Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it okay to feed large burms chickens.

You can, however, I wouldn't make it a regular part of your burm's overall diet. Chicken diets result in some of the stinkiest and messiest stools you'll ever have to clean up. Chicken is a whole animal diet but their calcium load is much less than rodents. Personally, I would stick with rabbits, rats, etc.

Rob Carmichael

>>Is it okay to feed large burms chickens.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

ANother thing to consider about feeding chickens besides what Mr. Carmichael spoke of is the fact that chickens have sharp beaks and spurs. I used to feed chickens to my large burms to the availability of them. I had a 13' female that lacerated heself internally and died because of either the beak or the spurs(I would assume the beak). I have used chickens since then but to eliminate this possibility from happening I feed f/k chickens and before I feed them to the snake I cut off their feet just above the spurs and I cut off their beak. I know it is a little morbid but to me that is better then the other possibility. Just something to think about. And yes chicken fed snakes excrements are utterly disgusting...lol. Todd

ALSO-you have to figure in the hormones given to chickens, and how that will affect the growth of the animal. The giant blackthroat monitor on www.strictlyreptiles.tv was fed primarily store bought chicken left-overs by its previous owner, and ended up being 6 feet long and about a hundred pounds. So while it may mal-nurish the snake, it can make it worse by causing it to grow too much without proper nutrition.