Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Melissa Thom ]
#300607 - 10/26/2010 09:10 AM |
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Look on Craigslist for a used freezer. Buying in bulk (either from a co-op or just doing it on your own) is definitely the way to feed a raw diet as cheaply as possible. Even Sam's Club is a decent place to buy things like whole chickens and ground beef--but the best prices are when you buy a 50# case of the stuff.
BTW--yes, same ground beef. Just shop for price. The dog doesn't need the "lean" ground beef.
I'm not familiar with the grocery stores you mention--but also check out smaller, mom-and-pop sized grocery stores, especially in ethnic neighborhoods. Asian stores usually have an amazing selection of "parts" that big chains don't carry. Stores in Latino or African-American neighborhoods do too.
Congrats on going about this the right way!
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#300672 - 10/26/2010 02:43 PM |
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Just got back from checking with two QFCs, and Safeway.
The first QFC's meat manager was not in, however the lady there said they can get Chicken Backs and took my name and should call me tomorrow. The Safeway I went to doesn't offer chicken backs or necks, just liver/etc. And the second QFC I went to said they don't do Chicken Backs, just turkey backs when they cut them, and turkey necks.
Hrm.. is it really based on each store? Still have to check with Top Foods.
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Jonathan Holen ]
#300677 - 10/26/2010 02:58 PM |
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Any store that sells meat CAN get anything you want. But many won't. Chicken backs/necks/other oddball parts aren't something they are used to carrying and many aren't interested in the extra work to special order something for you on which they will make a few cents. Some large chains may not even allow the local meat department manager to do special orders. We've all been there.
But keep looking and asking. Someone will eventually help you out. I've found that it helps to tell them that it is your intention to buy lots of special order meat from them---this isn't just a one-time annoyance. Tell them what you're up to--that you're feeding a dog a natural diet, and you'll be in the market for 50-60 pounds of meat a month and are looking for a store that will work with you to special order the foods you need.
Good luck. And do check out that raw-feeders co-op near you. That'll be the gold mine. I wish I had one near me.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Melissa Thom ]
#300713 - 10/26/2010 06:26 PM |
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Johnathan I purchase fresh necks, backs & leg Qtrs in 40 lb boxes from a restaurant wholesaler for $12 (necks & backs) & $18 (leg Qtrs). Get 10lb rolls of ground turkey ($.85 lb)& ground beef ($1.69 lb). These are examples of what I purchase & pay. Of course, you need to have a freezer big enough to hold lots of meat. A 200 lb order lasts me about 3 months with 2 dogs.
Purchasing wholesale will be a big savings if you can find a dealer that will sell to you. My guy feeds his own dogs raw & has extended the opportunity to other raw feeders to purchase from him. It's an hour drive away, but going every 3 months for the prices that I get make it well-worth the trip. I have been buying wholesale for almost 5 years. The savings is well-worth the purchase of a freezer of you need to buy one. I save at the very least a $ 1 & more a lb from even the supermarket sale prices. Worth looking into.
Good for your dog that you have made the choice to feed raw. Your dog will love you even more for it.
MY DOGS...MY RULES
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Melissa Thom ]
#300722 - 10/26/2010 07:55 PM |
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My local Sam's Club has chicken thighs for 52 cents/lb. They are 12 packages of 4 thighs each. I think they may be old laying hens, because there is not much fat on them. I stocked up last week. My 25 lb dog thinks they are terrific.
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Tracy Collins ]
#300724 - 10/26/2010 08:41 PM |
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.... But keep looking and asking. Someone will eventually help you out. I've found that it helps to tell them that it is your intention to buy lots of special order meat from them---this isn't just a one-time annoyance.
Gigantic ditto. In fact, I'd recommend developing a relationship with a meat-counter guy immediately. I would almost guarantee that the answer to a brand-new face would be different from the answer to someone they saw shopping there every other day.
Put out feelers all the time. Eventually, someone is even going to ask YOU "Hey, can you use ( ..... ) if we save them up in the freezer for you?"
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Connie Sutherland ]
#300750 - 10/27/2010 12:25 AM |
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I'm trying to both convince my wife AND find space for a freezer so that when I do find these good deals, we can stock up
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Jonathan Holen ]
#300855 - 10/27/2010 10:24 PM |
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Just from watching my grandparents save big time on food I'd say getting a freezer is always a good choice even for just human food.
But I've been trying to figure out the realistic costs of going with the raw diet. How much does it cost you all to feed your dogs? Cost for just one dog?
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Laurel Hamby ]
#300878 - 10/28/2010 09:35 AM |
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Hey Laurel. Cost depends on a couple of factors--but the biggest one is if you have a good (cheap) resource for the kinds of RMBs and muscle meat the diet is based on.
Like we've been discussing in this thread, buying in bulk is cheaper than buying small amounts--and finding something other than the grocery store meat case as your go-to place is cheaper than just feeding the dog the same meat you'd buy for yourself.
So...how much? I try (and usually succeed) at feeding my dogs for $1 per pound of food. Chicken parts are what many raw feeders use as a primary source of RMBs (raw meaty bones)--and things like chicken backs and chicken necks can be bought for well under $1 per pound. In bulk, you can sometimes find them for, like 60 cents a pound. Chicken leg quarters are another popular food for raw-fed dogs and are usually pretty available and under $1 per pound. Muscle meat is always more expensive--but again, if you can find a resource for buying oddball stuff like beef or pork hearts, chicken gizzards--those things are pretty cheap too.
If you don't have a resource for this kind of food (or simply don't mind paying a bit more for the convenience of just shopping at the local Kroger) then you could figure on something more like $2 per pound---buying things like whole chickens, ground beef, ground turkey, etc. Obviously you could spend as much as you want--but few people feed the dog T-bone steak except maybe on their birthday!
Ballpark for your dog, then, (I think you have a female Mal?) is going to be in the $1.50 - $3 per day range.
Supplementing with fish oil and vitamin e is probably something that one would do regardless of whether or not they are feeding raw. That'd be extra. As well as anything else you decide to supplement the diet with--eggs, yogurt, veggies, etc.
Hope that helps.
Cinco | Jack | Fanny | Ellie | Chip | Deacon |
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Re: New Rookie Raw Diet Owner!
[Re: Laurel Hamby ]
#300882 - 10/28/2010 10:12 AM |
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The way that I buy,(see above post) it costs me about a $1.50 a day, at the most, usually less, to feed 2 adult dogs. This includes all suppliments. The higher end would be for meals of pricer meats,like lamb & buffalo etc fed for variety weekly. If you buy at supermarket prices, it will be more. I also don't have huge dogs...my female is 65#s & my male is 78#s. So your dog's weight will factor into the cost, also.
To me this is a healthier way to feed my dogs. As the kibble companies continue to have recalls,it just convinces me further, that I have chosen the right way to feed my dogs. I have been feeding raw for 7 years & buying wholesale for almost almost 5 years. The cost of a freezer, if you have to invest in one, to store large quantities of food, pays for itself in a very short time.
MY DOGS...MY RULES
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