Good ways to serve bones?

[Goshinki]

I'd like to give my rats some large chicken bones to gnaw on. I thought that it would last then a lot longer if I boiled the remaining meat/grizzle off the bones and then let them dry in the sun for a few days. However, now I am wary about bacteria, if that is a legitimate concern when it comes to bones. What's the healthiest way to give them to rats that alway ideally can stay in the cage for a while?

[cyber ratty]

Chicken bones won't stay in the cage for very long with 5 hungry young girls - they will make them vanish completely. You could put the whole meaty carcass left over from your roast dinner in, don't boil it, it'll be very good for them, and a few days later there'll be nothing to see, so there's no need to worry about bacteria having a chance to flourish. (y)

[[cub]]

I've never had a problem just chucking bones in and leaving the rats to it. The bits most likely to go off are also the tastiest – meat, other soft tissues, marrow – and so they'll be the bits that get eaten first. The only bits that my rats leave are the outer layer of pork rib bones: they like to split ribs in half lengthways and hollow out the middle, leaving the outer shell which is both very hard going and also doesn't really go off. So I wouldn't worry. Maybe rinse off any sugary or spicy sauces, but that's all the prep you need to do. Rats do eat their own poo after all!

[izzerie]

I echo what the others have said, if you bung in a chicken carcass without any prep then it won't last long

[acapae_wolf]

The bits most likely to go off are also the tastiest – meat, other soft tissues, marrow – and so they'll be the bits that get eaten first. The only bits that my rats leave are the outer layer of pork rib bones: they like to split ribs in half lengthways and hollow out the middle, leaving the outer shell which is both very hard going and also doesn't really go off

This part especially for bones in general that aren't fowl. I have left bones like this in the cage for weeks if not months. They're very slowly nibbled, but there's nothing to go off so it's fine. Just a more natural chew toy.

[Amzy]

I literally just chuck bones in