Getting so close!

[Makovach]

We are getting so close to moving and that means so close to starting a PMR diet!

Because we will be living about 2 hours from our supplier, My boyfriend wants me to get enough food to last 2-3 months. We have a freezer lined up already. Its not super huge, but my friend could hold 120-150lbs in it at a time. We are also keeping an eye out of CL.

My main question is, how do i break it down? We want to make sure we have enough. But also make sure we have the variety (if needed the first couple months). Annie and Tucker both will eat based off of 70lbs (Annie's weight, Tuckers suspected weight when grown). I'm going to be starting with Chicken backs as everyone has suggested. But in the first two months should i start adding in more meat to the bone in meals? We were planning on useing skinned chicken quarters for this. And the next protien source i wanted to add was turkey.

at 2% of 70lbs, I come up with 1.4lbs (11oz per meal). For budgeting reasons, I am planning 2lbs a day (they wont eat that much, just to make sure we have enough incase they need a little more or something). That puts me at 62lbs a month. Since we will be buying for two months we will need 124lbs (roughly). The Chicken backs/quarters and Turkey necks come in 40lb boxes. I freezer should be able to hold 3 boxes at one time. So for the first two months what should i get? I was thinking about getting two boxes of chicken backs, one box of chicken quarters. Does this sound right? I figured i could start introducing the turkey necks in the 3rd month. But it seems to me as this may be too slow? By the third month, shouldnt they be on 3+ meats and organs?

From previous experience, i think my dogs will always need a higher bone%.

Sorry for the ramble :/ Any advice?
Thanks in advance

[Kbug]

Sit down with a pen and paper and work out a schedule. I do this everytime I remake meals. I also inventory my left overs too. It helps me see just what I'm looking at. Once you get an idea of how the schedule might look you can start doing some math to help you plan the purchase.

For example, I buy whole chickens at about 70 lbs/case. I've gotten lazy now and give my 2 girls the legs and my boy the whole breast because those are the closest proportions to their meal sizes. The back get stored separately to be paired with organs or for additional emergency bone.

That being said, I know that for every "chicken" meal I feed, I'm using 1 chicken. If I make out a schedule then I can see how many chickens I'll need.

Same with everything else. As you get a feel for it you'll have to plan it less.

Kbug

[frogdog]

You will feed something like this...

1st week - chicken backs
2nd week - chicken backs alternating with chicken quarters
3rd week - chicken quarters alternating with turkey necks
4th week - chicken quarters, turkey necks, alternating with third protein like pork

Quarters will be a staple in your dog's diet if chicken is a protein source you choose to feed in the future.

Follow the guidlines on How to Get Started | Prey Model Raw

[Makovach]

Follow the guidlines on How to Get Started | Prey Model Raw

I don't know why I didnt think of this is the first place!

Okay, So I made some switch up in what I plan to order. I'm hopeing it will fit in my freezer!
I have no idea how much a chicken back aprox. weighs. So i don't know how to figure that in but im guessing its about 1/2ish lb? I know my chicken quarters are about 1lb skinned.

I think i'm going to start with 1 40lb box chicken backs, 1 40lb box Chicken quarters, 1 40lb box Turkey necks.

I'm going to search for cheaper whole turkeys (i will get them at the store if i can't find them anywhere else). After turkey I plan to add fish (canned mackeral), then pork. When I add in pork, the easiest accesable pork to me with in a decent price range is ribs. Will it hurt my dog if it does not get cuts of boneless pork, and only get pork ribs for their pork? I plan to use ribs as treats as well as feed it with fish, or boneless chicken/turkey.

When packageing meals, I will prefer to use containers that hold 2-3 days of meals rather than bags. So my next question is, when packing up meals for a week, can i put chicken/turkey/pork in the same container? Do i need to worry about cross contamination?

