Feeding raw chicken

[Fi1805]

I would like to feed Isla on a raw diet but unfortunately we don't have a big freezer, just a couple of drawers in the fridge, so I am limited as to how much meat I can store.

I am wondering if giving her a few chicken wings or thighs each day would be better than nothing at all?

And does chicken need to be frozen and defrosted before feeding it?

Oh, and one more question... She is teething at the moment so would this be a bad time to start any raw? So far she hasn't had an upset tum but I'd like it to stay that way

[jesterjenn]

Originally Posted by Fi1805

I would like to feed Isla on a raw diet but unfortunately we don't have a big freezer, just a couple of drawers in the fridge, so I am limited as to how much meat I can store.

I am wondering if giving her a few chicken wings or thighs each day would be better than nothing at all? I personally think it would be better than nothing, but be aware that kibble and raw digest at VERY different rates (I can't remember what they are though sorry)

And does chicken need to be frozen and defrosted before feeding it? I don't necessarily freeze any of my meat before giving it - the only reason I freeze it is so that it doesn't go bad. I feed frozen chicken wing tips to my two with no ill effects. They get their chicken carcasses as thawed as they are at the time they're fed.

Oh, and one more question... She is teething at the moment so would this be a bad time to start any raw? I think it'd be ideal as it would give her something to gnaw on So far she hasn't had an upset tum but I'd like it to stay that way

Have answered in bold

[Chip Chesterfield III]

Originally Posted by Fi1805

we don't have a big freezer, just a couple of drawers in the fridge, so I am limited as to how much meat I can store.

I got a really good condition freezer off gumtree for £40.


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[Fi1805]

Originally Posted by jesterjenn

Have answered in bold

Thank you for your advice - some good tips there. I think I read a post by Stuart that raw digests more quickly and he recommends feeding in the morning. Will have another scroll through to see if I can find it.

Originally Posted by Chip Chesterfield III

I got a really good condition freezer off gumtree for £40.


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I'm not sure that we have the space for a freezer, although I have been pestering the OH to get one and stick it in the garage. He complains about pushing the electricity bill up though! I'm fighting a losing battle!

[claire_88]

I think raw digests in 4 hours......and kibble digests in 10 hours........

Sometimes i feed chicken without freezing it. Usually because i'v forgotten to pull some out the night before so they get a supermarket special :P

[Stuart]

Feed you raw food in the morning, and the kibble last meal, that way the two foods dont mix in the gut, it might never cause a problem, but it could.

Chicken is good, but why stick to chicken, there are lots of meats that you can get from the supermarket,.. mix and match, then if one item is in short supply Isla is happy to eat something else,

If you get the food from the likes of the suppermarket, then it is human grade food, and shouldnt need freezing other than for you own managment.....[I always make a point of freezing everything, but I have two freezers]

[LindaM]

We bought a second hand chest freezer - always to be had in various sizes.

You can separate raw food for Isla and your food hygenically and buy bargains. When something is on half price or BOGOF I buy what I can afford and I put in the outside freezer - which if you have seen another post I can't get to because the garage has turned into a wood shed but that's another story.

I think the only food you would HAVE to freeze is roadkill or wild animals because of possible parasites/worming. Alison (Raven) and some of the others will keep you straight. I buy and beg from a very good butcher and don't freeze first and he doesn't deal in frozen meat either. I think if it is fit for human consumption if it was cooked, then it can be fed raw without freezing but I could be mistaken.

It is interesting to know how long each takes to digest.

[Chip Chesterfield III]

Originally Posted by Fi1805

He complains about pushing the electricity bill up though! I'm fighting a losing battle!

I drive 7 miles to pick up the food, so I reckon only going once every 2 months instead of every week more than pays for the freezer.


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[Fi1805]

I'd like to get a chest freezer, if I can persuade the OH then I'll look at gumtree to see if there are any bargains going.

I'll have to have a wander down the supermarket meat aisles to see if there are any bargains. That will be an experience for me as I'm a veggie! Am not squeamish or funny about giving dogs meat, I'm just not very familiar with what to buy.

If I give her some chicken for a week and then give her some other meat for a couple of weeks, can she go straight back onto chicken next time or should each meat be introduced gradually each time? Sorry that's a bit of an unclear question, hopefully somebody understands it!

She already has cooked chicken when we are training with no probs - that's why I thought I'd start with chicken. She also has liver cake sometimes - we've used chicken, pork and ox liver and she's been fine.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by LindaM

It is interesting to know how long each takes to digest.

Depending on what you are feeding raw, it takes about 4-5 hours to digest, where as kibble takes about 10 hours to digest, this is why its probably best to feed the raw in the morning and kibble as the last meal of the day