Can rats eat chicken?

Yes, but only thoroughly cooked and a little: rats can eat chicken. The PDSA lists small pieces of lean meat among occasional treats. The University of Minnesota mentions lean cooked meats. Woodgreen suggests boiled chicken on the bone, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says cooked soup bones are a favorite of rats. The Swiss animal welfare society (STS) also lists meat as a protein source.

How to serve it: lean, unsalted and thoroughly cooked, a portion the size of a chicken heart (Zürcher Tierschutz)

Good to know: The Zurich animal welfare society (Zürcher Tierschutz) says rats on a good commercial mix don’t need extra animal protein, so offer it only as an exception, at most once or twice a week in small amounts. If you make your own grain mix without animal ingredients, the society says each rat must get a portion of animal food twice a week, varying the foods. The society also says meat, fish and eggs should always be unsalted and thoroughly cooked to avoid illnesses caused by germs and parasites.