Quote: alice oliver

...free wild game during hunting season.

Definately, deer season is a blessing. I've got about 3-4 months worth of venecin in our big freezer. I don't hunt but I know lots of people who do so I'm always stocked up this time of the yr. And best of all is when they throw away all those good bones!

 Quote: steve mcdonald

Also, I just called a farm feed store and I can get a live chicken for $2. No freezer needed for that.

Maybe growing up in the city has stunted some of my "common sense" in these matters, but do you feed live chicken to your dog as one would feed a live mouse to a snake? Since you mention no freezer is needed (so I assume you mean that you won't "prepare" it and freeze what is left over), I'm reading this as feed the dog a live chicken. If that's not the case, then it seems like killing and gutting a live chicken for the dog would be a lot of work for a meal. I'm almost too embarrassed to ask, but my curiosity has gotten the best of me here. I'm totally intrigued.

I saw the turkey legs for sale for real cheep too. I decided against it becuase it looked like a whole lot of meat and just a little bit of bone. I thought the meat to bone ratio was supposed to be about the same...correct me if I dont have that right. Thanks

Hi Joe,

Personally, I wouldn't let your dog start that habit. It could lead to your dog killing other animals. Not only that, do you really want your dog eating chicken shit?

It's not too big a deal to snap a chicken's neck, but it's best to do it in a darkened area while stroking & talking quietly to the chook. It's like you're hypnotizing it, then a very quick snap. Gutting, again, isn't too big a deal. Maybe the feed guy could give you a demo? BUT for me, the most tedious part is plucking the chicken...Not a fun job. My 2 cents

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 Quote: joe valenzuela

... do you feed live chicken to your dog as one would feed a live mouse to a snake? ... I'm almost too embarrassed to ask, but my curiosity has gotten the best of me here. ...

I am SO GLAD you asked and were not too embarrassed! I am almost falling off my desk chair laughing. Not at you, but at the picture in my mind of what my dogs would do if I handed them a couple of squacking flapping chickens and said "Eat!" How come we don't have that ROFL laughy-face??

But seriously, I'm with Eva. No, I'm not looking for feathers and beaks and feet all over the kitchen, even IF one of my dogs would wade in and kill a chicken for supper.* And think of the NOISE!


*And out in the yard might really stop traffic.

And did I mention that you have to singe the pinfeathers/down/whatever they're called? On top of all the blood & guts everywhere. Mind you, roast chicky the next day was SO tasty We kept them mostly for their eggs, though.

Oh no no no no no! I was *not* contemplating feeding live chickens to my dog! To me, it was worth asking that embarrassing question (in my real name and archived on the web for the ages, no less) for the possibility of living vicariously through Steve, who might engage in such a primal activity. And if he responded in the affirmative, I was going to beg if he would videotape a feeding and post it on YouTube!

I'm inclined to think it would adversely affect neighborly relations if I threw a live chicken in the kennel and let my dog get to work. I almost think they'd call the police on me. It would probably go off about as well as a fart in church with my wife too.

Regarding prepping a live chicken, I've heard stories from my mother about how when she was a child she saw my grandmother chop off a chicken's head and watched it run around for a bit before collapsing. She does not tell that story with a nostalgic gleam in her eye, so I think I'll pass on that experience too! Maybe my grandmother used "old school" style of taking care of the bird, though, because my mother mentioned nothing of snapping necks. She was, however, very explicit about the bloody mess and the running around even though the chicken was without head.

Thanks for the replies. They were both enlightening and hilarious!

 Quote: Joe Valenzuela

.... I'm inclined to think it would adversely affect neighborly relations if I threw a live chicken in the kennel and let my dog get to work. ...

Not to mention the part about my dogs probably starving ..... altho it's possible that the GSD would talk the Pug into doing the dirty work.

I must admit that this has given me quiet the laugh!!! Eva's description is exactly how my grandmother used to do it!!

Talk about coccidia and lord knows what else....holy moly!

Joe, I saw your question last night but couldn't type a response cuz it was late and I was laughing too hard! Glad you weren't too embarressed to ask though, it's the only way to learn.

Connie and Eva, both of you gave a great response!

High 5 with Connie! Does that mean I get a star now? Yeah & Joe too, for the entertainment provided for y'all!