Raw Feeding Again: and I'm not sorry!

[Rhona W]

OK I know I'm being way too anal about it all but....   
I've bought some mince and I've whizzed up the veg. Now what ratio should I mix it to? 100g of mince to ??g veg. 
Please be gentle with me - it is my first time. 

a dollop ?

Is that heaped or level? 

[Penel]

OK I know I'm being way too anal about it all but....   
I've bought some mince and I've whizzed up the veg. Now what ratio should I mix it to? 100g of mince to ??g veg. 
Please be gentle with me - it is my first time. 

a dollop ?

Is that heaped or level? 

that depends on how steady your hands are 

[Rhona W]

that depends on how steady your hands are 

Well that would depend on how many glasses of wine I'd had! 

That large mixing bowl of veggies that I've whizzed up will last me for ages at a dollop a go. 

[Cob-Web]

that depends on how steady your hands are 

Well that would depend on how many glasses of wine I'd had! 

That large mixing bowl of veggies that I've whizzed up will last me for ages at a dollop a go. 

Its worth freezing it if you can, the nutrients only last 2 or three days maximum once "whizzed", so I tend to freeze all mine into ice cube trays as soon possible and then take out cubes as I need them 

[Rhona W]

Its worth freezing it if you can, the nutrients only last 2 or three days maximum once "whizzed", so I tend to freeze all mine into ice cube trays as soon possible and then take out cubes as I need them 

Yep! That is my job for this morning after I've walked the dogs and before I pick daughter up from gym. I've bought 8kg of mince from PAH and 200 freezer bags, so now I'm good to go! 

[Joules]

Oh Rhona, you really know how to enjoy yourself    In fact that has motivated me too - I might just do the same thing!

[Rhona W]

Oh Rhona, you really know how to enjoy yourself   

Well I wouldn't go that far. Although it has meant I got to use all my birthday presents!  (Food processor, weighing scales and BARF books.  )

And I have discovered what the size of a dollop depends upon - how bored you are! 

[Densil]

I went to visit my sister yesterday.  She has 2 border collies (one old guy and one 6 months old)  They live outside, but come in to be fed.  The old guy has always been on commercial dog food but the pup has been BARF.  She feeds him mainly breast of lamb and beef kneecaps.  She doesnt cut the breast up, just throws him a bag full and lets him sort it out himself.  He has a lovely clean mouth and his teeth are white.  He has a shiny coat and bright eyes.  It seems to be working for him and theres none of the complex mathematics involved.  I would say go for BARF just don't get too hung up on exact measurments. 

[Rhona W]

Quick question. I bought the mince with 5% bone from PAH, but it is actually dearer than the mince in the butchers. So do they need the mince with bone in if they are having bone meals every day any way? 

[Penel]

Probably not no.

[Cob-Web]

Quick question. I bought the mince with 5% bone from PAH, but it is actually dearer than the mince in the butchers. So do they need the mince with bone in if they are having bone meals every day any way? 

Ooo, no - that works out really expensive  I buy Forthglade frozen mince meat, 454g for 54p (no VAT) I used to buy Prize Choice frozen mince, which was a similar price - the pre-prepared mince/veg/bone frozen mixes are really expensive in comparison 

I then buy a huge bag of RMB from the butcher for £1 

[DennyK]

Sod it.  Mark is ill and cancelled....he's now away for a couple of weeks, then I'm away for a couple of weeks....

Good news is, Pads is definitely stable, but still not 100% - breath has improved, bowel has got better, eyes still yuk. 

Went to the butchers and they offered "chicken carcases for a pound".  I said - great.  Yeah, well when I got home with bags of meat (ours and Paddy's), I discovered about thirty carcases, all frozen together in one great lump.  Sadly I've only got one drawer of a four-drawer freezer available for Paddy's food, so they all had to go in the bin.  Boo hiss.  Asked for Beef Kneecap.  I think they gave me giraffe - about three feet long, cut into lumps.  Still, Paddy enjoyed the short one, although it's bigger than his skull-doddy.  butchers think I'm a loon, so to compensate, I keep on buying sirloin steak and lots of posh sausages.  We're going to end up with the healthiest dog, the deadest owners due to saturated fat intake...

[Densil]

  Asked for Beef Kneecap.  I think they gave me giraffe - about three feet long, cut into lumps.  Still, Paddy enjoyed the short one, although it's bigger than his skull-doddy.  ...

I think the Butcher gave you a shin, or thigh bone.  When I asked for a kneecap they tried to give me a shin bone.  I understand why this happens...obviously the top end of the shin bone is at the knee and the bottom end of the thigh bone is at the knee.  The kneecap is the bit that sits over the point where the 2 join.  Its a good bone for dogs cos its got loads of connective tissue attached, loads of meaty bits and will serve as a meal in its own right.  The bone itself, (although only the size of half a tennis ball) is really hard and once the dogs have chewed all the meat off the bone cleans the teet, and lasts for ages.  Have a close look at the pics I posted earlier

Next time you're in the butchers ask again.  If you get blank looks tell them its the small round bone which is at the bottom of the Thick Flank. (Also known as Top Rump) 

[Rhona W]

Oh good.  Rachel - I bought the Prize Choice mince and bone without any veg. It was £3.35 for 2kg. Where do you buy Forthglade from?

I found a great butcher. I was driving past and there was a sign outside advertising free bones. I think he gave me the whole cow's skeleton!  I bought 1kg of lamb ribs for 30p.
This morning I went and paid £1.20 for an ox's heart, so he gave me 2kg of lamb ribs for free. Along with a huge bag of 'scraps' that I can mince up (once I've removed the fatty bits!) He's going to order me in trays of organic chicken wings too for less than Sainsburys' economy ones. 

[Nicola]

Oh good.  Rachel - I bought the Prize Choice mince and bone without any veg. It was £3.35 for 2kg. Where do you buy Forthglade from?

I found a great butcher. I was driving past and there was a sign outside advertising free bones. I think he gave me the whole cow's skeleton!  I bought 1kg of lamb ribs for 30p.
This morning I went and paid £1.20 for an ox's heart, so he gave me 2kg of lamb ribs for free. Along with a huge bag of 'scraps' that I can mince up (once I've removed the fatty bits!) He's going to order me in trays of organic chicken wings too for less than Sainsburys' economy ones. 

Wow that's fab! I must shop around and find a better butcher for Alfie's BARF extras, I think I'm being ripped off