On 6/22/2010 5:36 PM, cshenk wrote:
"cshenk" wrote
"Char" wrote

Agreed. However, until I can locate a stable supply of species
appropriate organ meats, I am working as best as I can. I'm fairly
sure now there are no distributors that I would trust, within a 140
mile round trip of me. I live in a derth zone of this.

Grin, quoting myself but update.

No luck with reliable sourcing for organ meats other than chicken
locally. Not raw ones at least. I'm assuming 'liverwurst' from beef
isn't a good one.

Is there harm is all the organ meats are chicken/duck but the rest
(bones and meats) are other things like pig, beef and some seafood? I
may occasionally see beef kidney or liver but there seems no stable
place for that (more, sometimes we have it). Chitlins (pork) are easy.

Talk to the butcher at your local supermarkets, especially those that
aren't chain stores. They can order you what you want or tell you where
to get it. Also, awhile back we were talking about liver. Many raw
feeders feel that half the organ portion of their diet should be liver.
I have a hard time getting the dogs to eat it at all so I either mix it
in with other things or I resort to searing it on the stove. That is the
only thing I will give in and cook though, and I only do it lightly so
the middle is still very raw.

Is there harm in all organ meats being poultry? I'm not really sure. I
just can't believe you can't find red meat organs someplace. Here all
supermarkets carry some things and the Hispanic ones carry things I'd
never seen before.

Raw feeding is far from an exact science and there are many views on the
right way to feed them. Many people include vegetables for instance
although from all I've read it's just a complication to an uncomplicated
way to feed. Science shows that dogs don't get nutritional value from
vegetables because their digestive system isn't designed to deal with
them. Most don't hurt but some create allergic responses so why flirt
with disaster? Some people feed a lot more bone than others do. Some
feed whole animals, fur and all. Most people do what is called
"Frankenprey" (including me) in which you feed as many different things
as possible in order to imitate eating a variety of natural kills.

Consider getting a small freezer. That way when you find something on
sale or something you don't see much you can stock up. Saves you money
on their food and yours.


LOL, on chitlin's, gave him 2 little 3 inch sections. Cat stole the
second one. Now, we feed 3 (she gets 1). At least my treats are pretty
healthy!

"Char" wrote
cshenk wrote:

No luck with reliable sourcing for organ meats other than chicken
locally. Not raw ones at least. I'm assuming 'liverwurst' from beef
isn't a good one.

Is there harm is all the organ meats are chicken/duck but the rest
(bones and meats) are other things like pig, beef and some seafood? I
may occasionally see beef kidney or liver but there seems no stable
place for that (more, sometimes we have it). Chitlins (pork) are easy.

Talk to the butcher at your local supermarkets, especially those that
aren't chain stores. They can order you what you want or tell you where to
get it.

Best I can tell, it's all cryovac stuff here. Precut elsewhere and only
nominal trimming done locally.

I'm going to go back to the Asian Grocery and peruse harder and see if I can
talk to the cashier who can translate for me to the guy at back who does the
meats and fish portion. The halal store has frozen organ meats of all
sorts, but at 9-14$ a lb. There's only one hispanic store I've located
near, and they don't have much in the way of organ meats. (This particular
area is lower than most I guess on hispanic population).

The Asian grocery indeed does have quite a few different organ meats at
times, but it isn't steady. It is either poultry, or pork based for the
most part.

Also, awhile back we were talking about liver. Many raw feeders feel that
half the organ portion of their diet should be liver. I have a hard time
getting the dogs to eat it at all so I either mix it in with other things
or I resort to searing it on the stove. That is the only thing I will give
in and cook though, and I only do it lightly so the middle is still very
raw.

Been wrapping chicken livers in raw 'bacon' (a local supply of uncured and
unsalted sort but same cut). That works for Cash. It may work for you too?

Is there harm in all organ meats being poultry? I'm not really sure. I
just can't believe you can't find red meat organs someplace. Here all
supermarkets carry some things and the Hispanic ones carry things I'd
never seen before.

Raw feeding is far from an exact science and there are many views on the
right way to feed them. Many people include vegetables for instance
although from all I've read it's just a complication to an uncomplicated
way to feed. Science shows that dogs don't get nutritional value from
vegetables because their digestive system isn't designed to deal with
them. Most don't hurt but some create allergic responses so why flirt with
disaster?

