#bowl of chicken gizzards save me

[modanon]

Have been tired for almost two weeks straight now. Hoping chicken organs will fix me.

[deirdreskye]

Commercial I would produce as an advertising executive:

We see a husband approach his wife in the kitchen and he smacks her on the rear as she's unplugging a crockpot full of buffalo chicken dip. Their friends have turned the dining room table into beer pong tournament and the kids are laughing in the play room. It's Super Bowl Sunday.

This scene of domestic bliss plays out before us. Warm laughter, excited shouting as their team scores a touchdown, the wife steals a kiss from her husband between sips of wine. This must be what heaven looks like.

The doorbell rings and the husband grudgingly puts his beer down to go answer the door. Who could it be?

He opens the door and we see the latecomer: a giant slug the size of a man, wet and pink and undulating.

"You son of a bitch!" The husband exclaims. "We didn't think you'd make it! How the hell are ya?"

The slug gives no reply but the husband brings the creature into a warm embrace, its viscous discharge soaking his shirt. "Aw, hell, man," he laughs. "Say it, don't spray it!"

The slug makes its grand arrival in the living room, leaving a trail of slime on the hardwood floors. It receives a warm welcome. "Here comes trouble!" "They'll let anyone in this place!" "You missed the first quarter!"

We are subjected to a montage of scenes from the Superbowl party.

-

The kids excitedly dash in to crowd around the creature. "Mr. Wormy! We missed you!" they exclaim, hugging the thing and getting covered in its ooze. Several orifices around the creature's body begin to secrete a dark, chunky substance and the children begin to greedily eat it, their hands and mouths covered in its oily residue

"Whoa whoa whoa, I didn't raise you kids in a barn!" The mother says. "Go get some cups from the kitchen!"

-

"Yo, Mr. Wormy, you gotta try the buffalo chicken dip. It's to die for!" The husband says. He grabs a dripping handful of the warm orange cream cheese from the crockpot and pushes it into the folds of the creature's flesh.

"Quit bogarting the buff dip, hombre!" "Save some for the rest of us why don't ya?"

-

"Yo, Mr. W, I gotta use the can but I am NOT missing the game. Help me out?"

A sphincter at the top of the slug's "head" gapes itself open, and the guest drops his slacks and boxers to his ankles and climbs on top in front of everyone.

"Hoochie mama, that dip's even spicier coming out!"

"Just don't leave the seat up. Trust me, you'll thank me for that one when you and Stacy get married!"

"IF they get married, you mean!"

A loud belch is heard from the creature and the room explodes with laughter.

-

"Alright fellas, the game is over and the kids are in bed. I think we all know what this means!"

"Oh brother," the wife says, rolling her eyes at the other women. "Boys will be boys!"

The men are seen chanting "Wormy! Wormy! Wormy!" at each other as they take turns fucking the folds and sphincters and orifices that line the creature's body.

"Ah geez, Mr. W! Warn me before I fuck a hole with a gizzard stone!"

"Now THAT'S tight! I think my wife could learn a thing or two from you, Mr. Wormy!"

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we used to call Chet the Two Pump Chump!"

-

As the party is winding down, the men are putting their clothes back on, saying their farewells and getting ready to part ways when the creature starts to heave and convulse.

"You okay, Mr. Wormy?"

Everyone looks on as the creature heaves one last time and a copious amount of murky amniotic fluid begins to pour from one of the creature's holes. The sphincter begins to crown and a human baby is deposited onto the carpet. It has an adult-sized head and the face looks exactly like the husband, goatee and all. It's not moving.

The husband nervously tugs his collar. One of his friends calls out, "Check please!"

The wife comes back from the kitchen holding a roll of Brawny paper towels, a playfully annoyed expression on her face.

It's not a good party if things don't get a little messy. Brawny's got you covered.

[feyburner]

tumblr user feyburner, i have a confession. i don't know how to roast a chicken, or do anything with a chicken, and at this point i'm afraid to ask.

I can tell you're afraid to ask bc this isn't really a question. But I will answer it anyway. I'm always happy to talk about chicken.

You’ll be pleased to learn that roasting a chicken is so easy. The below explanation is quite long bc I am including all the information I can remember, to set you up for chicken roasting success. But, essentially, you’re rubbing a chicken in oil and seasonings and putting him in the oven for like an hour. Done.

