Feeding chicks/ducklings

Hey guys I was wondering if I could feed my snakes chicks/ducklings as a staple diet or at least part of the year. I couldn’t find any recent posts about it, but if there is one let me know. Maybe I missed it in my initial search.

I am considering it for a couple reasons:
Price - the rodents I buy are from a family owned small business but are $4.50/ rat pup and $5.50 for a small/ md rat. I will only shop at petco/PetSmart as a last resort for rodents as the quality wasn’t what I’d prefer.

Availability - I live in a farming community and an hour from the nearest pet store. So I haven’t been traveling to the “big city” as often because of corona. I also try to avoid it during fire season. I have easy access to farm supply stores to purchase chicks/ ducklings. I could also buy eggs practically year round and incubate them myself.

I will not sacrifice their health just to save a little money though. I read somewhere that they wouldn’t get enough calcium from the chicks. Is this true? I wouldn’t be feeding day old chicks, probably a few days to a week old depending on their weight.

I also have no intention to breed any of the snakes.

I thought about ordering rodents but it doesn’t seem practical because I only have 5 snakes. Between the shipping and bulk price I wouldn’t save any money and I don’t want to be stuck with a freezer full of rodents during one of California’s power safety shut offs.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. My point is: is it healthy to feed snakes primarily birds? Any feedback is appreciated!

BTW I would be feeding a ball python, a pacific gopher snake, and 3 king snakes.


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Many keepers offer fowl to their snakes as part of a varied diet. The biggest issue with BP's is whether or not the snakes will eat them. Out of all of mine I have had exactly one take a chick, and that was only because he was a rescue, he had been way underfed, and he happened to be "hunting" when I was feeding f/t chicks to some king snakes so on a whim I offered him one. I was rather surprised when he took it. The king snake ended up getting his rat pup.

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Originally Posted by agardner810

Hey guys I was wondering if I could feed my snakes chicks/ducklings as a staple diet or at least part of the year. I couldn’t find any recent posts about it, but if there is one let me know. Maybe I missed it in my initial search.

I am considering it for a couple reasons:
Price - the rodents I buy are from a family owned small business but are $4.50/ rat pup and $5.50 for a small/ md rat. I will only shop at petco/PetSmart as a last resort for rodents as the quality wasn’t what I’d prefer.

Availability - I live in a farming community and an hour from the nearest pet store. So I haven’t been traveling to the “big city” as often because of corona. I also try to avoid it during fire season. I have easy access to farm supply stores to purchase chicks/ ducklings. I could also buy eggs practically year round and incubate them myself.

I will not sacrifice their health just to save a little money though. I read somewhere that they wouldn’t get enough calcium from the chicks. Is this true? I wouldn’t be feeding day old chicks, probably a few days to a week old depending on their weight.

I also have no intention to breed any of the snakes.

I thought about ordering rodents but it doesn’t seem practical because I only have 5 snakes. Between the shipping and bulk price I wouldn’t save any money and I don’t want to be stuck with a freezer full of rodents during one of California’s power safety shut offs.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. My point is: is it healthy to feed snakes primarily birds? Any feedback is appreciated!

BTW I would be feeding a ball python, a pacific gopher snake, and 3 king snakes.


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Are you thinking of using / buying frozen thawed chicks ??


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Are you thinking of using / buying frozen thawed chicks ??


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I would be buying live then feeding f/t later.


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Well, I'm on the right coast an I can get mutt chicks at .10 an Mallard ducklings are .75. When the kids don't hatch any. Left coast prices are unknown. I offer them to the BP, BI, BC an Kings. With the BP's they are offered after skipping two feedings. If the BP is a rescue, I'll let them get hungry so I won't have a picky eater. It can't hurt to put a fresh hatched in with the snake. Now, with an older live chick I would watch an make sure the snake is safe. Yes, any live pointy billed chick could take an eye. Just as a live rat could. If your snake is young or small try quail.


If your snake refuses you can freeze an try again next week.

Check your AG office for chicken breeders. If they grow sex linked birds male chicks are dirt cheap. Heck, E-bay sells eggs you can hatch out in 21 days.


Good luck!