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Post by ladyhawk on Apr 29, 2012 14:06:34 GMT -5
Okay, so far the search for the organ meats has been disappointing locally  At this time I have a blender and dehydrator. I need to have the raw soup ingredients on hand before applying to the mentoring program . I am very interested in making the order for needed ingredients at Hare today. However I got to thinking if I order things like the pre-ground meats, bone and organ mix; it's going to arrive frozen. I don't think even slightly thawing, then refreezing so I can portion is a good idea. I see they sell this mix as small as 1 pound. I could get a few of those. Plus I planned to order hearts and livers. Is this the best idea for this course? Any other ideas? |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 29, 2012 14:26:09 GMT -5
I buy in bulk where possible, defrost in the fridge, repackage in serving sizes, and refreeze on a regular basis! The problem comes in where you are defrosting and refreezing several times, or when it sits in a freezer long enough to get freezer burn. As long as you are regularly rotating the old meat for the new on top, it's fine  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 14:29:48 GMT -5
Refreezing is fine. Try to avoid doing it to often though  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 16:16:09 GMT -5
They suggest you partially thaw then use something like a band saw to cut portion sizes then refreeze and thaw and serve.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 16:17:12 GMT -5
As far as what to order, heart, liver kidney, pancreas.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 29, 2012 17:30:21 GMT -5
Not having a bandsaw, I thaw pretty much thoroughly for grinds. With chunks or whole meats I tear them apart as they thaw enough. With something like a whole bird, again- I have to pretty much let it thaw entirely to cut it apart.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 17:43:22 GMT -5
Who keeps a bandsaw in their kitchen o_0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2012 19:27:29 GMT -5
A serated knife works too lol
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Post by goingpostal on Apr 29, 2012 19:52:13 GMT -5
Thawing and refreezing is fine, I do it with pretty much everything I feed. The hare today stuff comes in one pound blocks and I use one of those ulus to chop through it while it's still partially frozen, organs are so much easier and not so gross when frozen. Big stuff like turkeys, rabbits I thaw out, chop, refreeze. My kids hate ground stuff, won't touch it at all.
Usually my orders from hare today are every kind of heart, some kidney, whole quail, duck and rabbit chunks, whatever I can't get locally. For just making raw soup I just buy some chicken and grab a gizzard pack, throw in the hearts and some liver, once they were eating chicken, turkey, beef and pork I made an order for more exotic stuff and organs/heart. I ordered some taurine and bone meal powders so they weren't missing out in the beginning too.
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Post by ladyhawk on Apr 29, 2012 21:45:54 GMT -5
OK! Thanks so much for all the great replies! I'm glad to hear that thawing in the fridge until I can cut is okay! I wanted to be able and portion the raw soup in ice cube trays(the silicone BPA free type). I figure in the beginning there will be a lot of waste until they like it. Hate to WASTE anything! I have a couple good knives...NO saws....YET! Hehehehe ;D This order will organs from birds and the ground meat. I can do the egg shells , but would like to order a trustable Bone meal. Any suggestions on web sites and brands for the Bone Meal? |
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Post by Sherry on Apr 29, 2012 21:47:26 GMT -5
For the soup, do the ice cube trays, and then baggie the cubes. Take one out at a time until they are taking it willingly from your finger or a spoon. MUCH less waste that way |
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Post by ferretlove67 on May 4, 2012 23:19:40 GMT -5
you get more for your buck for packing that order full IMO. Shipping costs won't outweigh the ordering then. You can get the soupy stuff all up to the whole prey from there. I feed 8 so my orders run me into the 300.00 range plus i do rodentpro as well. Needless to say my freezer is CHOCK full BUT they do go through a lot. They have their days they love fopr ex rabbit but i'll feed pheasant with some feathers ground with so get that in, get some goats milk or greek yogurt IMO and add a bit to the soupy mine love it and some plain pumpkin for them to digest well i.e. no hairball remedy. Works like a charm! Depending on how much you feed will be your challenge to choose. I'd certainly aim for a 100.00 order for 2 ferrets IMO as an example. Aim for the soupy things and get some other 3 protein sources as well as organs. Mine eat goat, rabbit, pheasant., mice, chicken, goose, turkey, duck, beef heart, kidneys, pancreas, chicks as treats, rabbit babies as treats<--- they would take a finger off I fear for that one lol.... all kinds of hearts and livers, they love it! in moderation of course, normal chicken if you can't find reasonably priced, they love the duck feet as treats, list goes on. But, I would get the soupy things plus additional and HT is great, i thaw and refreeze all the time in moderation. I consider three semi good thaws the max. Mine eat quite a bit a day but have gotten slower. Good luck and you'll do great! |
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Post by ladyhawk on May 17, 2012 9:25:45 GMT -5
Ok...as I said things got bumpy for one of my Kids. real nasty ear infection. Here I was filling out the application for Mentor, under health problems say adrenal but doing well with Desi, other wise healthy.
But..he is doing good so today I want to add pureed whole rabbit into their normal soup. Guess I'll see what happens! Will they turn a nose at it...gobble it...I'll see!
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