Canned pet food....help!

[justusnak]

OK, so I will be picking up the pig from the locker this week, and I need to clean out the freezer. I found several pints of liver from the last pig that was puched to the back, and "lost" LOL I also have 3 or 4 freezer burned chickens I need to get out and cook down for the dog food. So, this is where I need help...I have about15 pounds of chicken....5 pounds of pork livers. Should I cook them all down, seperate pots, grind the meat, and mix it together with say....carrotts, peas and garlic? Or, should I just make a pate' out of each meat...with veggies, and can them seperate? Any suggestions would be great!

 

[Beekissed]

I'd grind them all down, meat and veggies, into a single pate and can it all together. Easy, simple and good for them.

Can your grinder handle doing this meat without it being cooked down? If it can, I would do it this way and then just can the mixture. That way you only have to heat it once.

 

[justusnak]

Yup, my grinder can definately do it all raw. What a great idea. Thanks Bee. So, if I have about 20 pounds of meat...about how much veggies?? Does it really matter?? Oh, and can it raw?? In pints, about how long in a pressure canner?

 

[Beekissed]

Well...you know I don't do the PC, but meats are usually 90 min. aren't they? I wouldn't be particular about the ratio, I'd just slam 'em in the jar and let the animals be glad to have it at all!

Yummy!

I'd can it raw...but then, that's ME. I'm sure someone else on here would recommend boiling it until it all dies!

 

[freemotion]

I make a lot of catfood, but you said this was for dogs? I just feed 'em raw chicken! For the cats, no more than 20% veggies, half leafy/green and half yellow (no corn) like carrots and pumpkin and squash. Mix the chicken and liver and grind it all and mix it together with the veggies and cold pack it. Fire up that pressure canner and you are in business. I am making a batch tomorrow, dh bought the stuff and cooked the chicken leg quarters and stripped them today. Broth is going all night and the raw livers will be ground and added tomorrow. Etc.

For dogs, you can do the same but you can use a higher ratio of veggies. Dogs need more "scrap" and less muscle meat, so leave the tendons, cartilage, skin, etc in with it. Remember that they are not getting enough calcium if you toss all the bones, but don't give them cooked bone, either, unless you cook it to mush. Raw is certainly easier, IMO.

No grains (including sweet corn) for either species.

I add some broth back into the ground mix, that gets some of the mineral back into it. We get the rest of the broth for us. I'll probably can up some soups soon with it.

 

[justusnak]

Thanks Free.....I have never fed my little ones "canned" food. But, I definately dont want this to go to waste either. Maybe after I can it, I can use ot for "treats" Like thier Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! LOL Depends on how much it makes I guess.

 

[freemotion]

It will make something like 20 pints, depending on how much veggie material you put in there. Since you are feeding it as treats or supplemental food, I wouldn't worry about balancing it nutritionally. It will still be good for them and super yummy!

You can cook the bones down in a 1-2 day broth simmering and unless those are home-grown chickens that are older, you can mash the bones finely and the dogs can have those, too, or so I'm told. I give 'em to the chickens since my dogs get raw whole backs and wings. But I may just add some into my next batch of catfood if I can smash them enough.

 

[tamlynn]

We make our cat's food. We just freeze it in small containers and pull out as needed.

Oh, I also read not to use garlic or onion. Toxic to cats.

 

[deb4o]

I make my dog food and use a loose "recipe" of 1/3 veggie to 2/3 protein. I also throw in some rice as filler. I use this food as extra feed/treat.

I have never canned it, always froze it, but this year freezer space is at a premium so I'am going to try canning it.

Wish me luck.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

My sister sent me the link to this video about how to make homemade dog food if anyone is interested.