Remember that people have been roasting whole chickens since the dawn of time using whatever they had around bc it’s the most low effort, high reward meal ever. You could say the word “salt” in a chicken’s general direction and toss him at a candle flame and he would still turn out great.  

To roast a chicken:

Buy a whole chicken, however big you want. 4-5 lbs is enough to feed 3-5 people with leftovers.

Prepare a workspace with a plastic cutting board (not wooden bc raw chicken juices) and paper towels. 

Remove the giblets, pin feathers, extra flaps:

1. Stick your hand up his primary orifice and pull out anything loose. There is usually a handful of little organs like heart and gizzards and sometimes these strings of pale bean looking things (tbh not sure what those are). Save these for stock, except the liver (super dark squishy organ) which will disintegrate. You can eat the liver separate if you want.

2. Trim off any sticky-outy bits that have pin feathers on them, and the flaps of fat/gristle over his orifice. Save the fatty bits for stock. Leave the triangle of fat directly above the orifice (his tail). 

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels inside and out. Get him as dry as possible. 

Spatchcock: You don’t have to spatchcock/butterfly but I like to, bc it maximizes outer surface area for that good good crispy skin. Also easier to get breasts and thighs done at the same rate.

All you have to do is cut the backbone out of the chicken with poultry shears or kitchen scissors if you’re desperate. Then push down hard to crack the breastbone so he lies super flat. Save the backbone for stock or jus. How to spatchcock step by step guide.

Dry brine: Prepare a bowl of coarse kosher salt. More salt than you’d think. Like 1 Tbsp per lb of meat. Rub salt over the whole chicken inside and out. Don’t skimp on the salt especially on the inside. It will not make your chicken crazy salty, it doesn't penetrate the meat that deep. Also some will be wiped off before you cook. 

Put the chicken on a wire rack on a baking sheet and chill uncovered in the fridge for 2-24 hours. The point of this step is the salt draws moisture to the surface of the chicken, which then evaporates in the circulating fridge air. It helps you get crispy chicken skin.

Dry brine + resting isn't 100% necessary, if for some reason you must produce a roasted chicken on a time crunch. But it's a good practice.

Roasting time:

Pat excess moisture off chicken inside and out. If you did not spatchcock you can stuff the inside with a halved lemon or garlic head, herbs, whatever you want. 

Seasoning rub: Prepare a small bowl with olive oil (maybe 1/4-1/3 cup?), salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and whatever dried herbs and spices you want. A good starter is: salt, pepper, parsley sage rosemary thyme, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder. I love me some Cajun spice mix like Slap Ya Mama. Start with like 1-2 tsp of each (1 tsp spices, 2 tsp dried herbs) and build from there. Don’t be shy. Recipes on the internet are like “Use 1/2 tsp herbs for this whole recipe” because they’re heading off 1-star reviews from annoying people who can’t handle a molecule of flavor. Season with your heart, your pussy, and your balls. Don’t be ashamed to use a store-bought spice rub. It’s not lazy, it’s efficient. Also, who gives a shit.

Rub the oil all over Mr. Chicken like he’s an Ancient Greek warrior-prince you’re preparing for the Olympic Games. 

Some recipes tell you to use butter, or slip butter under the skin, but butter has higher water content than oil and might not get you the ideal crispy skin. You can do whatever you want though. It’s your chicken. 

Preheat the oven to 425°. People will tell you a billion different temperatures—screaming hot, low and slow—but I’m here to tell you that it is so hard to fuck up a roast chicken, you can experiment and the results will always be great. 

I like to start at a high temp for 30 minutes to get the skin crisping and then reduce to 375° for the rest of the time to avoid burning. Sometimes you’ll have to cover him with foil if the seasonings start charring. That’s fine.

General cook time: 20 minutes per lb of meat, give or take 20 depending on oven temp. A 4-5 lb chicken at 425° -> 375° generally takes me ~1 hour 20 minutes. If you do low and slow at like 325° it might take 2+ hours. Just check on him periodically. Tbh it’s harder to overcook a chicken than you probably think. 5 minutes, or even 10-20 minutes, is NOT the difference between beautiful tender juicy chicken and a bone-dry tragedy. Chicken is not turkey. He is versatile and he can take it.

