Raw - do you have to let it defrost

[Mooshi's Mummy]

So every once in a while I give my two a leg or thigh of raw chicken and they LOVE IT! Im not a raw feeder for the simple reason that I cant afford to feed two large mutts purley raw here in the UK, its just too damn expensive. The other weekend I bought a whole chicken and cut it in to eights to make a scrummy lemon, garlic and honey roast chicken, this left the back and neck unwanted so I chopped that in half and gave to to Bear and Moo, it was gone in seconds. This weekend just passed I bought a pack of 12 drumsticks for a couple of quid (dollars) and put them in the freezer with the idea of taking a couple out each weekend so they can have one each on a sunday. Then I wondered if it wouldnt last them a bit longer if I gave them to the dogs frozen. Kinda of like a chickenpop. Do you always have to defrost? Clearly my knowledge of Raw is close to nothing so look forward to you raw feeders to lend some advice.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Thats going to depend on you and the dogs and the chicken. I don't generally suggest feeding raw frozen solid, it DOES make it harder and I worry about their teeth. Having said that, Apollo has gotten the occasional frozen drum with no harm done, and to be fair chicken bones aren't very hard to begin with. I have to note though that instead of lasting longer when I did that, they were usually gone in half the time, and yes, he DID chew them....

 

[NeSaxena]

I agree with Ruth on the time bit. I always thaw the chicken before giving it to Boone, but make sure it is still icy cold. That's the only way he takes his time - if he can shred the meat off the bone. Otherwise, it is a crunch crunch gulp, probably all of 3 seconds!

Anything boneless, I give half frozen (like beef). By the time he finishes the outside to get to the middle, it had thawed out. Otherwise, it just goes down the hatch!

 

[angelbears]

I don't feed frozen, I worry about breaking a tooth. Also, my dogs are not use to the cold and have to go out in the heat right after eating, I'm not sure what cold food would do to possibly upset their tummy. On the other hand to totally contradict myself, the dogs love ice cubes. If you already let them have hard chew bones, then I wouldn't think that frozen would not be all that different.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Thanks Ruth, I will defrost in the hopes they last longer...my two seriously love raw and I really wish I could afford to feed them raw all the time but sadly isnt going to happen so they will just have to be happy with their Sunday treats. Im really suprised with Bear as well as he has a soft mouth and I didnt think he would eat raw in a million years because of the bones but he is loving it and gobbles it down faster than Mooshi.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Thanks everyone!! No frozen chickenpops for my two.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I don't know how you usually defrost them, but if you put them in a baggie, and set them in the sink under a dripping cold water faucet they'll be halfway defrosted in a fairly short period of time (hour-ish).

 

[angelbears]

Debra will boil up chickens to feed to the kids while she is eating(to nasty to feed raw, while your eating too). She will skim the top of the stock and get all the good stuff and freeze them in ice trays and give them as treats.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Mmmm that sounds like a good idea, chickensickles. In the summer I buy low sodium chicken stock powder and make a weak solution and put that in popsickle moulds and then give them to the dogs, they love them and needless to say they dont last long.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I usually do fruit and yogurt pops for Apollo, but maybe I'll do some chicken broth ones too this year lol

 

[musicdeb]

I have to sear all of the Titan's meat before he will eat it so it's never frozen. However, I give him frozen chicken feet.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Titan - ya spoiled bugger. LOL

 

[musicdeb]

I hear ya! He's very spoiled and high maintenance. I created the high maintenance.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

They're all spoiled and high maintenance one way or another, we are all guilty of loving our babies and I wouldnt have it any other way!

 

[musicdeb]

Amen sister!

 

[jenny adams]

mooshi's mum i get a lot of meat for my 3 from car boot meet man he keeps it all frozen on the van its all human food i get 4/5 800-1000g hole chickens for 5 quid i got 10kg stake for £20 15-20 large chicken breasts £20 pork chops/joints lamb legs/copes i domt know if there is one near you worth having a look

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

good idea jenny. do you have a big freezer you keep it all in? how long does it last you and how many do you feed raw? how much a month do you spend? sorry for all the questions, hope you dont mind answering but i do like your idea and would like to know more.

 

[jenny adams]

i am feeding 1 full raw, the puppys have 3-4 raw days a week, yes a freezer for them. i spend £50-£60 every 3-4 weeks + a 12Kg bag of canagan dry for the puppys at £54 in the same time so about 100 to 140 a month. its not cheep but i pay for having the babys i have fond one at
Gotham Car Boot
Leake Road
Gotham
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
NG11 6QJ
don't know if that's close to you its worth a look

 

[angelbears]

What's a car boot man?

 

[Hector]

My dog gets bad gas and tummy aches from eating meat that's too frozen. It needs to be semi thawed for him.