Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chicken? | Protein Source Caution 2024

Bearded dragons can be excellent pets and they follow all the indoor rules that most pet owners lay down in their homes. In return, you must give these reptilians the correct diet and a loving environment so they can thrive. If you got a bearded dragon recently, you might have asked the same question, can bearded dragons eat chicken? There is a short answer to this question, No! They can’t eat chicken. However, there are numerous equally nutritious options.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chicken

Bearded dragons are reptilians, and their cold-blooded physique has exclusive requirements. These creatures thrive on protein and fiber, but you cannot feed them chicken due to their slow metabolism. If you got your bearded pet as an infant, you would have to focus on their calcium and mineral intake in the initial months, so they grow well. Moreover, you cannot give them dairy items like milk or cheese as their bodies do not produce lactase to digest it.

Chicken is high in protein, and while it is an excellent food for humans, your pet might not take it too well. Reptilians like bearded dragons can develop Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) if they are fed chicken more than once in two months! This occasional feed is also if pet owners insist on feeding these bearded pets a cube or two. Otherwise, it is best not to give dragons any chicken meat at all.

MBD is a dangerous condition that can end in low mobility, paralysis in dragons, and even death! All pet owners must know what is suitable for their dragon pets as they have distinct and limited permissible foods. However, if you stick within the allowed foods range, there is no way that this bearded dragon will not become a friend and an adorable part of your family. While chicken has all good nutrients like protein and vitamins B6 and B12, it also has phosphorus. This element is fantastic for humans, but the delicate digestive system of reptilians as phosphorus can impact the absorption of calcium.

What Happens If Dragons Eat Chicken

Calcium is an essential nutrient for bearded dragons as it helps in digesting food and maintains muscle, bone, and tissue health. If there is not enough calcium in the diet of your bearded dragon, it can get ill. There are numerous symptoms of MBD, which are red flags for pet owners.

If you have been feeding chicken to your pet dragon, watch out for the following symptoms:

• Constipation
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Breaking bones
• Difficulty in moving or paralysis

If you look out for any calcium-rich foods, there has to be a check on the phosphorus content as well. The latter has to be low for the calcium to work efficiently and help the bearded dragon grow! The heavy amounts of phosphorus in chicken make it an unfavorable, rather dangerous food for dragons.

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Chicken Eggs

Many new pet owners assume that if chicken is forbidden, chicken eggs might be off the menu for bearded dragons. However, eggs are acceptable for dragons as they do not have a high calcium-phosphorus ratio. You can serve cooked eggs to the dragons, and they will gobble them up in no time! You can scramble or boil eggs and break them up into tiny pieces. Bearded dragons somehow like the taste and smell of eggs, and you can maximize their protein intake by serving them. Also, you would like to read Can Bearded Dragons Eat Eggs.

What Kind Of Foods Are Allowed For Bearded Dragons

The main sources of protein for your dragons include insects and veggies. You can feed adult bearded dragons a sufficient amount of worms, roaches, and other insects that they can savor while getting their daily nutrition. Moreover, green vegetables and some colorful fruit can be good choices for bearded dragons. If you feel that all vegetables and fruits are acceptable for bearded pets, that is not so! Some fruits and vegetables have the same impact that chicken has and, therefore, are forbidden.

The acceptable foods for bearded dragons are:

• Vegetables like capsicum, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, beet greens, collard, green beans, and more
• Bearded dragons can eat numerous fruits including dates, apricots, figs, watermelon, papaya, peaches, and mangoes

Conclusion

Bearded dragons are reptilians with a slow metabolism and cannot eat numerous foods that are too heavy or do not contain the proper nutrients. Chicken can cause serious illness in dragons, and it is best to avoid this meat at all times. If you want to feed your bearded dragon nutritious foods, stick to vegetables, fruits, and insects. These bearded pets will thrive if you provide them with the right things, and in the case of a chicken dose, the bearded dragon may show numerous symptoms that cannot be ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give my bearded dragon chicken broth?

It is best to avoid all kinds of meaty treats for your pet dragons. Soups and broths are not advisable for bearded dragons as they do not digest phosphorus-rich foods. However, if you use a small amount of broth to sprinkle on the vegetables, the meaty aroma can be enticing for your bearded pet!

Will my bearded dragon die if it ate a chicken piece two days ago?

Bearded dragons cannot digest chicken well, but there is no need to worry if it ate just a piece and is fine after that. Chicken is not poison, but it can slow down or paralyze the bearded dragon! While we do not encourage such occasional feeds with chicken bits, we can tell you that if the bearded dragon ate a tiny piece of chicken once, it would survive this.

What kinds of foods are unacceptable to bearded dragons?

Chicken meat should be stricken off the shopping list if you planned to buy it for your pet dragon. Apart from this, some vegetables like spinach, romaine, and broccoli are not advisable. Moreover, fruits that are entirely off the menu are avocados. Try to avoid these fruits and vegetables since their nutritional value is not acceptable for bearded dragons.