Cost of feeding raw? - Page 1

Hi everyone;  was wondering approximately how much per pound on the average you all are paying for your raw feed?  Thanks in advance;  I am thinking I need to find some better sources.  I had to pay l.99 per pound for turkey wings today;  thought that to be high.  I am averaging about $2.00 per pound I think;  that seems high to me could be a little less on some days, a little more on others.  Any suggestions??  That would be leg quarters, chicken drumsticks, wings, turkey legs & wings;  some  chicken breasts, not too many though, beef rib bones,some fish not much; pork neck bones with some pork meat for extra meat in case neck bones are not too meaty and organ meats of various species.

If you go with meat processors/butcher or try to get a wholesaler to sell to you in bulk, the cost will be less than grocery pricing.  I pay a buck a pound for turkey necks.  A beef heart/tongue/liver grind for dogs is the same price.  Another place has a dog food grind for 50 cents # but it is more fatty.

If you can get with a  local yahoo group or raw feeding co-op and bulk purchase, that may cut down on the cost.  I am lucky to be involved in the Sustainable Selections program thru a yahoo group, the monthly cost for me is $30 and I get unlimited past sell date meat from a big box grocery store.
 I pay the  most  for  green tripe~it is $1.60# locally ~ I don't  have to pay shipping.  The nastiest stuff costs the most, go figure...

I pay .65 cents per lb for chicken quarters, and use that for the bulk of my feeding.  I add beef liver, beef heart and chop meat and average $1.49 per lb for that.  I also add yogurt and cottage cheese.  On Average my male  (Police K9) who eats 2 1/2 to 3 lbs per day costs about $3.25 per day to feed.  My 11 year old female eats about 1.25 lbs per day and costs about $1.50 per day to feed.  The results are well worth the price.  It is not much more than dry food but is really worth it.  My male is ripped and full of energy, my 11 year old female still does bite work, tracks and high drive obedience.

Jim

Thanks Jim and Onyxgirl;  I was hoping to get my costs down a little as I don't feel that the quality if so hot;  just the price.  Am also using leg quarters for the majority and can get those pretty cheap but the rest is up their  somewhat.  Greentrips.com ended up being $4.00 per pound after shipping just for tripe not the Xcaliber or any mixture and I cancelled my order due to cost.  Just felt it too high.  Need to find another source of green tripe or maybe not.    I may have to do some more shopping.  Thx  Nan

Not sure where you are located, but taylorpondfarms  has distributors on the Midwest/East side of the US, you wouldn't have to pay shipping if you found a local distributor. 

*

$0.80 per lb of organic chicken.

12$ for 40 lbs of chicken backs.

Why does rabbit never get a mention.  Would that not be a wild canid's primary game?  Well, except for where you live, Nan, where the staple diet of coyotes has become domestic cats.  I only ask because freshly butchered New Zealand whites from the local Amish are under $2/lb.

RFS