Pull the chicken when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 145° or above. (160° is the “safe temp” but 1. The temp will continue to rise for a few minutes after it leaves the oven, and 2. 160° is the temp at which bacteria dies immediately. 145° is fine for eating. Disclaimer: I am not a scientist just a guy who makes a lot of chicken.)

If you don’t have a thermometer, pull the chicken when you insert a knife into the thickest part and the juices run clear. Gorgeous.

Let him sit for 10-20 minutes before carving. When carving, find the oysters and give them to your favorite person or take them as the Cook’s Bounty.

**********************

Again, this explanation is quite long because I included lots of detail. If you do it even one time, you'll realize it's incredibly easy and intuitive and doesn't take much time at all.

Godspeed!

[classlesstulip]

All I ask for is some fluff about Tiberius, I need more of this man being a big softy please.

Monday's are Chicken Days. It is Very Important that Ty ensures the chicken treats are refilled, otherwise the dogs will be mad.

(Yes, Ty has full conversations with his dogs. Doesn't every pet owner?)

"Alright, alright, I get it: YOU'RE HUNGRY. Just, lemme get to the damn kitchen!" Trying to walk around a pack of excited dogs, Tiberius nearly tripped as Mania's frantically wiggling backside nearly swept him off his feet. "FUCK! Hey! Do you want the chi-kan!? THEN COOL IT!" Rolling his eyes with a sigh as all five dogs started whining and whimpering at the word 'chicken', Ty eventually was able to thump his way into the kitchen. Dodging vigorously wagging tails, he made his way over to the coldchest. Opening it up revealed a most disappointing sight: NO CHICKEN.

"Ohhhh NOOOOO! We have no more chicken! What'r we gonna do, girls!? Your Papa has failed to keep the chicken box full!" He snickered as the dogs started barking and whining, a few of them slumping in disappointment, with Morphea just flat out collapsing onto her side with a groan.

Laughing at the weekly ritual, Ty reached into the coldchest and pulled out a few large roasting chickens, gizzards and all. "A-HA! Look, girls, we're saved! Papa can make you your boiled chicken treats! We're saved!"

Hopping over and around happily dancing dogs, he brought the three chickens over to his butchers block. Peeling off the silk sacks they come in, he let them rest for a few minutes as he got his supplies together. Filling up and placing three large stockpots on the stove, he set them to gently simmer before sharpening his cleaver and paring knives. By the time he had washed up properly, the girls were settled in their customary corner, wedged against each other in front of the pantry.

With a thick thump, Ty started quartering his chickens. Splitting the breast, he then jointed the thighs and wings. Pulling out the livers and giblets, he set them into a large bowl to fry up later, after he's got the meat boiling.

*whiinnnne*

"Yes, Morea, Papa is making the chicken." *THUMP!*

*whimper*

"No, Murcia, I will NOT be hand feeding you. Quit being so lazy!" *THUMP!*

Once the first chicken had been quartered, Ty turned up the heat on the stove. Peeling off the skin, he then dumped the chicken piece by piece into a pot. Once finished, he moved onto the next chicken.

Once all the chickens were quietly boiling away, a large cast iron skillet was brought out. Plopping a large pat of butter inside, he quickly fried up the chicken skins to be nice and crispy. Pulling them out, he then tumbled in the livers and giblets. Behind him, he could hear hard claws dancing and thick tails thumping as the dogs food cooked.

Little piggies!

Crunching on a piece of chicken skin, Ty placed a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Dumping the skillet out over it, he left the livers to cool as the rich juices drained out. He REALLY needs to save those juices; it will be important for several sauces and roux's he makes on the regular.

"A-woowoowooooo..."

"Mab? What have I told you about being a brat?" A loud *boof!*. "That's right. Don't be one. And just what were you doing?" Another, quieter *boof*. "That's what I thought."

Once the chicken offal had cooled, Ty divied it up into five equal portions. Plopping the bowls onto the dog mat near the back door, it was only a matter of seconds before snorts and licks filled the room as each dog dove into her food.

Finishing up his snack of skins, Ty then returned to his skillet. Adding more butter, he mixed it with a splash of wine and the drippings. Whisking it, he deglazed the skillet, mixing until everything was well combined and smooth.

