From Soup to Pup

Making stock from chicken bones is a regular effort at the Microcosm.  This week, a whole roaster was .89 cents per pound, and the bird was huge.  After cutting off the back, wings and skin, there really wasn't a lot of discards to make stock with, but the way to compensate for that, is to put in veggies and let the stock go a very long time.  This batch simmered over night.  It wasn't made with a lot of water, so the result wasn't badly diluted "chicken water" -- which can happen if there isn't enough bone and meat.

The discards are never destined for the garbage.  The limp celery, carrots and bits of meat and soft cartilage are perfect for the pup.  This is something that is always set aside for the dog -- and the reason that there are no onions in the stock.  Most of the nutrition is cooked out of the stuff, but it's still real food -- which is always a good thing for our four-legged babies.  This won't make a meal, but it will be a fine snack.  For those who feed commercial/dry food, this is a good way to top off a meal.  If it's a new thing, start slow because it is rather fatty.  The fat is great for coat and skin.

Our pup eats raw turkey necks many days of the week.  The Butterball factory in South Carolina has been closed down or is at least not fully operational.  Pulling the back, skin and wings, along with feeding the giblets out of the bird will provide three meals.  We will get four meals by adding an egg to each meal and cutting back on bird.  This pile of chicken gore is probably around two pounds of food. Feeding raw for under a dollar per day is possible when using super-market food, rather than expensive pet-store purchased fare.

We don't see this method of feeding as giving our dog "people food."  We see it as feeding her "real food."  The same thing we do for the humans in the house!