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Chicken
Sept 21, 2012 22:00:02 GMT -8
Post by ziggyandgizmo on Sept 21, 2012 22:00:02 GMT -8
I've learned that gerbils are omnivores, and often eat insects. No way am I feeding my gerbils insects. I have heard that they can eat a bit of chicken. I was wondering if this includes white chicken breast from the deli counter or even canned chicken? I am a vegetarian so I won't be buying any chicken pieces to cook up. What other options do I have for protein sources if those types of chicken are inadequate? I've tried cheese. One gerbil ate it, one throw it in his corner and left it there...
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Chicken
Sept 22, 2012 0:20:22 GMT -8
Post by sparky on Sept 22, 2012 0:20:22 GMT -8
Have you tried boiled egg or scrambled egg?
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Chicken
Sept 22, 2012 3:07:04 GMT -8
Post by GeordieGerbil on Sept 22, 2012 3:07:04 GMT -8
I've never heard of feeding them chicken before, but since its not natural to them, I personally wouldn't, I'm not sure though. Why don't you want to feed them insects? Try mealworms, gerbils LOVE them and they're very natural for them. Some people feed them live but I don't like to. You can find boxes of dried mealworms in most pet shops, usually in the bird section.
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Chicken
Sept 22, 2012 6:32:23 GMT -8
Post by ziggyandgizmo on Sept 22, 2012 6:32:23 GMT -8
Haven't tried eggs yet...I'll give that a try.
I am not feeding insects for two reasons: I am a vegetarian so I am not feeding any animal a live insect to have it ripped apart, even if it is natural in the wild. I also get the willies and am creeped out by worms, so I am not buying them, bringing them into my house, and picking them up *shudder*. If I could I would, but I really can't.
I think a lot of the stuff they get as pets is technically unnatural to them as desert rodents. I don't think the deserts of Mongolia have a plethora of sunflowers but almost every gerbil owner I know gives their gerbils sunflower seeds....Pellets aren't natural in the wild, but my gerbils eat them. I could be wrong, but I don't think the desert has dried corn and peas, but my gerbils get them....
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Chicken
Sept 22, 2012 7:28:05 GMT -8
Post by GeordieGerbil on Sept 22, 2012 7:28:05 GMT -8
You can buy already dead, dried worms in pet shops. I don't touch them either, just tip them into their bowl. Could you not use them? I'm a vegetarian too and I'd find feeding dried worms more humain than feeding a dead chicken, but that's just my personal opinion I don't think chicken would do any harm, I've just never thought of feeding them meat before
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Chicken
Sept 22, 2012 8:53:17 GMT -8
Post by ziggyandgizmo on Sept 22, 2012 8:53:17 GMT -8
I hate the thought of any meat in my house, but since I have two carnivorous cats, chicken does come through the door. I am disgusted by worms; I just can't do it. They give me the creeps to an illogical extent, but they do, sadly.
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redsky
Member
Bournville, Marshmallow and Fudge
Posts: 543
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Chicken
Sept 23, 2012 12:03:47 GMT -8
Post by redsky on Sept 23, 2012 12:03:47 GMT -8
They also wouldn't be finding cheese or scrambled eggs... I find all this quite funny. I'd give them a tiny piece and see if they like it. That said I am new to gerbils and have no idea, but if they can eat dairy and chicken eggs don't see why not.
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Chicken
Sept 23, 2012 12:14:42 GMT -8
Post by GeordieGerbil on Sept 23, 2012 12:14:42 GMT -8
I never said that Chicken was unnatural because they wouldn't find it in the wild. I meant that chicken in unnatural since they are omnivores and are advised to NOT eat meat, because their digestive systems are not developed to eat meat, the bacteria could make them ill. It has nothing to do with what they would be finding in the desert.
But I don't know if they can eat chicken or not. If it is cooked properly, I guess I don't see why not.
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Chicken
Sept 24, 2012 17:16:31 GMT -8
Post by ziggyandgizmo on Sept 24, 2012 17:16:31 GMT -8
How can an animal be an omnivore and not be designed to eat meat? Isn't that what an omnivore is--something that has been designed to digest both plant and animal protein?
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Chicken
Sept 24, 2012 17:39:22 GMT -8
Post by GeordieGerbil on Sept 24, 2012 17:39:22 GMT -8
It is, but with gerbils never being fed animal meat regularly, I'd worry that it would be 'foreign' to them, if you know what I mean. I know rats eat meat though so I'm sure it won't do harm. Did you try them with it?
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Chicken
Sept 25, 2012 13:46:07 GMT -8
Post by sparky on Sept 25, 2012 13:46:07 GMT -8
I'm a vegetarian too and have never fed meat or insects to my gerbils. they have had a few brands of gerbil food that contain animal products so they have been getting some that way, and occasionally little bits of egg and cheese. I know there are other posters on here that do feed chicken to their gerbils though.
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