I most definitely would consider making the switch to chickens because they are cheaper and cleaner. I wouldn't have to deal with rats pooping from the store all the way to my snake's tank.

Problem is I can only get them frozen (for $1.25!!!!!!) from my locale. I want to start with a live one or two so that my python can get a taste, smell, and feel for it's food. I'm not just going to throw a corpse in there and expect him to know what it is, lol.

Anybody know any places that sell live chicks around the Minnesota metro area? If nothing else, there are tons of websites that stock all different breeds of chickens so I can do that - I just need to know what particular breed of chick my bro is most likely to swallow.