Eggs are convenient, inexpensive, and a good source of protein. Because of this, many people who own bearded dragons think of feeding them to their pets.
My question is, do bearded dragons eat eggs?
Everything you need to know about the effects of eggs on your bearded dragon, including the best technique to prepare them, is included in this guide.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Eggs?
Bearded dragon owners often contemplate supplementing their pets’ meals with eggs because of their attractiveness. Eggs have the appearance of being the ideal food. They are nutrition dense, readily available, and inexpensive.
Is it true that bearded dragons will devour eggs?
Standard chicken eggs are safe for bearded dragons to consume. The catch is that they can only do so moderately.
How Often Can You Feed Them Eggs?
Despite the many benefits of eggs, keep in mind that bearded dragons have a very different digestive system from humans. Although eggs may be a regular part of your morning routine, feeding them to your bearded dragon might be fatal.
Although while bearded dragons can consume eggs, it’s best to restrict their intake.
Bearded dragons should adhere to a once-every-other-week egg feeding schedule. Keep the meals to around half an egg during those infrequent feedings. More than that, and you may end up with health issues that may have been prevented.
Eggs are great because they provide a lot of protein. Bearded dragons, being omnivores by nature, do best when fed a mixture of animal and plant products. Feeder insects are often used as a source of protein. The good news is that eggs make a great substitute.
Around 6 grams of protein may be found in a big egg. Bearded dragons, whether young and old, may meet all of their nutritional requirements on half of an egg.
The protein helps with growth and immunity and keeps your muscles and organs working properly. Also, it offers a surplus of energy for your lizard’s continued activity.
The vitamin content of eggs is also noteworthy. Eggs are a good source of protein and vitamins A and B12. Skin health and immunity are both enhanced by vitamin A. Vitamin B12, meanwhile, helps keep your metabolism going strong and gives you a mental edge.
Vitamin D may also be found in abundance in eggs. Vitamin D is necessary for bearded dragons because it allows their bodies to make and use calcium. These lizards need it to prevent crippling skeletal issues without it. That’s why you can buy so many calcium and vitamin D pills.
Getting your Vitamin D from the sun may do a lot to keep your health in check.
Why It’s Important To Limit The Number Of Eggs You Feed Them
Eggs seem like they should be part of a balanced diet on a daily basis since they contain so many essential elements. The bearded dragon is an exception to this rule.
The best thing about egg breakfast is also the worst thing about it. Eggs’ protein content is helpful, but only in moderation. Juvenile dragons may benefit greatly from this since they need protein levels of up to 80% as they become older.
But, you may already be providing your reptile with a sufficient amount of protein via other means. Your bearded dragon is receiving enough of protein from the various items it eats, whether they be crickets or commercial food.
Bearded dragons may benefit from the additional protein provided by periodic egg snacks. However if you do this often, your bearded dragon may develop symptoms of amino acid overload.
It may come as a surprise, but eating too much protein is really bad for you. Unwanted weight gain raises the danger of diabetes and heart failure in your bearded dragon.
The liver may have complications from attempting to eliminate the surplus of amino acids. Consuming an excessive amount of protein might lead to fatty liver disease. Liver failure might result if treatment is delayed.
How To Feed Eggs To Your Bearded Dragon
Bearded dragon egg care requires more planning than just providing fresh produce. In order to successfully cure your lizard, you will need to properly prepare the eggs.
The good news is that it doesn’t need any special cooking abilities on your part.
Source High-Quality Eggs
Obtaining the proper eggs is a prerequisite.
The eggs you buy at the grocery store should be alright. Eggs from chickens that were not kept in cages are also acceptable. Use big eggs for convenience in sizing. Overfeeding may be avoided and progress can be monitored using this system.
Bearded dragon keepers often treat their pets with quail eggs on special occasions. The nutritional value of quail eggs is comparable to that of chicken eggs. Your bearded dragon will like these. Because of their little size, however, a whole egg need not be broken in two before being presented as a sacrifice.
Perform A Visual Inspection
After collecting your eggs, give them a careful once-over with your eyes. The majority of store-bought eggs undergo rigorous inspection before being sold to customers. Some bad apples do manage to get through, however.
Keep an eye out for any debris or physical changes that stand out. Throw the egg away and obtain a new one if you suspect anything is wrong. When it comes to letting your bearded dragon have eggs, it’s advisable to err on the side of caution and high standards.
Cooking The Eggs
Raw eggs are not good for bearded dragons, despite common assumption.
Heat destroys many beneficial compounds in food, hence heating is often discouraged with regards to foods that are high in nutrients. Nevertheless, eggs are not like the others.
Bearded dragons are highly susceptible to the germs found in raw eggs. There is no benefit to serving uncooked eggs. Prepare them for service by cooking for a minute.
There are many options available to you. Hard-boiling the eggs is the simplest method of preparation. Put the eggs gently into the boiling water.
The eggs should be cooked for around 12 minutes. The yolk should be as opaque as the rest of the egg.
You may also jumble them if you want. Make a scrambled egg by cracking one egg into a bowl and then cooking the mixture in a pan. Making an omelet for someone else is exactly the same as preparing one for yourself.
Preparing & Serving
Wait a few minutes to eat your cooked eggs so that they may reach room temperature. Divide them up accordingly. Keep in mind that bearded dragons should only be given half an egg once a week at most.
After you’ve settled on the proper serving size, slice the fried egg into little pieces. While eggs aren’t very hard, their rubbery texture may make them challenging for your lizard to consume. Choking may be avoided by cutting the eggs into smaller pieces.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Hard Boiled Eggs?
Boiled eggs are safe for bearded dragons to consume. In fact, it’s a great method to get them ready to eat!
The high heat of boiling eliminates any microorganisms that might affect your lizard’s digestive system. It also makes the food more chewy and enjoyable to consume.
Be careful to give the eggs a good long boil. The eggs cannot have soft yolks. The eggs should be peeled and chopped as well.
Throw away the shells, since your bearded dragon might get impacted if it attempts to consume them.
Can Bearded Dragons Eat Scrambled Eggs?
Scrambled eggs are also suitable for bearded dragons’ diets.
Just watch out that you don’t throw in any other random food item with the eggs. This includes no herbs, spices, veggies, or oils.
Scrambled eggs and a variety of prepared greens are a good addition. But, the items shouldn’t be cooked together.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons may benefit from include eggs in their diet (as long as you stick to the recommendations above). We’ve found that giving our bearded dragons a little piece of egg once in a while is a huge hit with them.
Please let us know if you have any questions or comments on include eggs in your bearded dragon’s current food plan.