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Post by cubsfanhaynes on Sept 21, 2011 12:25:54 GMT -5
Corri and I are going to discuss it this weekend, but I am considering acquiring a commercial grade grinder (est cost $90-$200).
I have talked to my stepfather and he says the grinder should have no problem with non-weight bearing bones (chicken legs the exception to the weight bearing rule).
I would like to work with members on developing a grind that we can share amongst ourselves and perhaps market to each other.
Our fuzzies have no trouble eating whole raw food, but they always seem to prefer organ mush and chopped; so I conjured this idea as a "why fight it" resolution.
I have regular access to the following:
Beef Heart Chicken Liver Venison Heart (regular access during deer season) Venison Liver (regular access during deer season) Venison Kidney (regular access during deer season) Chicken Pork Beef Venison (regular access during deer season) Turkey Trout (whole) Chicken Back Bones (Spine, Ribs, etc) Chicken Leg Bone Chicken Wing Bone
What I'd like input on is percentages, mixing meats, extra supplements, adding trace amount of olive oil, etc.
Thanks everybody!
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Post by Heather on Sept 21, 2011 13:45:57 GMT -5
If you're going to do this...I would avoid all supplements, oils and additives. All these are unstable and freezing compromises them. Pure meat, bones, organs...that's what counts. You could even add pumpkin and that would be ok but I would avoid any additives. Just my opinion of course. Neat idea by the way Good start for a coop ciao
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Post by Sherry on Sept 21, 2011 15:21:20 GMT -5
It's a great idea! And buying in bulk is going to make it even cheaper. I'd also avoid all additives. I buy Urban Carnivore simply because it IS just meat/bone/organ. Almost all the rest of commercial grinds out there have other stuff in them, and I'd prefer to add my own, thank you very much ;D
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2011 18:26:44 GMT -5
Nice thinking! And looks like your going to have a good range Just sick with the meat, bone, organ ;D
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Post by cubsfanhaynes on Sept 22, 2011 13:17:31 GMT -5
I had a thought on my grinds, it would make them about $3 more expensive privately and $5 more expensive commercially per pound.
I can get a 3 pack of adult feeder mice for $6.49 at Petco, what if each 1lb grind had an adult mouse instead of pumpkin? Would the fur not serve the same purpose as the pumpkin?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2011 13:46:39 GMT -5
Just a thought - if you plan on using whole prey, check these people out. They offer free shipping on $100+ orders to TN. They also have a greyhound pickup option ($30 minimum order + $0.30 per lb). There's a $10 charge for dry ice (all orders). Petco is basically charging you $2.16 per mouse. 50 adult mice cost $30 ($0.60 each) and weighs about 5 lbs. So thats $30 for the mice + $10 for ice + $1.50 for per lb = $61.50 for 50 mice That's $1.23 per mouse (almost a 50% savings). At Petco you couldn't even buy 30 mice with $61.50 at Petco To answer your question, yes the mice would be able to replace pumpkin, but It would take a lot more mice to equal a small amount of fiber (mice are like 5% fiber, pumpkin is 100% fiber).
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Post by cubsfanhaynes on Sept 22, 2011 14:33:01 GMT -5
Hmm, what is a fairly tasteless meat? Something that wouldn't overpower mouse? Now you have me thinking about a whole mouse grind, but I'd need something to bulk it up with mice are lean.
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Post by corrij on Sept 22, 2011 14:54:44 GMT -5
If I remember right chicken breast is fairly bland. That might be good for bulking it up.
I think I remember reading/hearing that some ferrets stop eating chicken breasts because they have so little flavor. And for the same reason they are good for sick fuzzie. I may be wrong though?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2011 15:37:31 GMT -5
You're correct - mine don't prefer breast so I use it for soups or bulking up meals. Also good for sickles
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