in rodents that aren't as high in chicks, and they have more fat. I wouldn't use chicks as a staple, but they are a good food source.

Variety is always best! Our rodents are fatter than just about anything a snake would eat in the wild, and it's been proven they don't deal with fat well. Adding variety is a good way to lower that fat intake and keep them lean and healthy.

Good point about the fat intake as lots of keepers do not give they snakes much exsersizs so come on get them out and play.

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa and mad Cat

[trailblazer295]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

In a varied diet, chicks are just fine. There are quite a few species who are suited for very low-fat diets, such as boa constrictors, where chicks are actually a preferred food source. Of course, their diets still need to be varied as there are nutrients found in rodents that aren't as high in chicks, and they have more fat. I wouldn't use chicks as a staple, but they are a good food source.

Variety is always best! Our rodents are fatter than just about anything a snake would eat in the wild, and it's been proven they don't deal with fat well. Adding variety is a good way to lower that fat intake and keep them lean and healthy.

If my boa grows big enough will be moved to small rabbits as the main food with occasional rats. But has his dad was around 5.5' and mom 6.5' it's not really for sure. He is a few years away from that.

[Albert Clark]

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

Some one said to me that the nutritional value in chicks is very low and you have to feed a lot to get the value out from them, can anyone elaborate on that.

2 Royals, 1 Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

Whoever told you that was wrong. The protein percentage in day old chicks is higher than every mouse and rat except for field mice.

Originally Posted by sattva

This what I have read also... I don't understand the reasoning in switching! If your snakes are healthy and it an't broke don't fix it???

It's not the switching, but the addition of a varied diet. Especially as it relates to protein.

[Ian of Oldham]

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Whoever told you that was wrong. The protein percentage in day old chicks is higher than every mouse and rat except for field mice.


It's not the switching, but the addition of a varied diet. Especially as it relates to protein.

reah but the protein in chick is very low and you need to feed lots to get the same as a rat or guinea pig.

2 Royals 1Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

reah but the protein in chick is very low and you need to feed lots to get the same as a rat or guinea pig.

2 Royals 1Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

Rat: 61.8% protein (adult)
Chick: 64.9% (day old), 42.3% (adult) protein
Guinea pig: 51.4% (adult)

So no, a day old chick has the most protein out of all of those option. It's also lower in fat. Guinea pigs are also the least healthy option because of the ridiculous fat content. Some snakes deal with fat better, but as adults, fat intake should be restricted as most snakes I know of cannot metabolize fat as well as mammals.

Rat: 32.6% fat
Chick: 22.4% (day old), 37.8% (adult)
Guinea pig: 46.1% fat (adult)

Source.

[Ian of Oldham]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Rat: 61.8% protein (adult)
Chick: 64.9% (day old), 42.3% (adult) protein
Guinea pig: 51.4% (adult)

So no, a day old chick has the most protein out of all of those option. It's also lower in fat. Guinea pigs are also the least healthy option because of the ridiculous fat content. Some snakes deal with fat better, but as adults, fat intake should be restricted as most snakes I know of cannot metabolize fat as well as mammals.

Rat: 32.6% fat
Chick: 22.4% (day old), 37.8% (adult)
Guinea pig: 46.1% fat (adult)

Source.

Ok cool I now need to go and read and study on this subject.

2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa and a mad Cat.

[EL Ziggy]

My snakes go gaga for chicks.