Leaving his pan sauce to reduce a little bit, he checked on his chicken. Already, a fine layer of fat had started foaming. Skimming it off of one pot, he then quickly turned off the flame under his skillet and transfered the sauce into a glass jar to cool. Returning to his pots, his ears picked-up a VERY familiar sound:

*ring**ring**ring*

Looking over his shoulder, Ty's suspicions were confirmed; Murcia is food motivated, and was currently trying to lick her bowl out of existance, snorting as her muzzle pushed the thick clay dish across the floor.

"Murci! You piggy! Stop it!" Getting a derisive snort in return, Ty again rolled his eyes as the girls lazily settled down in their corner.

Finishing skimming off the chicken, he then fished out the finished quarters, knowing that by the time he's done shredding them, everything else will be done.

His timing, as always, was perfect: once the legs and wings were separated from their bones and shredded with two forks, the rest of the carcasses needed attention. Putting the clean bones into his 'stock sack' in the coldchest, he then got to shredding the rest of the meat.

Once he was finished, the girls had perked up a bit. Interest chuffs sounded out from furry faces, with Mania letting out a loud, excited, rolling *boof!*

"Hey!"

As she settled back down, Ty quickly finshed what little was left. Leaving the chicken out to cool before storing, he quickly set-up what he calls a 'No Doggie!' ward. He's learned the hard way that chicken is like a drug to Standing Hounds. He has lost uncounted chickens to the little heathens!

*****

"Darling, I'm home! Did you miss me!?" The door slamming behind him, Julian had just enough time to set his shopping bags down before he got greeted by the Furry Welcome Wagon. "Oh, whosa my good girls!? Are you my good girls!? Yes, yes you are!"

As each dog stood on her hind legs to leave kisses all over a blushing face, Julian could hear puttering in the kitchen. Gently shooing the girls aside, he quickly removed his shoes, hung up his coat and workbag, and brought the small bit of grocery shopping with him.

"Hey, Sweetheart. Had a hankering for chicken and corn chowder. You got home just in time."

Setting the bags down on the counter, Julian watched as Ty pulled out a baking tray full of butter rolls, breathing deep the warm, rich scent. "I'm not going to lie, that sounds wonderful!" Quickly putting away the odds and ends he had picked up, the last things to be stored were the weekly roasting chickens.

By the time he had finished, Ty had already served up two bowls of chowder over torn-up rolls. Ty must have used his famous pan sauce to make the roux; Julian swears that just a tablespoon of that liquid gold can turn any meal from 'good' to 'amazing'.

Mouth watering, Julian quickly washed up. Plopping down into his seat, he placed a napkin in his lap before scooping up his spoon. Nearly vibrating in anticipation, he dipped his spoon, scooped up some creamy chicken goodness, and leaned forward-

"MURCIA! What have I told you about begging at the table!?"

[centralparkpawsblog]

The Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes

https://www.centralparkpaws.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dog-food-recipes.jpg

Why I Switched to Homemade Dog Food

A few years ago, I came home to find my poor 16 year old pup lying on the ground in agony. I quickly rushed her to the vet to find out that she had broken her back leg, probably from something as normal as jumping down from the couch, and had to have it amputated.

But that wasn’t the whole story.

It turned out that her bone was extremely brittle due to cancer.

That terrifying ‘C’ word.

The vet recommended a biweekly course of chemo for my baby. It would cost about $500 a visit and there was only a 30% chance of survival.

I decided, after seeing my aunt and stepfather go through the process, that I would rather enjoy the remaining time I had with her rather than subject her to that poison.

Of course, I didn’t just take it lying down, I researched as much as I could about the condition and what I could do about it.

That’s when I came across an article (can’t find it now, unfortunately) that led me to believe that Lady’s food might have something to do with her problems. So I decided to do something about it.

I began cooking her meals of chicken (livers, gizzards, breasts, etc), black beans, and rice in a big batch every Sunday evening.

Within a few weeks, my old girl was acting 10 years younger, her coat was looking better than it had in years, and she was much less “snippy” with the other animals.

She outlived her “life expectancy” by 3x, and passed away happy and full of life. My final memories of the dog that had been with me for all of my major life events are of how she really was, not slowly, painfully deteriorating away.

And I credit that to feeding her homemade dog food instead of relying on a big brand mystery bag.

