Feeding my BP sparrows

[Exx]

OK, Might catch hell for this (first post ). My local source for feeder rats has closed up shop and left me high and dry. We have reptile shows pass through, but none within the next few weeks. Has anyone resorted to house sparrows as a food source? I used to regularly trap and kill them to keep them off the feeders, and the local raptor rescue was always happy to take them off my hands for rehabbing owls and hawks and such. I was thinking of getting my traps back out and using them to feed my daughter's adult ball python. Are there any health or safety concerns? (for the snake)

P.S. if anyone is going to freak out about killing sparrows please note that they are invasive and kill/displace many native species most notably bluebirds.

[bcr229]

I've never tried it but I know folks with boas and larger pythons that eat chickens, quail, etc.

If you do it I would suggest putting the bird into the deep-freeze for a while to kill off any parasites it may be harboring.

I also understand that the first BM following the first time your snake eats something with feathers can be rather fun to deal with.

[Exx]

Yeah, I had a pretty large retic that ate roosters on the regular. I'm thinking it will be fine for when my rat supply is unavailable. I will take your suggestion of freezing them for a bit before feeding, also I'll monitor this thread for further input.

[T_Sauer]

I don't have the experience to speak for the pros or cons of whether or not it would present any issues for your daughters snake, I would think as mensioned above as long as a good long deep freeze is in order before feeding I don't see how it would be much different than a bp finding a wounded bird in the wild. I do understand your reasoning with trapping the sparrows .... As a fellow hunter/trapper I see no problem with it but ofcourse with others not from a outdoorsman type background many don't see both sides. In my opinion the sparrows are not going to waste so it is a win win situation. A lil bit of elbow grease on your behalf is going to A.) Save you a lil money on feeders for a bit and B.) At the same time help the wildlife management in your area.

[Skiploder]

They are hosts to several internal and external parasites as well as many bacterial and viral diseases.

While feeding birds to ball pythons is a good idea, house sparrows are pretty well racked with potential health issues.

[yl4870]

Why don't you try ordering online f/t?

[T_Sauer]

Why don't you try ordering online f/t?

$$$$$ ...... Minimum shipping costs for feeders is $29 and that's the lowest I've personally seen ... And to feed only one snake and order one 15 pack of rats and you are paying more for shipping than the feeders themselves .... Unless you are feeding multiple snakes, online feeders can be a real kick in the wallet. However for those who have several snakes it pays to order online

[KMG]

You have a feed store that sells baby chicks?

I would be worried about what a sparrow would/could pass on.

[KMG]

$$$$$ ...... Minimum shipping costs for feeders is $29 and that's the lowest I've personally seen ... And to feed only one snake and order one 15 pack of rats and you are paying more for shipping than the feeders themselves .... Unless you are feeding multiple snakes, online feeders can be a real kick in the wallet. However for those who have several snakes it pays to order online

When I was buying online I would order enough feeders for six months. This made the shipping much more reasonable. I have a chest freezer for my feeders.

[T_Sauer]

When I was buying online I would order enough feeders for six months. This made the shipping much more reasonable. I have a chest freezer for my feeders.

I do agree ... I order online and save A LOT of money on feeders this way as I have 11 snakes in my collection, I order 400 to 600 feeders at a time and yes save a small fortune in doing so . Guess it's really just a matter of situation .... Before I had my own small chest freezer for the feeders however I had a bit of a battle with the room mate over having frozen rodents in the same freezer as our food. So depending on wife, husband, room mate, etc. I can see where a debate may arise LOL and having to buy another freezer just for the feeders is going to add more to expenses of the situation. As for me "Eh ... No big deal" I grew up a redneck, farming, country boy. It was nothing for me to wrestle the dog over the last piece of pizza he just stole and then eat it after I got the remaining half of it back from him. But then again I'm a special kinda crazy