The number of people adding a pet rat to their family is higher than ever right now and this really is great to see!
It is surprising just how quickly public opinion on keeping pet rats is shifting due to so many videos on social media showing rats being cute and loving going viral.
As the number of people adding a rat to their family increases, the number of questions that we see the rat keeping community asking is also increasing.
Over the last couple of months, there really has been a surge in the number of people reaching out and asking various questions about keeping a pet rat with most people wondering about different food options for them.
One thing that we have seen people asking about time and time again is if rats can eat chicken bones or not as a large number of rat keepers have shared photos and videos on social media showing just how much rats can enjoy chicken bones.
Giving rats bones is controversial but this is usually due to people not understanding the differences between giving rats and dogs bones so we wanted to publish this article on the topic to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
Is It Normal For Rats To Eat Bones?
It can be normal for rats to eat bones in the wild depending on the type of bone as bones can be an excellent source of calcium for the rat as well as containing other trace vitamins and minerals.
The marrow in some bones can also help to supplement the diet of a wild rat too offering a valuable source of calories.
Now, for a domesticated pet rat, bones are not usually used for their calorie content as a pet rat usually has a good diet anyway but the bones can still be a good source of calcium.
In addition to that, most pet rats seem to really enjoy chewing on bones as a source of entertainment rather than just using it as a source of nutrition.
As we touched on earlier in the article, there are a number of different videos on social media showing just how much pet rats seem to enjoy eating smaller bones like chicken bones.
Can Rats Eat Chicken Bones?
Rats can eat chicken bones but unlike a dog that will usually crush a bone, the majority of rats will simply gnaw at a bone making it much safer to give a pet rat a chicken bone to eat.
The gnawing reduces the chances of both raw and cooked chicken bones splintering and causing problems with the rat’s digestive system making it much safer to give your rat a chicken bone.
In addition to this, most rats will usually not eat the full bone as a dog might.
Most rats will gnaw at the ends of a bone until they become softer and then only eat the softer part where as other rats may not even eat the bone and just gnaw at it for flavor or for any meat left on the bone.
This is where so many rat keepers make mistakes as they seem to presume that their pet rats are actually eating the full bone by crushing it similar to a dog that could cause problems with the rat eating the bone.
Thankfully, this really is rarely the case and in most situations, you should easily be able to give your pet rat a chicken bone without having to worry.
Still, we would usually recommend that you do your best to monitor your rat the first couple of times you give it a chicken bone to eat to see how the rat reacts to the chicken bone.
The Advantages Of Giving Your Rats Chicken Bones!
There can be some advantages for giving your rat chicken bones as, like we mentioned earlier, the bones are an excellent source of calcium for your rat.
This is especially important if you have a female rat as during pregnancy and when nursing, she will need more calcium in her diet to ensure that both she and her babies are healthy.
Another advantage is that chicken bones can provide your rat with some essential vitamins and minerals too including phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
In addition to that, giving your rat a chicken bone can also help to keep its teeth healthy and sharp as the act of gnawing on a chicken bone can remove any plaque that may have built up on the rat’s teeth.
This can be extremely important as if plaque is not removed, it can lead to gum disease which is a serious problem in pet rats.
Finally, chicken bones can help to keep your rat entertained as most rats seem to really enjoy chewing on them.
This can be especially important for pet rats that are kept in smaller cages as it can help to keep them from getting bored which can lead to a number of different health problems.
Of course, there are some disadvantages too which we will touch on later in the article.
The Disadvantages Of Giving Your Rats Chicken Bones!
There are some disadvantages of giving your rat chicken bones but thankfully, they are usually not that serious.
The first disadvantage is that chicken bones can be a choking hazard for pet rats.
This is usually only a problem if the bone is too big for the rat or if the rat tries to eat the bone too fast and ends up swallowing it whole.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to only give your rat chicken bones that are small enough for it to easily chew on and to supervise your rat when it is eating the bone.
Another disadvantage of giving your rat chicken bones is that they can cause constipation in some rats.
This is usually only a problem if the rat is not drinking enough water or if the bone is too big for the rat to easily digest.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to make sure that your rat has access to fresh water at all times and to only give it chicken bones that are small enough for it to easily digest.
