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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2011 19:03:10 GMT -5
So ever since stopping feeding chicken livers (Re: arsenic) I've been having a really hard time getting the girls to eat enough liver, and I've always had trouble getting them to eat enough kidney/other organs so I'm looking for some new ideas. The girls are NOT a fan of beef organs (and can you blame them, beef liver and kidney smells AWFUL  ) and despite covering them in pumpkin, oil, and tasty raw soup they will only sort of lick the livers and kidneys and still won't have anything to do wih the beef ofal patties. They are picky about pork too. Will sometimes eat the pork kidneys, and are kind of iffy about the pork livers. Any other kidneys besides beef and pork that are readily availible? I am going to be picking up some turkey livers (no arsenic) and see if they like those (they LOVED their chicken livers) but they don' really like turkey hearts or meat as much they like chicken hearts and meat so I'm worried they won't eat enough turkey liver either. Is their any other types of organs I can try? What about other commerical organ patties (that aren't beef)? I haven't seen any... but if anyone knows of any, let me know! I am still feeding some chicken hearts because I just can't get them to eat enough pork and turkey and beef heart otherwise either. I will keep looking for organic chicken livers and hearts but they aren't easy to come by here. If I can't get them to eat enough other livers or hearts... is it really so bad to keep feeding them the non-organic chicken livers and hearts? Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be feeding my girls arsenic, but if it's been happening for years anyways... what's worse? That or them not eating organs?  Thanks  Any ideas are appreciated! |
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Post by Sherry on Jun 26, 2011 19:32:16 GMT -5
Maybe lamb? About all I can think of that you haven't posted.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2011 19:55:15 GMT -5
Hmm I wonder if you can get lamb organs anywhere, maybe a butcher? thanks for the idea |
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Post by joclyn on Jun 26, 2011 22:34:40 GMT -5
they might not eat the beef because they know it's going to upset their systems...that was the case with most of mine! they were resisting it and then did eat it and quite a few threw it up (both organ and muscle). i tried veal instead (baby beef) and still saw the same thing. so i don't give beef at all now.
that really does make it difficult since those are what is most readily available in most grocery stores!
other kinds of poultry like turkey, duck, quinea hen, etc, are an option - finding them is the problem.
lamb and goat would also be options - again, finding them is the problem.
a store that is only a butcher shop is the best bet. if you have big oriental or mediteranian (egyptian, syrian, turkish, etc) population in or near where you live, butcher shops that cater to them would be somewhere to check out. most will be willing to order these items for you and you may or may not pay highly - really depends on the proprietor...
local farmers markets are another place to try - anyone selling meats is probably amendable to selling the organs as well; it's just a matter of asking them.
also, any small farms that raise any of the target animals, if they're decently close to you are another option.
i found a small farm within 1/2 from me that sells grass-fed lamb as well as free-roam turkey and guinea hens. big plus for us here as we, all of us (me, ferts, cat), love lamb! and, everything is totally organic!! lol, it's a dream come true!!
anyhoo, the site i used to find them has listings for canada as well as all the continental u.s. states...
here's the link to canada locations:
www.eatwild.com/products/canada.html
and, for those located below the border, here's a link to the main page - just click on your state:
www.eatwild.com/products/index.html
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Post by Sherry on Jun 26, 2011 23:50:58 GMT -5
Now that's an idea, carpetsharks! Check out some of our local farmers markets. I know the Amish farms sell chickens there. Not sure about livers, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2011 0:03:52 GMT -5
What fabulous ideas! Thank you both!  I actually have local farmer's market that's just a five minute drive from my house so I will definitely be checking that out! Thank you for the links too Joclyn! I will be going on an organ expedition tomorrow night or the next day  I told my new boyfriend that if he wants to earn brownie points, he'll drive me all over the city looking for organs   . (Actually he's seen the girls from the beginning and is the one who drives us to the vet for 3 hour visits where Sophie sleeps on him and he secretly loves them, well he says they've "grown on him"   ) Hopefully I will be able to find some good ones this week! |
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Post by katt on Jun 27, 2011 2:08:28 GMT -5
Ask around at local butchers. Also, check Asian markets.
Look for Halal Meat, or African markets - they carry a lot of lamb and goat ("Halal meat" IS lamb and goat) and will often order organs for you if you request it. IME they are small privately owned stores so it might take some serious searching to find them, but so worth it when you do!
Also, what about some commercially ground meats? I know there are some places online that you can order organ patties like your beef, but in pork and other animals.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 27, 2011 9:04:46 GMT -5
And we definitely have a good number of halal butchers here. I've been meaning to hit them for the cheap(er) lamb!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2011 9:52:03 GMT -5
Kahlua is the only one of mine that will eat a hunk of liver (beef or otherwise) so I generally blend them into a raw soupie, its like they dont even notice the difference. It also allows me to add eggshell if needed to keep their stools firm
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2011 11:09:03 GMT -5
Good idea about the butchers And the raw soup idea is a good one too. Unfortunately my girls aren't a huge fan of soup. They'll eat it when they aren't feeling well if I hand feed it to them, but otherwise they prefer solid meat chunks and meat in its more natural form.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2011 14:06:11 GMT -5
I don't know organ wise what you'll find, but I feed mine duck hearts and they LOVE them (then again, my guys LOVE any kind of heart). That and rabbit organs (I don't think that was on your list? I might be wrong - if so, sorry!).
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Post by joclyn on Jun 27, 2011 15:41:11 GMT -5
i have a correction to make - no offense intended - just want to be accurate
halal meat is virtually the same as kosher meat - the animals are treated in a certain manner during butchering, by the guidelines set by the particular religion and the process is overseen by their holymen who are certified to make sure that all the needed conditions are met during the process.
any kind of meat that is allowed to be eaten per the religion will be processed according to the guidelines - there are some differences between the various religions as to what is acceptable to eat (as well as why).
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jun 27, 2011 15:43:09 GMT -5
carpetsharks get them used to the soup now because nothing is worse than having a sick ferret that won't eat soup!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2011 17:39:05 GMT -5
I love the idea of duck hearts and rabbits organ, it's just a matter of finding them. And they do actually really like raw soup miamiferret, but they'll only eat it if I hand-feed it to them because they don't like to get their whiskers wet. I've tried it on plates, bowls, everything, but they'll only eat it out of a syringe or out of my hands or if it's frozen in ice cubes (which I do try to offer once a week as treats to cool down in the summer and so they keep a taste for it). I seriously have the most diva ferrets ever. Anytime they get anything on their whiskers, they freak out, shake their heads, and roll around. Sophie especially hates eating off of dishes/plates so I have to either hand her the meat, or position it so its hanging over the side. Divas I tell you, Divas!   Either that or they just have me  |
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Post by Sherry on Jun 27, 2011 20:43:50 GMT -5
Either that or they just have me BINGO!!!! ;D |
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