Raw Chicken Meat for my Ball Python? Seeking Advices! :)

Hello guys, I have a little bit if a problem here. There is a shortage in the availability of adult mice and rats in our place and my ball python, Lucifer, could be losing some weight because of it. He is now a yearling probably 2 years and 7 months old. I feed him a hopper mice last week and thats it. I did not bother to handle him days after that.

But my question now is that can I feed him raw chicken meat (breast,head,drumstick) ? Is it safe for feed raw chicken meat ? Does anyone have ideas on how to feed it? Did anyone try it for their ball pythons?

According to my breeder, Lucifer had never had eaten a chicken meat his whole life but since there is a shortage of feeders, I think I dont have any choice. He weighs 700 grams last two weeks and I didnt check his weight this week. I badly need your advice! Thanks :)

If he is that old you would def be fine waiting till you can get rodents. I doubt he would even eat raw chicken. They can and do go months without eating...

Thank you for your advice! Happy Keeping! :) Btw how about a chick? Could it be safe for him?

Ball python males do take birds in the wild. He would be more likely to eat a newly-hatched or fairly young whole chick than a drumstick.

The previous owner of Lizzy, a Coastal Carpet would leave raw drumsticks, wings, and thighs in her cage for consumption. It didn't slow her down a bit.
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I doubt a ball python would eat any raw chicken. Maybe a live baby chick, but even then, maybe not.

To begin with though, no worries at all about missing a meal or two.. or three... or five... Especially at that weight, he can definitely go for a couple months and barely lose any weight.

If he's eating f/t, have you considered buying frozen feeders online? It's really convenient.

A drumstick is a lot of bone to digest. Can't be comfortable, either
Poultry from processors is known to be dirty. How much E-coli can a snake handle?
I would just wait until you can get a good rat.

Ball pythons are not made to handle eating that much bone, nor would they ever do so in the wild. A live chick would be a better option than pieces of adult chicken, but frozen feeders are very readily available from many different sources online. If it truly is an availability issue, then there is no issue at all, just order online. If it is actually a cost issue and you can't afford to feed your snake, you might consider rehoming him to someone who can, for his long-term well-being.

Original Poster is from the Philippines.

It probably IS quite different there when it comes to "online ordering" of frozen rodents, etc. They might not have that option. Or petstores that sell rodents readily.

I honestly don't know, but it might just be quite different from here.

I would try a chick, why not. In the wild they do sometimes eat birds. I would definitely try a chick over raw chicken meat such a drumstick/breast, etc.

Aside from that, he will be fine skipping a few meals. Try to get more appropriate sized meals when they become available. Hopper mice are ok if you find nothing else, but that is really to small of a meal. He could be eating small rats or at the least weaned rats.

:)

Oooo I didn't notice he was from the Philippines. I actually have 2 very good friends from there and one has a snake... Not a bp, but a snake anyway... He actually traps wild mice for his snake because he lives in such a rural area. Not something I would ever do personally, but it's what he has to do I guess.

I somehow doubt that he would even eat frozen mice because according to my breeder, Lucifer never consumed or even tried to eat frozen mice. He likes it freshly killed. He's a little bit choosy with his food hahaha. Thank you for your advices guys! :)

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Originally Posted by Junior013

I somehow doubt that he would even eat frozen mice because according to my breeder, Lucifer never consumed or even tried to eat frozen mice. He likes it freshly killed. He's a little bit choosy with his food hahaha. Thank you for your advices guys! :)

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If you know he likes fresh killed, then raw meat of any kind is out of the question LOL

Honestly, before I would skip meals and wait, I WOULD try frozen / thawed.

IF it is available ;)

I have converted all my snakes without a hitch. Granted, they were all hatchlings when I got them, but still.

Back when I took in and treated some "rescues" I even converted some imports, some of which had to be treated medically first. I always gave them live if that is what it took, would never starve one out of principle. But I didn't give up and even the stubborn ones converted.

I'm not saying F/T is the way to go. Absolutely not. Different things work for different people.

But like I said, if it was between trying FT and skipping meals, I'd try FT ;)

Thank you for your replies guys!