[Halliebrooks]

I'm concerned about the turkey, although this is not the advice you posted for but when I fed turkey my dogs gets very sick due to it being enhanced.. If you are getting it from the super market it will be enhanced. Not sure about a butcher.. But just a heads up.

[frogdog]

I don't know why I didnt think of this is the first place!

Okay, So I made some switch up in what I plan to order. I'm hopeing it will fit in my freezer!
I have no idea how much a chicken back aprox. weighs. So i don't know how to figure that in but im guessing its about 1/2ish lb? I know my chicken quarters are about 1lb skinned.

I think i'm going to start with 1 40lb box chicken backs, 1 40lb box Chicken quarters, 1 40lb box Turkey necks.

I'm going to search for cheaper whole turkeys (i will get them at the store if i can't find them anywhere else). After turkey I plan to add fish (canned mackeral), then pork. When I add in pork, the easiest accesable pork to me with in a decent price range is ribs. Will it hurt my dog if it does not get cuts of boneless pork, and only get pork ribs for their pork? I plan to use ribs as treats as well as feed it with fish, or boneless chicken/turkey.

When packageing meals, I will prefer to use containers that hold 2-3 days of meals rather than bags. So my next question is, when packing up meals for a week, can i put chicken/turkey/pork in the same container? Do i need to worry about cross contamination?

Chicken backs we fed weighed anywhere between 4oz to 6oz after fat and skin were removed.

Your plan sounds good on purchasing 40lb boxes of each.

I, also, added fish (canned mackerel) after turkey...due to Yogi's allergies he is not fed pork. I do not see a problem mainly feeding ribs as long as they're meaty. Also, a good teeth cleaner.

When packaging...throw in what you will...no worries.

Sounds like you're coming along...can't go wrong by following the link I posted.

I'm concerned about the turkey, although this is not the advice you posted for but when I fed turkey my dogs gets very sick due to it being enhanced.. If you are getting it from the super market it will be enhanced. Not sure about a butcher.. But just a heads up.

Not all turkey is enhanced...all portions we feed come from the super markets. You have to read the nutrition label and ingredients before buying...knowledge is important...read sodium content.

[chewice]

Not all turkey is enhanced...all portions we feed come from the super markets. You have to read the nutrition label and ingredients before buying...knowledge is important...read sodium content.

I was just going to ask this question. Does it usually say right on the label that its chicken + sodium filler.... or are tricky and just say chicken but your sodium is crazy high in the breakdown list?

[Makovach]

I'm concerned about the turkey, although this is not the advice you posted for but when I fed turkey my dogs gets very sick due to it being enhanced.. If you are getting it from the super market it will be enhanced. Not sure about a butcher.. But just a heads up.

The butcher i am going to dose not sell anything enhanced :) I'm so glad i found him! If only he was free range :(

[Makovach]

I, also, added fish (canned mackerel) after turkey...due to Yogi's allergies he is not fed pork.

I know my pups have had problems with Beef/pork in the past. But they were not on a whole pmr diet, so I'm going to give it a try still. What do i look for to tell if they have a problem? I know its common for loose stools when trying new protien, how would i know?

[frogdog]

I know my pups have had problems with Beef/pork in the past. But they were not on a whole pmr diet, so I'm going to give it a try still. What do i look for to tell if they have a problem? I know its common for loose stools when trying new protien, how would i know?

Yogi had extensive allergy testing administered but can be a different outcome when feeding raw. So, we did a small taste test with pork and he broke out within an hour...took almost three weeks on Temaril P to clear up. His allergic reactions only show up in bumps all over the skin and hairloss but is different for every dog.

Some dogs breakout with hotspots, dry skin, excessive scratching, etc...just be very observant.

I was just going to ask this question. Does it usually say right on the label that its chicken + sodium filler.... or are tricky and just say chicken but your sodium is crazy high in the breakdown list?

Some companies state on the front label but a lot do not...always check the nutrients chart/breakdown. When in doubt...ask...whether it's the butcher, meat department manager, calling the company itself or checking their website.