I'm with ya. Cash *likes* green beans (a modicum) as a filler. He prefers
them cooked to soft (or canned in a low salt version) but will eat them raw.
It's the only non-meat item we add or intend to add. LOL, he even has a
preference that they be whole, not cut!

Some people feed a lot more bone than others do. Some feed whole animals,
fur and all. Most people do what is called "Frankenprey" (including me) in
which you feed as many different things as possible in order to imitate
eating a variety of natural kills.

That's my aim. I may not manage goat or emu etc, but sourcing for variety
in parts and such.

Consider getting a small freezer. That way when you find something on sale
or something you don't see much you can stock up. Saves you money on their
food and yours.

Oh I've had one of those since 1988. Various sizes. Current one can hold a
whole cow if you cut off the head and legs. Last one was a commercial unit
where you'd fit one with head and legs but have to fold the legs in (grin).
Left it with the renters for our stint in Japan then replaced it there and
when we came back, gifted the commercial unit to a local soup kitchen run by
a church.

Yes, serious savings on food. Costs 2-3$ a month to run the modern units
and savings are 50$ or more per month. Has a hidden savings for me. When
my back goes out (which it does periodically no matter how careful I am),
there's always plenty of food so I don't *have* to shop.

LOL, on chitlin's, gave him 2 little 3 inch sections. Cat stole the
second one. Now, we feed 3 (she gets 1). At least my treats are pretty
healthy!

Update: You may see a new person in here and some possibly exciting local
news. A local posted in our local freecycle for meats and I didn't know
much other than seems to want to rawfeed (dog has grain alleries was all she
said). I passed her the info about here and your name 'Char' and that i'm
still learning too.

A question specific to her for you. Do you know if it's ok to feed freezer
burn meat to a dog as long as it isn't rotted, just been in the freezer too
long? My instincts say it won't harm but will have lost nutritional value
to some level. Mostly, I suspect it just won't taste very good so they will
avoid it unless really hungry.

On 6/23/2010 5:23 PM, cshenk wrote:
"Char" wrote
cshenk wrote:

I'm going to go back to the Asian Grocery and peruse harder and see if I
can talk to the cashier who can translate for me to the guy at back who
does the meats and fish portion. The halal store has frozen organ meats
of all sorts, but at 9-14$ a lb.

Crazy! I pay 89 cents for beef kidney and about $1.50 for liver. I get
pork scraps for 79 cents.


Also, awhile back we were talking about liver. Many raw feeders feel
that half the organ portion of their diet should be liver. I have a
hard time getting the dogs to eat it at all so I either mix it in with
other things or I resort to searing it on the stove. That is the only
thing I will give in and cook though, and I only do it lightly so the
middle is still very raw.

Been wrapping chicken livers in raw 'bacon' (a local supply of uncured
and unsalted sort but same cut). That works for Cash. It may work for
you too?

I'm always open to suggestions. As I said, this isn't written in stone.


Consider getting a small freezer. That way when you find something on
sale or something you don't see much you can stock up. Saves you money
on their food and yours.

Oh I've had one of those since 1988. Various sizes. Current one can hold
a whole cow if you cut off the head and legs. Last one was a commercial
unit where you'd fit one with head and legs but have to fold the legs in
(grin). Left it with the renters for our stint in Japan then replaced it
there and when we came back, gifted the commercial unit to a local soup
kitchen run by a church.

Yes, serious savings on food. Costs 2-3$ a month to run the modern units
and savings are 50$ or more per month. Has a hidden savings for me. When
my back goes out (which it does periodically no matter how careful I
am), there's always plenty of food so I don't *have* to shop.

We have hurricane dangers here so having a freezer, especially one that
doesn't defrost, can keep you going when nothing is open for days. Been
there done that.


LOL, on chitlin's, gave him 2 little 3 inch sections. Cat stole the
second one. Now, we feed 3 (she gets 1). At least my treats are pretty
healthy!

Update: You may see a new person in here and some possibly exciting
local news. A local posted in our local freecycle for meats and I didn't
know much other than seems to want to rawfeed (dog has grain alleries
was all she said). I passed her the info about here and your name 'Char'
and that i'm still learning too.

