CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => Feeding => Topic started by: sharonmansfield on February 06, 2010, 03:58:17 PM

Title: chicken drumstick
Post by: sharonmansfield on February 06, 2010, 03:58:17 PM
Now I know we can feed chicken wings I have recently started to do that now that I know they are safe. My girls loved one each night but for some reason my local Morrisons does not seem to have any in but they have plenty of chicken drumsticks, are these safe to feed?
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Karma on February 06, 2010, 05:29:20 PM

They should be, yes.

Generally when raw feeding you should avoid weight bearing bones, as these can be tougher.... however as chickens tend to be pretty young when they are slaughtered, chicken drumsticks don't cause a problem.  Honey has had them on occassion.

 :D
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Ian Wright on February 06, 2010, 05:36:45 PM
I allways thought Chicken bone would choke a dog  :huh:
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Helen on February 06, 2010, 05:37:23 PM
cooked chicken bones are a no-no but raw are fine  ;)
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Ian Wright on February 06, 2010, 05:41:45 PM
cooked chicken bones are a no-no but raw are fine  ;)

Thank you will get some for Grace
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: bluegirl on February 06, 2010, 06:07:11 PM
I feed chicken drumsticks and they're fine, but I prefer thighs or full legs because there is more meat on them. I often find a couple of drumsticks or wings will firm up their poops much more than the thighs or full legs.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: sharonmansfield on February 06, 2010, 06:10:52 PM
I allways thought Chicken bone would choke a dog  :huh:

Ian I was always of that opinion too until I read on here that lots of people give raw chicken wings, my dogs love them.  :D

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Annette on February 07, 2010, 12:09:05 PM
Just to encourage you to let your dogs have chicken wings:

When we took Buddy to the vet straight after his 30 days on kibble in the quarantine station, he told us that he might need to have his teeth descaled soon. And they were awful!

Well, two weeks on, lots of wings and a few marrow bones later, he is back to white shiny chompers!!! I am so pleased.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Carol09 on February 07, 2010, 03:14:22 PM
sorry, don't mean to sound thick but are we talking a Chicken Wing, raw, with skin, straight out of a packet off the shelf type thing?  Also I think Jay would be ok as he's 1, but what about a 5 month old GSDx?
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: bluegirl on February 07, 2010, 03:23:43 PM
sorry, don't mean to sound thick but are we talking a Chicken Wing, raw, with skin, straight out of a packet off the shelf type thing?  Also I think Jay would be ok as he's 1, but what about a 5 month old GSDx?

Yes we are although some people like to freeze all raw meat / bones then defrost before giving to dogs.

Both dogs should be fine with them, my pups were capable of munching through wings and thighs before they moved on to their new homes so can't see any reason why a 5 mth old GSD x can't handle them. Just watch if its your first time, some dogs won't touch them and some seem like they are going to swallow them whole they just can't get them down quick enough. I've found with the later a good pair of pliars firmly attached to the flappy end piece slows the dog  down, just release when they are nearing the pliars!! Another trick is to put the wing, thigh or leg in a plastic bag, get a hammer and bash 7 shades out of it until all the bone is in tiny bits then take out of bag and just give to the dog.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Carol09 on February 07, 2010, 03:28:23 PM
sorry, don't mean to sound thick but are we talking a Chicken Wing, raw, with skin, straight out of a packet off the shelf type thing?  Also I think Jay would be ok as he's 1, but what about a 5 month old GSDx?

Yes we are although some people like to freeze all raw meat / bones then defrost before giving to dogs.

Both dogs should be fine with them, my pups were capable of munching through wings and thighs before they moved on to their new homes so can't see any reason why a 5 mth old GSD x can't handle them. Just watch if its your first time, some dogs won't touch them and some seem like they are going to swallow them whole they just can't get them down quick enough. I've found with the later a good pair of pliars firmly attached to the flappy end piece slows the dog  down, just release when they are nearing the pliars!! Another trick is to put the wing, thigh or leg in a plastic bag, get a hammer and bash 7 shades out of it until all the bone is in tiny bits then take out of bag and just give to the dog.

Jay would fit into the category of 'can't get it down quick enough'. I may have to bash the chicken to death then :005: Still learning so bare with me, but what is the reason behind freezing then defrosting?  Is it to kill bacteria?  but I would have thought fresh is better?  You see newbie to all this :lol:
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: sazzysue on February 07, 2010, 03:39:53 PM
I only freeze mine because I get a big bag of bones from the butchers in local town, there's usually enough in them to last the month, I just bag them up individually freeze them and defrost when needed
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: bluegirl on February 07, 2010, 05:01:21 PM
 To kill bacteria and worms. That said most of the meat I use is bought for human consumption, although they do eat fresh kill from shoots.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: rickann on February 07, 2010, 08:40:21 PM
We only freeze them so they don't go off. We feed  them frozen with  no problems.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: mlynnf50 on February 11, 2010, 02:38:47 PM
I know someone who feeds them frozen to her dog.. is that ok? and could I do that with my new 12 week old?
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: vixen on February 11, 2010, 03:24:20 PM
I know someone who feeds them frozen to her dog.. is that ok?
I also wonder about giving the chicken wings frozen   :huh:
I purchased some on Monday, gave the dogs one each and froze the rest.
Today I got them out and gave the dogs' the frozen chicken but it didn't seem right somehow  :huh: so I snatched them from their mouths and am presenting waiting for them to thaw before giving them to the dogs   >:(
Is it O.K. to give them frozen solid? :huh:
I am just so wary  :-\  as you are always being told to thoroughly thaw chicken.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: MacTavish Boys on February 11, 2010, 03:41:27 PM
George and Hamish often have their chicken wings frozen, if i have forgotten ph34r  to take them out of the freezer, the only difference is, that it takes them slightly longer to chew through :D no ill effects suffered by either of them. ;)

Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Karma on February 11, 2010, 05:44:27 PM

Yep - plenty of people feed frozen, especially in the warmer weather!!!  :D
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: bluegirl on February 13, 2010, 02:51:28 PM
I don't feed frozen food because I've found mine are more likely to be loose after being given meat that may still be a bit frozen. May be just peculiar to mine bunch. Again just personal to me I see frozen chicken bones in the same light as cooked may splinter easier so just wouldn't do it, especially for bones such as leg bones which mine get quite regularly.
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: Karma on February 13, 2010, 03:18:24 PM

Just to add, while I know of plenty of people that DO feed still frozen, and I haven't heard anyone say there is a risk of splintering (though I know exactly where you are coming from on that one, Bluegirl!), there have been people who have suggested that feeding still frozen food may increase the chance of bloat...

Generally avoid giving it frozen if they have just been racing around in hot weather, as a rapid change is internal body temperature has been linked to some cases of bloat - this is far from a proven cause, but thought it was worth passing on so everyone had as much information as possible!
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: scoobysue on February 13, 2010, 03:53:41 PM
i got some wings on thursday from morrisons and plucked up the courage to give marley and maisie one each although i made other half hold them and threw them away when they got to the flappy bit .my two loved them and will deffo get them again :D :D
Title: Re: chicken drumstick
Post by: SkyeSue on February 17, 2010, 11:24:29 PM
I have been giving Chloe chicken wings (from the chickens I buy for my own consumption) for quite a long time. She absolutely loves them. However, I can't buy them in any of the shops here, so I took advice from COLers who said that it wouldn't be too drastic if I gave her drumsticks....so she gets them (or thighs) 2 or 3 times (as a meal) a week now. She scoffs the whole lot :lol: