A diet question

[MCwyo]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but has anyone ever tired feeding chicken or lean beef (NOT ground beef) to their garters? Would it be too rich for them to digest or cause health problems? Just curious, because I can get an unlimited supply of both these meats for free. The current diet is nightcrawlers and trout or sunfish (depending on what I catch :D).

[Selkielass]

People have mentioned feeding chicken, beef and the like before, but I believe it was a small part of a varied diet.

[kibakiba]

Most chicken is filled with salt, so I wouldn't reccomend it, unless you know that absolutely no salt or chemicals have been added.

[MCwyo]

Thanks for the input! If I try feeding beef or chicken I am planning on it being just a small compliment to the other foods. I know the beef I can get is not salt injected, but I am not sure about the chicken. It's just bulk wings so I doubt there's anything added to it, but I will be sure to check before feeding it to the snakes!

[guidofatherof5]

Antibiotics and growth hormones should also be a concern.

[Didymus20X6]

It's just bulk wings so I doubt there's anything added to it, but I will be sure to check before feeding it to the snakes!

Wings are mostly bone, with only a small proportion of meat. Fresh-cut boneless skinless breast or thigh meat is better, and a better value for your money.

I've fed small pieces of breast meat to Little Dude, but only on rare occasions. Usually, once I get my chicken, I marinate it in brine to preserve it and add flavor; once there is some salt in the meat, it's not good for garters anymore.

I have read some of the users mention feeding poultry livers, gizzard pieces, and hearts to their garters.

[MCwyo]

Thanks for the continued input. I'm not sure how I would check if antibiotics & hormones are in the beef. I will try to find out.


Wings are mostly bone, with only a small proportion of meat. Fresh-cut boneless skinless breast or thigh meat is better, and a better value for your money.

Dose wing meat not have as much nutritional value? Cost isn't a factor, because I get them free, but I would not want to feed it if it's not nutritionally healthy. They are fresh cut when I get them, never frozen, though I do put them in the freezer right away when I bring them home. I do not brine or season them.

Hearts, livers, gizzards is a great idea though! Maybe I'll go with that & keep all the wings for the BBQ :D

[Didymus20X6]

It's not that wing meat isn't good, just a lot of trouble, the way I see it. Deep fried and soaked in hot sauce, great. Try to slice it raw from the bone? Sound's like a bit of a challenge to me.

But if you can get them free, and can debone them without too much trouble, I don't see why not.

[katach]

The best way to go when feeding chicken beef or egg is organic. That way you know that they were raised without hormones and chemicals.