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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• Feeding chickens - ox, Wed Jul 2 21:03:06 2003
• RE: Feeding chickens - 1snakeman, Thu Jul 3 00:27:10 2003
• RE: Feeding chickens - tango, Thu Jul 3 05:31:08 2003
• RE: Feeding chickens - 1snakeman, Thu Jul 3 13:33:40 2003
• Wow! I didn't know that. (see? you make me say this a LOT!) - BrianSmith, Thu Jul 3 19:54:29 2003
• RE: Wow! I didn't know that. (see? you make me say this a LOT!) - Thomas j, Thu Jul 3 20:23:04 2003
• RE: Wow! I didn't know that. (see? you make me say this a LOT!) - BrianSmith, Thu Jul 3 20:44:03 2003
• RE: Feeding chickens - ox, Fri Jul 4 00:01:13 2003
• One of my favorite subjects! - RoyerReptiles, Fri Jul 4 11:15:35 2003