Why You Should Make Your Own Dog Food

If that story wasn’t enough for you, there are many other reasons to ditch the bag and make your own dog food.

First, I would like to point out that commercial pet food is much less regulated than you think. The FDA and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) have rules in place but they are not as strict or scrutinized as hard as human food.

Which means that these companies can put almost whatever they like into your dog’s food. And they put a lot of trash in there. Why do you think pet food is constantly getting recalled? And pet owners CONTINUE to buy it!

So that’s why you shouldn’t buy commercial pet food but here’s why you should make your own:

Homemade pet food typically has more nutrients, less preservatives, can be tailored specifically to your furry friend, and actually costs less than store bought food!

That’s right, you can save money while providing your pup a healthier food option.

And if your canine companion has health issues like irritable bowel syndrome or allergies, DIY dog food can make a huge difference.

How to Make Your Own Dog Food

Making your own dog food really isn’t difficult as long as you follow a few simple rules.

First, unless your pup needs a special diet like grain free or vegan, you should try to stick to this meal ratio: 50% protein, 25% veggies, and 25% grain. You can also follow this ratio of 40-60% raw meat/protein, 20-30% cooked starch, and 20-30% raw vegetables/fruit.

Second, be sure to know what foods dogs can and can’t eat. I’ll go into this more later.

Lastly, add supplements to their meals to make up for nutrients that they aren’t getting from the food alone. There are 6 essential nutrients that every dog needs.

The National Academies of Sciences has put together an amazing resource detailing which vitamins and minerals dogs must have and the exact amount to feed them daily based on age.

But don’t start worrying that you’ll need to take a science class to feed your dog, we’ve compiled a collection of over 80 recipes below that cover almost every type of diet.

Resources

Adding Fresh Foods to Commercial Food

10 Foods You Should Be Adding to Your Dog’s Food

Create a free custom recipe

What Should and Shouldn’t Go Into Your Recipe

Of course, dogs can’t eat all of the same foods that we can. So before you start whipping up something in the kitchen for your pooch, you’re going to need to know what you can and can’t feed a dog.

Can

Here are some popular ingredients to use when cooking for your pup. These are only the most popular so if you’re not sure, consult an authority like your vet or a trusted website like the AKC or PetMD.

Proteins

The protein portion of your dog’s diet can come from poultry (chicken, turkey, etc) – including organ meats such as livers, hearts, and gizzards – eggs, beef, tuna, salmon, venison, lamb, or pork (be mindful of the fat though).

There are also a few less common safe meats like kangaroo and rabbit, just check with your vet before adding to your menu.

Veggies

Some of the best vegetables to add to your pet’s bowl include broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, celery, cucumbers, green beans, peas, spinach, and sweet potatoes. So basically everything that your 3 year old won’t eat.

Grains

If your dog has a grain allergy, or you just prefer a grain free diet, feel free to skip this section. If grains aren’t an issue to you, especially for larger dogs who take more to fill up, oatmeal and rice (preferably brown rice) are great choices and they are ridiculously cheap.

Supplements

Which supplements your dog needs will depend on what you choose to feed them, what conditions they may have, and even their breed. For example, glucosamine would make a good addition for older dogs – especially those with arthritis.

For dogs with digestive issues, you may want to try out a probiotic.

We’ve also included a few recipes down below for “toppings” to add to your dog’s food that can make up for missing nutrients.

Resources

6 essential nutrients for dogs

Dog’s nutritional diet

Foods for senior dogs

Can’t

Here are some of the most common foods that are dangerous to dogs. This list is not exhaustive so if you’re not sure, do your research first.

Grapes/raisins

Cherries

Avocado

Onions/leeks

Macadamia nuts

Garlic

Brewer’s yeast

Alcohol

Avocado

Uncooked spinach

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine

Citrus

Coconut and Coconut Oil

Milk and Dairy

Nuts

Chives

Xylitol

Yeast Dough

Tips for Making DIY Dog Food

As with most things in life, preplanning can make your life a lot easier. Many of these meals can be made in large batches and used throughout the week (obviously you should refrigerate it).

Most of them can also be frozen if you decide to make a really big batch. Don’t worry, I’ve included a section for that too.

And if you don’t have enough freezer space, you can also can your homemade dog food for long term storage.

