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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 19:09:58 GMT -5
Feeding raw can be both ridiculously expensive and relatively frugal. I've intended this thread to focus on the general ways to minimize cost without sacrificing quality at all. This is what I've come up with so far, feel free to discuss! - Buying in bulk. It's no secret that buying half a hog instead of individual cuts is probably going to save you money. Or a large quantity of chicken parts from a local butcher instead of buying it in a supermarket. I've heard that in the US, it's also possible to join CSAs!
- Going to ethnic supermarkets. You'd find things weird and wonderful in Asian grocery stores, and even halal butcher stores that stock things your average supermarket just simply won't.
- Going for the cheap cuts. Hanger steak, chuck steak, etc. all go for a lower price than your average prime cut.
- Raising your own flock. Chickens, ducks, and even rabbits are apparently pretty efficient livestock to have on hand. Rats and mice too, if you're *just* feeding your ferret and not yourself along the way.
Wholesalers tend to sell meats with injected saline solutions to 'enhance' the products, so I've omitted that. How else do you guys do it?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 19:37:08 GMT -5
What is a CSA? im having troubles finding what I need in one area supermarkets don't carry the organs I need, and the butchers are just as bad, (they think im psycho when I ask for organs lol)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 19:59:07 GMT -5
I'm thinking he's talking about co cops maybe?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 19:59:55 GMT -5
A CSA is an acronym for a Community Supported Agriculture. It's a scheme where you pay a fee to secure what's essentially a share of a farmer's produce. If the weather's really nice and everyone helps out, you could get a bumper harvest! But like any business, you might find yourself down on luck when the conditions are bad and everyone loses out. Same applies to livestock farms.
Lol, how do you ask for organs at the butchers? The proper term for it would be 'offal', but it's probably too unpopular in your area for it to be stocked. I wandered into a few vendors that stocked Indian/Asian goods and they had a nice little section that sold things like stomach and kidney, so I'd imagine you'd find something. If all else fails, buy it online - even for online shops that market to other pets like dogs or reptiles.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 20:06:58 GMT -5
Too expensive to buy online. The butcher know what offal is it seems as he said he provides food for some raw dog feeders he told me. I actually read about something similar to a CSA here in NH but it's a long drive from me. I can get some organs at my local asian market, but they're over priced and not the best selection.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 6:57:23 GMT -5
how ironic, offal lol I can try that theres a few weird markets in Biddeford I can also try, yurei- what part of NH are you in? have you found any good stores in your state? I need to open my horizons, im running out of options over here in ME lol
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 7:03:49 GMT -5
I live in Nashua, which is on the border with MA.
ME is probably a wasteland in terms of ferrets, oi. I've only heard of one rescue up there. NH is little better, we only have one rescue as well.
I buy my offal right now from an asian market in town, Saigon. There's a butcher, Bare Bonez in Amherst that's willing to special order me cases of organs by the 50lb supposedly. I bet The Meat House would as well, they're a chain, they might have a location closer to you. There's a meat slaughter house in Goffstown I think but they don't have a retail store, you basically have to call and request what you want and pick it up, IF they carry what you want. They don't have things like rabbit or quail. They have beef, chicken, pork mostly from what I recall the lady telling me and limited selection of RMB/Offal. I found quail eggs at Market Basket here, I suspect Shaw's or Hannaford might also have them if you have any of those chains up there. Or stop and shop.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 7:10:35 GMT -5
my bestfriend is from Nashua, small world lol. Yea I know maybe 2 other people who have ferrets ive actually had older folks ask me "what the h*ll is that?!" hahahah. ive been trying butchers, and they say they don't carry organs.. and I wouldn't even begin to know where to find qail, ive checked Hannaford and shaws and they both basically have pork, beef, chicken and livers. Ugh, I can try the meat house, and im pretty close to market basket in like Rochester ill try there, thanks
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Post by Sherry on Jul 6, 2013 9:38:01 GMT -5
When you are buying your own groceries, check for sales, last day meats etc. Myself, I'm able to buy simple grinds such as meat and bone by the 25lb case. they are done in 8oz patties. I also buy turkey heart and liver by the 20lb case. Those I grind and mix in.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2013 10:08:33 GMT -5
Unfortunately the last-day sales in the UK aren't as great as they should be. For most still-edible but must-process-quickly-before-it-goes-bad - they're taken down to around 70% of original price. If it's bad enough to be highly oxidized and pretty much 'ripe', then it's at a 40% or less price. I figure if it's bad enough that *I* wouldn't touch it, it's probably bad enough that it's not great for a ferret to eat... even if they have ridiculously strong stomachs.
Also, doesn't using pre-ground eliminate the dental benefits of raw?
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Post by Sherry on Jul 6, 2013 14:20:33 GMT -5
I do one meal a day of grinds, one meal of whole meats. I have a couple who won't eat enough bone and another 3-4 who won't eat organs unless hand fed. Given the time constraints doin both ensure their needs are covered If one is to feed entirely ground then you are right- dental benefits are negated.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 19:24:47 GMT -5
I have found here in las Vegas even if I go to a specialty butcher shop I cannot get anything but would be considered even slightly unusual unless I order it in large quantity even from a butcher. I have actually had more luck at Asian and Hispanic markets for some organs. No great deals there but available. Oddly enough the Walmart nearest my house right on the edge of a bad neighborhood has the livers hearts and things like chicken feet. And it's a lot cheaper over there.
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Post by FerretsnFalcons on Jul 24, 2017 20:25:58 GMT -5
@harleyrockabillygirl, if you have not gone to the International Marketplace yet, I highly recommend it. I used to get stuff there when I fed frankenprey. What's available often changes so there are no guarantees, but I have found chicken liver, pork liver, pork uterus, pig blood, pork kidney, chicken hearts, beef tongue, chicken feet, pig ears, pork heart, frog legs, duck, geese, chicken, rabbit, quail, quail eggs, cornish game hen, goat chunks, fresh whole fish, as well as your usual cuts of beef, chicken, and pork.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 20:48:09 GMT -5
I have a few more asian and Hispanic markets to hit this week for research, but I think I might screen shot your post as an easy shopping list LOL
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