A question specific to her for you. Do you know if it's ok to feed
freezer burn meat to a dog as long as it isn't rotted, just been in the
freezer too long? My instincts say it won't harm but will have lost
nutritional value to some level. Mostly, I suspect it just won't taste
very good so they will avoid it unless really hungry.


Yes it is totally fine to feed freezer burnt meat. I did exactly what
your friend did, asked on Freeshare (similar to Freecycle) for old
frozen meat and got quite a lot. They showed no sense of it being any
different than the much fresher stuff and some of it was two years old.
I just usually say that I make my own dog food and don't get into
details about it being raw unless asked. No reason to complicate things
with more details than are needed.

Char

"Char" wrote
cshenk wrote:

I'm going to go back to the Asian Grocery and peruse harder and see if I
can talk to the cashier who can translate for me to the guy at back who
does the meats and fish portion. The halal store has frozen organ meats
of all sorts, but at 9-14$ a lb.

Crazy! I pay 89 cents for beef kidney and about $1.50 for liver. I get
pork scraps for 79 cents.

She emailed back. Quite a string now but she's found the local sources I
was looking for and passed them too me, including a local with green tripe.

If all holds well with my back (it's been complaining a bit past week) on
Saturday I want to got to the places she mentioned and get a load.

All the sources were here, I just couldn't find them from google. I have to
go about 20 miles to the place with the meats i need but that is sustainable
(140 miles wasn't).

Also, awhile back we were talking about liver. Many raw feeders feel
that half the organ portion of their diet should be liver. I have a
hard time getting the dogs to eat it at all so I either mix it in with
other things or I resort to searing it on the stove. That is the only
thing I will give in and cook though, and I only do it lightly so the
middle is still very raw.

Been wrapping chicken livers in raw 'bacon' (a local supply of uncured
and unsalted sort but same cut). That works for Cash. It may work for
you too?

I'm always open to suggestions. As I said, this isn't written in stone.

See if a local area by you has 'uncured bacon'. Also look for any sort of
raw pork that looks to be mostly fat with some streaks of meat. This may be
called 'fat back'. You want the ones not brined or salted but the fresh
version.

Failing that if you do not mind a little trouble, I've cut the skin off a
pork shoulder and used that with success. Cash goes so wild for that, he
will eat anything else in the bowl and not even seem to notice it.

Consider getting a small freezer. That way when you find something on

Oh I've had one of those since 1988. Various sizes. Current one can hold
a whole cow if you cut off the head and legs.

Yes, serious savings on food. Costs 2-3$ a month to run the modern units
and savings are 50$ or more per month. Has a hidden savings for me. When
my back goes out (which it does periodically no matter how careful I
am), there's always plenty of food so I don't *have* to shop.

We have hurricane dangers here so having a freezer, especially one that
doesn't defrost, can keep you going when nothing is open for days. Been
there done that.

Same here. Probably not as hurricane prone as you but we get pretty
frequent influx of 'just under hurricane now' and because most electric is
on poles and we have lots of trees, outages are to be expected. We have a
small home generator that can run the chest freezer, a TV and DVD player, a
few lights, and 2 fans. Not a house unit (nor hooked to it) but we'd be ok
here.

LOL, on chitlin's, gave him 2 little 3 inch sections. Cat stole the
second one. Now, we feed 3 (she gets 1). At least my treats are pretty
healthy!

Update: You may see a new person in here and some possibly exciting
local news. A local posted in our local freecycle for meats and I didn't
know much other than seems to want to rawfeed (dog has grain alleries
was all she said). I passed her the info about here and your name 'Char'
and that i'm still learning too.

A question specific to her for you. Do you know if it's ok to feed
freezer burn meat to a dog as long as it isn't rotted, just been in the
freezer too long? My instincts say it won't harm but will have lost
nutritional value to some level. Mostly, I suspect it just won't taste
very good so they will avoid it unless really hungry.

Yes it is totally fine to feed freezer burnt meat. I did exactly what your
friend did, asked on Freeshare (similar to Freecycle) for old frozen meat
and got quite a lot. They showed no sense of it being any different than
the much fresher stuff and some of it was two years old. I just usually
say that I make my own dog food and don't get into details about it being
raw unless asked. No reason to complicate things with more details than
are needed.

Thanks! She knew the answer already but I didn't know that when I asked
you.