Lastly, if you’re making a meal with eggs, don’t throw away the eggshells, add them to the mix for extra calcium.

Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet

The diet that you ultimately decide on for your pet will, of course, depend largely on your pet (breed, age, medical conditions, size, etc), your budget, and your schedule.

There are meals that can help with diabetes, healthy coats, arthritis, allergies, weight loss, and diarrhea. There are also recipes specific to puppies or senior dogs.

Here are a few resources:

Choosing the right diet

Pet diet types

Dangers of homemade dog food

Dog Food Secrets

Homemade Dog Food Recipes

I know that was a lot of information and you’re probably overwhelmed. But really all you need to do is pick a diet plan and then choose a recipe that you like from the list we’ve compiled.

Many of these meals can fit into multiple categories (like a grain free puppy food that can be made in a crockpot) so be sure to scan through them all.

If you can’t find one you like, you can create a free pet recipe here.

Healthy Dog Food Recipes

While almost all home cooked dog food recipes are healthier than commercial pet food, the ones below are specifically designed for dogs with diabetes, arthritis, diarrhea, and general health.

Mini Omelettes – Vet approved

Ruby Stewbie – For diabetes

Healing Mash – For Diarrhea

Hamburger, Lettuce, and Tomato – Holistic

Multi Grain Dog Food Recipe – Multi grain

Arthritis Dog Food Recipe – For arthritis

Arthritis Stew – For arthritis

Chicken Casserole

Meatloaf

Holly’s Healthy Homemade Recipe

Pancreatitis Recipes – For pancreatitis

Cookbooks

Feed Your Best Friend Better

Home Cooking for Your Dog

Dog Food Secrets

The Dog-Gone Good Cookbook

Dinner PAWsible

Dog Food Recipes for Puppies

Puppy Power Smoothies!

Puppies need extra nutrition to feed their growing bodies. These recipes pack in a lot of nutrients into a smaller package. You might want to think about adding supplements to your puppy’s food as well.

Puppy Power Smoothies

Snap Guide’s Puppy Food Recipe

Puppy Stew

Daily Puppy’s Home Cooked Recipe

Puppy Patties

Recipes for Senior Dogs

Older dogs require a different diet than their younger counterparts. Their food is generally easy to chew and has supplements for joint pain relief. Cutting calories while maintaining protein intake is also important as their metabolism slows down.

Auntie Stew

Restless Chipotle’s Low Protein Senior Recipes

Daily Puppy’s Elderly Dog Recipe

Grain Free Recipes for Allergies

Grain free meals have many benefits over those with corn, wheat, rice, soy, or oats. Many dogs have an allergic reaction to soy, corn, and/or wheat, causing them to scratch incessantly, develop sores, sneeze, or have digestive issues. Fortunately, switching to a grain free diet can solve many of these issues quickly and without medication.

It is important to note, though, that many dogs are also allergic to protein sources such as beef, chicken, or eggs.

You can also make any of these other recipes grain free by following this guide.

Food Pucks

Chicken Liver Meatballs

3 Little Pitties Raw Food (and grain free) Recipes

Doggy Fishcake (video)

Cookbooks

Cookbook for Dogs

Dog Food Cookbook: 41 Healthy and Easy Recipes for Your Best Friend

56 Homemade Dog Food Recipes

High Protein Recipes

Most dogs, especially younger ones, need a large amount of protein. Pregnant and lactating dogs also need a lot of protein. Canines are not carnivores though, they are omnivores like us. So don’t feed them just meat.

High protein diets can also be used for weight loss since extra protein doesn’t get stored as fat.

Beefaloaf

Doggie Chili

High Protein Puppy Chow

Cookbooks

Good Food Cookbook for Dogs

Dog Obsessed: The Honest Kitchen’s Complete Guide to a Happier, Healthier Life for the Pup You Love

The Healthy Hound Cookbook

Low Protein Recipes

Woofloaf

Low protein diets are typically recommended for dogs with kidney disease. However, the article above, by T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM, argues that that myth was started by a study using rats, not dogs. And rats don’t eat meat naturally.

Eggs and Potato (and more) – There are 9 recipes in this list

Woofloaf

Recipes for Kidney Failure

Cookbooks

Becker Animal Hospital & Pet Resort’s Cookbook

Raw Food Diet Recipes

While there is a lot of hype around raw food diets, both for pets and humans, many vets aren’t as quick to jump on board. Some even recommend cooking the meal before serving (is it still raw food at that point?).

