Quote Originally Posted by Zincubus View Post
Yes that's what I found to be honest on the odd occasions I resorted to using chicks . I presumed it was to do with the change if diet rather like our neighbours experience when she tried her dog on some vegetarian tinned dog food - not a positive experience at all
Although I guess their systems may get used to the diet change in time ...
Maybe - I think it's much more common in the UK to use birds frequently. I also don't know how similar day old chicks are to the sunbirds, weavers, starlings, and juvenile African grays that were found in their wild diet. If I had to guess, quail might be more similar nutritionally since they're older, but it's really just a guess, I haven't looked into it specifically. And as noted, who really knows exactly what bps dietary requirements are? Which is why I think switching it up even with chicks should be done by those who know how to tell if the diet is working ok and the snake is healthy and not by new keepers. The default of rats is fully adequate and the least risk since it's been fully and extensively trialled.

Now vegetarian dog food -- highly questionable, but at least it's not vegetarian cat food.