Heres the best info I can find on the nutritional value of poultry vs. rabbits. Please update me if you find it lacking. Source: USDA rabbit & duck(mallard): adult dressed carcass, chicken: whole



Based on 1000 grams (1 kilo)



Protein:



Rabbit 170 grams

Chicken 137 grams

Duck 209 grams



Fat:



Rabbit 41.4 grams

Chicken 123 grams (WOW!)

Duck 87 grams



Calcium/Phosphorus



Rabbit 15.5 grams/8.98 grams (Ratio 1.7:1)

Chicken 7.2 grams/4.55 grams (Ratio 1.58:1)





So, based on this data, the rabbit is a superior food item, offering more protein, less fat, and more calcium and phosphorus than the chicken. The mallard duck is a good second choice, although I do not have mineral values.



Chickens can be fed, but due to their high fat and lower mineral content, I would not recommend feeding them as a sole diet.



Having said that, we feed one poultry item for every two rabbits we feed, usually in a rotation: two rabbit feedings followed by a chicken or duck feeding.



I also have to mention that most commercially raised chickens are fed a diet containing medications in the feed. I am not sure if/how this might affect my snakes, so I prefer to raise them myself, or get them from a source I know does not use them.

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