If you do decide to go with a raw food diet, be careful of salmonella. Up to 80% of animals on raw food diets were exposed to it.

Midsummer Farm Homemade Fish-Based Dog Dinner – Can be frozen

Jenny’s DIY Raw Dog Food Recipe – Grain free

7 Day Raw Food Plan (video)

Cookbooks

The Healthy Hound Cookbook

Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs

Easy Crockpot Dog Food Recipes

I don’t know about you but I absolutely love my crockpot. It’s almost magical how I can put food into it in the morning and come home to a meal.

If you want to cut down on the time you spend cooking your dog’s meals, a crockpot can do that for you.

Scooby’s Organic Stew

Easy Crockpot Dog Food

Chicken and veggie crockpot

Double Meat Slow Cooker

High Iron Dog Food Recipe – High iron

Crockpot Chicken

Home Cooking Low Fat Recipe (video)

Beef Stew with Chef Poodle (video)

Cookbooks

Proud Dog Chef: Tail-Wagging Good Treat Recipes

Dr. Greg’s Canine Crock Cuisine

Vegetarian Dog Food Recipes

As we established before, dogs are omnivores. Which means they eat meat and plants. So can dogs survive and stay healthy on a meatless diet? The short answer is yes (but NOT cats).

For those owners who would like to switch their dog to a vegetarian diet, there are a lot of options. Here are a few:

Black Bean Bowl

Kale and Quinoa

Fruit and Veggie Melee

Homemade Sweet Potato–Peanut Butter Vegan-Dog Delight

Dr Ben’s Vegan Dog Food Recipe (video)

Cookbooks

Homemade Vegetarian Dog Food & Treat Recipes

Dog Food Love: Allergy-Free Recipes, Vegetarian Edition

Simple Little Vegan Dog Book

Vegan Dogs

Natural Dog Food Recipes

Preservatives and chemicals are what you’re trying to avoid by not buying dog food from the store. So why would you use foods with preservatives and chemicals when you’re making Fido’s dinner?

Turkey Veggie

Chicken Rice Balls

Ace’s All Natural Dog Food Recipe – Organic

Salmon Delight

Cookbooks

Cooking for Dogs

The Animal Wellness Natural Cookbook for Dogs

The Natural Pet Food Cookbook

Dry Dog Food Recipes

While all of these recipes are nutritious and delicious, they are a bit of a pain to serve. But dry dog food keeps longer and can be served with one hand in ten seconds. Or you can make your wet food stores last longer by mixing them with some kibble.

Crunchy Dog Food

Droolworthy DIY Dry Dog Food Recipe

Homemade Kibble

Baked Dog Kibble

DIY Dog Food (video)

Cookbooks

Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs

Dr Becker’s Real Food For Healthy Dogs and Cats: Simple Homemade Food

Recipes for Weight Loss

With America leading the globe in obesity rates, it’s no wonder that our dogs get fat too. And just like us, this extra weight can have a negative impact on their health.

If your pooch needs to lose his pooch, try out a few of these recipes. He’ll get back into his beach body in no time.

Damn Delicious

Weight Loss Diet

Chicken, Rice, and Carrots – Healthy coat

Turkey, Rice, and Veggies

Shredded Chicken Salad – Low fat

Healthy Hot Air (video)

Cookbooks

Your Pet Chef Cookbook

Frozen Dog Food Recipes

For those of us who are short on time, or just like to do everything at once, making a large batch of dog food and freezing it is very handy. Take them out the day before or in the morning and they’ll be ready for Fido’s dinner.

The Farmer’s Dog

Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, and Kale

Chicken Spinach Balls

Raw Beef & Vegetable (video)

Cheap Dog Food Recipes

Getting prepped to make beef stew

Most of the recipes on this list are pretty cheap to make, especially when you cook in bulk. Here are a couple of meals that won’t dent your wallet.

