I just started feeding chicken backs, but I understand they are bony and may contribute to constipation. Is it alright to feed boneless, skinless chicken breasts? I am thawing one right now and I have no idea how much it will weigh once thawed or how much to give them. Nugget has not pooped yet today and I worry she is taking in too much bone.
4 posters
Chicken breasts ok?
Giselle- Posts : 50
Join date : 2009-05-24
Location : Cape May County, NJ
- Post n°2
Re: Chicken breasts ok?
Hi, Nicole!
Yes, you want to feed the whole chicken, breasts as well as legs, backs as well as wings, heart and gizzards. Hold off on introducing the liver for awhile.
Chicken is a bonier meat than I'd recommend to feed forever, needs meat added to it, but it makes for a great starting out meat.
Bone adds bulk and makes poops firm.
Since raw is species appropriate, it is more bioavailable and there is less waste.
Less Waste = Less Poop!
Poop should reflect what you fed - remember, there are no artificial poop firming ingredients in raw, unlike kibble. More bone, harder/firmer poops. Less bone, softer poops.
Chicken tends to produce lighter tan/yellowish colored poops than other meats. Organs and heart produces darker, softer, even runny poops.
All are normal for what is fed.
If the poop comes out whitish, very hard, sandy or crumbly - you're feeding too much bone. Then you know to add more meatymeat.
Less frequent poops and less volume, too.
Yes, you want to feed the whole chicken, breasts as well as legs, backs as well as wings, heart and gizzards. Hold off on introducing the liver for awhile.
Chicken is a bonier meat than I'd recommend to feed forever, needs meat added to it, but it makes for a great starting out meat.
Bone adds bulk and makes poops firm.
Since raw is species appropriate, it is more bioavailable and there is less waste.
Less Waste = Less Poop!
Poop should reflect what you fed - remember, there are no artificial poop firming ingredients in raw, unlike kibble. More bone, harder/firmer poops. Less bone, softer poops.
Chicken tends to produce lighter tan/yellowish colored poops than other meats. Organs and heart produces darker, softer, even runny poops.
All are normal for what is fed.
If the poop comes out whitish, very hard, sandy or crumbly - you're feeding too much bone. Then you know to add more meatymeat.
Less frequent poops and less volume, too.
nbloch64- Posts : 35
Join date : 2009-07-07
Location : Denver, CO
- Post n°3
Exactly what I needed!
Thank you so much for the information and reassurance. I think his stools are perfect and very small, I might add - such a change from kibble (no smell either)! I will give them a breast tonight and then go get some whole chickens and chop up some goodies. I was planning on staying with chicken for at least a few weeks and then moving on to something like pork or beef. My local meat market gets exotic meats, great fish and organic chicken. I am very excited about all of this and what a great change it will be for my babies.
Kelly- Admin
- Posts : 400
Join date : 2009-02-15
Location : London, Ontario
- Post n°4
Re: Chicken breasts ok?
Good plan to stay with chicken for a few weeks first, that will allow their systems to get used to the changes before you add in richer, fattier meats and organ.
nbloch64- Posts : 35
Join date : 2009-07-07
Location : Denver, CO
- Post n°5
Doing awesome on chicken
I have been giving Jedi a back with breast meat in the morning and evening. I am giving Nugget a back with breast meat in the morning and just breast meat in the evening. I gave them both an egg twice this weekend and they ate that too, although Nugget left the shell and Jedi ate the remains. I made an excel spreadsheet with all the weights of the meat I am feeding them and the percentages of bone (estimated) and meat and everything seems to be working out great. I went to Costco and picked up some breasts and the meat in one breast was far more than was provided at the butcher so I had to adjust my spreadsheet, but it makes it much easier to know what to give them. I have it set up now, so I plan on making a page for each protein source I feed them. My goal is to be able to track the portions properly so I can adjust if necessary if they gain or lose too much weight or if their stools indicate an overabundance of one item. So far, so good. I was telling a few friends about the raw diet this weekend and one wants to start her dogs on it, but she doesn't think she can handle all the raw meat and preparation (isn't that much) so she wants to go with premade patties. My other friend has no desire to move his dog off kibble so I am not going to push, but my dogs will be the testimonial to the wonders of raw feeding because they look great already after being on it a week! I am so happy they are on a raw diet now! Thank you to everyone for your continued assistance and advice. This is great.
nbloch64- Posts : 35
Join date : 2009-07-07
Location : Denver, CO
- Post n°6
Chicken breasts with bone
I would like to switch from giving chicken backs to chicken breasts with bone in. I was able to find the bone percentage in chicken backs fairly easily, but not so much with the breasts. I cut apart a few last night and it appears to be about 2:10 bone to meat ratio for bone-in breasts. I am just wondering if that will provide enough bone for the dogs.
Kelly- Admin
- Posts : 400
Join date : 2009-02-15
Location : London, Ontario
- Post n°7
Re: Chicken breasts ok?
Isn't a bone in breast mostly cartilage? I dunno.. you could try for a few days, see if they get loose stools and there's your answer.
nbloch64- Posts : 35
Join date : 2009-07-07
Location : Denver, CO
- Post n°8
Re: Chicken breasts ok?
I may stick with the backs for now for bone source then and just use the breast for meat. They have been doing very well on the current feeding regimen. Jedi seems to be constipated today so I will probably alternate evening backs for him and provide more meat.
Heather- Posts : 237
Join date : 2009-02-17
Age : 37
Location : O'Fallon, MO
- Post n°9
Re: Chicken breasts ok?
Kelly wrote:Isn't a bone in breast mostly cartilage?
Bone in breast has bone and some cartilage but not as much bone as say, a leg quarter.