What Do Milk Snakes Eat?

what do milk snakes eat

If you’re wondering what do milk snakes eat, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for information on what they eat, including Rodents, Birds, Eggs, and Lizards. You’ll soon learn why this type of snake is such a great pet choice. You may have seen these snakes in wild settings, but you’ve probably never heard of one that is kept in captivity.

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Contents

Rodents

Although milk snakes can eat a wide variety of small mammals, they prefer rodents that are frozen or thawed. You should feed your milk snake mice or small rats if you have a hatchling or a juvenile. Adult milk snakes need one meal per foot of length. However, you can also feed your pet pre-killed baby chicks or quail.

Birds

Although not legal to feed to milk snakes, they are known to eat birds. In order to provide your pet with nutritious food, you should consider purchasing dead or live birds to give them. Milk snakes also enjoy eating rodents and the eggs of those animals. Although their preferred prey varies, they all share the same hunting strategy. Among other things, milk snakes eat birds, rodents, and insects.

Eggs

Despite its name, the milk snake is not a type of bird. As a youngster, they feed on lizards and small mammals, including birds, and as they mature, they switch to eating other snakes and their eggs. These snakes are also capable of attacking other dangerous birds of prey, such as rattlesnakes, although large eggs may be more difficult to swallow. If you’re interested in raising backyard chickens, consider making your coop predator-proof.

Lizards

The milk snake is a beautiful reptile that is commonly mistaken for coral snakes. Although they are considered to be venomous, they are actually carnivorous, and will eat lizards, small mammals, fish, and eggs. Their blood contains venom-neutralizing properties, which make them the perfect prey for humans. Although they do not drink milk, they will feed on other animals’ eggs, including chickens, rats, and rodents.

Small fish

Milk Snakes are nocturnal and hunt for prey. Depending on their size, these reptiles will eat a wide variety of foods, but their favorite foods are insects, small fish, and even other small snakes. When they are young, they feed on small insects and may even eat smaller snakes. If they are bored and do not touch the food, they may just be bored.

Other snakes

Milk snakes are small serpents that live in forests, prairies, and rocky outcroppings. They also live in barns and prefer dark environments. Despite their name, these serpents are not commonly associated with cows or milk. In fact, milk snakes are usually found slithering on the forest floor or hiding under rocks. These animals do not usually attack humans, but they are often a threat to livestock.

Bird flesh

Milk snakes often feed on bird flesh. They can jump and swim to reach nesting birds. When hungry, they will also attack the eggs of other snakes and birds. Although this type of snake does not drink milk, they do eat birds’ eggs. They can be found in many rural areas. In fact, milk snakes will sometimes even attack a rattlesnake. But don’t get too excited. This species is not dangerous, but they can still bite you.