Finally, chicken bones can also be a source of Salmonella which is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning in humans.
This is usually only a problem if the chicken bones are not cooked properly or if they are contaminated with other bacteria.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to make sure that the chicken bones you give to your rat are cooked properly and to wash your hands after handling them.
When Should You Avoid Giving Your Rat Chicken Bones?
There are certain times when you should avoid giving your rat chicken bones and the most obvious time is if your rat is pregnant or nursing.
This is because chicken bones can be a source of Salmonella which can be harmful to the developing babies.
Another time when you should avoid giving your rat chicken bones is if your rat is not drinking enough water.
As we mentioned earlier, chicken bones can cause constipation in some rats and if your rat is not drinking enough water, this can lead to serious health problems.
If you are not sure whether or not your rat is drinking enough water, it is always best to err on the side of caution and avoid giving it chicken bones.
Finally, you should also avoid giving your rat chicken bones if it is already overweight or obese.
This is because chicken bones are high in calories and fat and if your rat is already overweight, giving it chicken bones can make the problem worse.
If you are not sure whether or not your rat is overweight, you should ask your veterinarian for advice.
How To Give Your Rat Chicken Bones Safely
Now that we have covered the advantages and disadvantages of giving your rat chicken bones, it is time to give you some tips on how to do it safely.
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the chicken bones you give to your rat are cooked properly.
Raw chicken bones can be a source of Salmonella so it is important to make sure that they are cooked all the way through.
The second thing you need to do is make sure that the chicken bones are small enough for your rat to easily chew on and digest.
If the bone is too big, it could be a choking hazard or cause constipation.
Finally, it is important to supervise your rat when it is eating the chicken bone.
This is to make sure that it does not choke on the bone or eat too much and get constipated.
If you follow these tips, giving your rat chicken bones can be a safe and healthy treat.
Should You Give Your Pet Rat Raw Or Cooked Chicken Bones?
When it comes to giving your pet rat chicken bones, there are two main options: raw or cooked.
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages which we will discuss in this section.
Raw Chicken Bones
The first option is to give your rat raw chicken bones.
The main advantage of giving your rat raw chicken bones is that they are a good source of calcium.
Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth and it can also help to prevent health problems such as osteoporosis.
Another advantage of raw chicken bones is that they are easy for your rat to digest.
This is because the bones have not been cooked which makes them softer and easier to break down.
However, there are also some disadvantages to giving your rat raw chicken bones.
The first disadvantage is that raw chicken bones can be a source of Salmonella.
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning in humans and it can be harmful to developing babies.
The second disadvantage is that raw chicken bones can be a choking hazard.
This is because they are hard and your rat could choke on them if they are not careful.
Finally, raw chicken bones can also cause constipation in some rats.
This is because they are high in calcium which can make the stools harder and more difficult to pass.
Cooked Chicken Bones
The second option is to give your rat cooked chicken bones.
The main advantage of cooked chicken bones is that they are not a source of Salmonella.
This is because the bacteria is killed when the bone is cooked.
Another advantage of cooked chicken bones is that they are softer and easier to digest.
This is because the cooking process makes them more brittle and easier to break down.
However, there are also some disadvantages to giving your rat cooked chicken bones.
The first disadvantage is that cooked chicken bones can still be a choking hazard.
This is because they can splinter and your rat could choke on them if they are not careful.
The second disadvantage is that cooked chicken bones can still cause constipation.
This is because they are high in calcium which can make the stools harder and more difficult to pass.
So, Should You Give Your Pet Rat Raw Or Cooked Chicken Bones?
The answer to this question depends on your individual rat and what you feel comfortable with.
If you are concerned about Salmonella, then you may want to stick with cooked chicken bones.
However, if you are not concerned about Salmonella and your rat seems to do well with raw chicken bones, then you can continue feeding them this way.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you and what you feel comfortable with as both options have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to giving your rat chicken bones.
ultimately, the decision of whether or not to give your rat chicken bones is up to you but we would usually recommend only giving them to your rat occasionally as a treat.
If you do decide to give your rat chicken bones, it is important to supervise your rat while it is eating them and to make sure that the bones are small enough for your rat to easily chew on and digest.
