Frozen Reptile Food: Frozen Chicks

What are Frozen Chicks?
 Frozen Chicks are frozen day-old chicks that have been blast frozen for feeding birds of prey, large carnivorous reptiles, such as snakes, and other animals. These best quality chicks are available in packs of 1,2 5 or 10.

Frozen chicks taste very different to mice and other frozen mammals and are often used for fussy feeders, to get them into a habit of eating again after illness or pregnancy. The chicks are delivered straight to your door and are kept on dry ice to ensure freshness. Buying your reptile's chicks in frozen form is easier, allowing you to store larger quantities of food in your freezer to defrost at your convenience when your reptile is due a feed.

How should I prepare frozen chicks for my pets?
Once you receive your chicks it's important that you place them in a freezer to keep them in good condition. You will need to defrost the chicks carefully when you are ready to feed your pet, and then serve them in your terrarium or vivarium. This integral process can be difficult as you must be careful to avoid salmonella and entice your pet into feeding.

Most snakes and other reptiles may not be interested during your first attempt with defrosted food and you may need to practice to discover the best way to feed them. Some pets will need their food warmer, not chilled, and others may prefer a different type of food like quail. For additional information, check out our guide on defrosting and feeding.

What should I be aware of when handling frozen food?
Handling raw food, whether frozen or thawed, can pose the risk of salmonella contamination. It's key that you store frozen reptile food away from human food, wear gloves, defrost at room temperature on newspaper or paper towels, and thoroughly disinfect any equipment or surfaces that the food comes into contact with, along with washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after using.