Its been awhile since I asked for advice in feeding Dubious. I was offered good advice then. Here is a link to that post if you want to know the history.Am I feeding her enough??

Dubious has grown to about 7 ft. now. I have been feeding him bi-weekly 2 large rats, and occasionaly a few gerbils or an extra rat between feedings. I am suspecting that I need to increase the volume of food due to the changes in his temperment. He is super-nippy. The past few times I've taken him out to bring him to the room for him to eat, I've had to dodge strikes to my face! The last time, he struck at me a week ago, was when I was trying to get his whole body off of me into the shower where I feed him. As soon as he let go he turned around and stuck at my face. Lucky for me, my boyfriend grabbed me by the waist and pulled me backwards and closed the door. I got a good view of the inners of his mouth. They are incredible. I have decided to wear a paintball mask this time I feed him. I do not want to get bit in the face. If I cant figure out how to handle him I will have to consider finding him a new home.

I would feed him something larger, such as chickens, but they are not available where I live. Does any one have advice? What am I doing wrong. I've decided to feed him weekly so that I can eventually handle him for reasons other than feeding, but it just seems like he is always hungry. Advice anyone?

rather then chickens try rabbits, and rather then feeding him yourself try getting a 2nd or even 3rd person to hold him, at this point if you havnt handeled him alot it will begin to show. Rehoming him at this size could be rather hard, since hes not even to his halfway point growth wise.

Rabbits are very expensive. I myself would not eat a rabbit. I grew up with pet rabbits. I would much rather feed him chickens because they are cheaper, they come from an egg, and they are not so cute and cuddely. Why don't I ever see whole frozen chickens for sale on-line?

you dont see them online prob cause ive never heard of anyone feeding chickens to their snake, only rabbits and im not so sure chickens would be as healthy for a snake as a rabbit would be

I have heard of lots of people feeding their burms live chickens but not frozen.

hm, maybe youll have to buy some live ones and co2 em then freeze em

Many people feed their larger snakes poultry in additon to the rodents as a cost cutter. However poultry does tend to make the feces much looser and more odorous!
I also know of people that will feed turkey legs. They tie the turkey leg to the leg of the rodent and let the snake swallow both.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

We feed our burmese several different items.
See if you can find some jumbo rats and feed atleast 2 at a time. All our snakes get fed once a week especially those that are under 15 feet. We find feeding weekly prevents having to feed larger prey. Many companies offer, g. pigs, bunnies, rabbits, jumbo mice, and yes you can occasionally feed chickens. Unfortunately the chicken do not supply all the nutrition the snake needs.
Thanks
Pets Are Us Rescue

Good to know. I certainly don't want to deal with anything loose and smelly. The turkey leg idea is disturbing, yet an ingenious idea when you think about it. I suppose the turkey legs are f/t? Do they but them at the grocery store? And what do they use to tie the turkey leg to the rodent?

When the snakes are over 15 feet, does their appetite slow down?
I appreciate the info regarding the lack of nutrition in poultry, but how do you know how much nutrition chickens provide compared to the other animals you mentioned? Is there some sort of nutritional analysis of chickens, g. pigs, rats, mice, rabbits...etc. available? Someone must have researched this and if not, maybe I'll be the first.

I've got some very annoying cats that i'll send you. Goodluck with the feedings, don't get bit, and if you do, take some pictures to remid people of the power of large snakes....it'll be educational.

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