Muttloaf

Beef Stew

WiseBread’s Homemade Dog Food

Cooked or Raw

Food52’s Cheap Recipe

Healthy & Inexpensive

Easy, Healthy, and Cheap (video)

Food Addins/Toppers

Whether your dog isn’t getting enough nutrients out of his regular diet or he needs extra supplements for a medical condition, adding what he needs into his food is pretty easy. And there are a lot of options. Adding glucosamine can ease joint pain and if your pup is lacking calcium, sprinkling egg shells into his meal can be a simple solution.

Of course, there are plenty of companies out there more than willing to sell you a pill or powder to add to your dog’s food but we’re talking about homemade solutions here! So check out these food toppers for improving your dog’s health:

Not-Quite Satin Balls – For weight gain

Bone Broth

Pumpkin Please – Pumpkin

Chicken Stock

Superfoods Topping (video)

Egg Shell Calcium (video)

Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs

When feeding a small dog, there are some things you need to keep in mind. They have smaller mouths so whatever you feed them shouldn’t be too large for them to eat or get stuck in their throats. They also have smaller stomachs (go figure!) so adjust their portions proportionally.

For more information on their nutrient needs, check out this article.

Chicken and Veggies

Georgie Meatloaf

Noreen’s Kitchen (video)

Homemade Food for Yorkies (video)

Dog Food Recipes for Large Dogs

This might come as a shocker to you but large dogs weigh more and have bigger bones than their smaller cousins. Carrying around all that weight means that the larger your dog, the more prone to joint pain and calcium deficiencies.

Big dogs are also more likely to have digestive issues.

Raw Diet for Big Dogs (video)

Most of these recipes will work for big dogs, just keep an eye on if you need to add supplements

Your Turn

Do you have a recipe for homemade dog food that you’d like to share? Send it on over!

The post The Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes appeared first on Central Park Paws.

from https://www.centralparkpaws.net/dog-food/best-homemade-diy-dog-food-recipes/

[heironymous-smash]

Because, come on.  CHICKEN SOUP.  A good chicken soup can slay even the nastiest physical or mental cold-weather malaise.  It also freezes great, and is the perfect thing to grab and run over to a sick friend's house.  (Also, I've noticed that pretty much every winter I post some recipe…I think it's because winter is my natural enemy, and I've been fighting it with food for quite a while now — and winning, if I do say so myself!  \o/)

I don't hold with watery or bland soup; mine is NUTRITIOUS and will stick around, keeping you full and your energy up.  (It is, in the tradition of soup, easy to digest, though.  For tender stomachs or weak digestive systems, you can dial the spicy back / make mild batches and limit or eliminate the chunks of meat.) 

I *am* a fan of broth, as a nice hot not-sweet not-caffeinated drink for the cold night hours especially.  Since I make my own broth/stock and use it to make this soup, I'm going to tell you how to do both!

(Making your own stock/broth is in no way mandatory — you can use storebought or, if you give it a little extra time and seasonings to compensate, just skip the broth altogether.  But making it is not only cheap, it actually saves you money by using ingredients you'd otherwise throw out; and it's fun and awesome to have around, so why wouldn't you?  If you have the freezer space, make stock!)

I.  THE STOCK

–  put a gallon freezer bag in your freezer.  Label it "STOCK" or something equally clever.

–  whenever you have scraps from cutting up veggies, or bones from meat, or awesome sauce left over from making a thing — seriously, basically ANYTHING — instead of throwing it away, put it in the stock bag.  (Obviously you can use only veggie ingredients to have vegetarian stock, if you prefer.)  Just fill that sucker with anything that looks like it could be a good flavoring for liquid.  Carrot tops, potato shavings, rib bones, chicken skin, the scrapings from the pan when you made that awesome thing — whaaatever.  Cooked or raw; doesn't matter as long as it's not rotten.  Just freeze evvvvvverything, until the bag is full.

–  when the bag is full, put on a large pot (the big ones are called "stockpots" for a reason) and fill it with 3-4 gallons (yup, gallons) of water.  Or just use a big pot that holds a gallon or two and make several batches.

– at some point before it boils, empty that bag into it

– check your fridge for leftovers too, while you're at it, and throw in anything that will taste good.  You're going to strain out all the bits and just use the liquid here, so almost anything you liked the seasoning of, or which contains meat or veggies that still have some flavor to offer, is fair game.  Plus, stock that has seasonings in it from past meals is always tastier than just the plain-veggies kind; AND it lets you use things you might have otherwise thrown out, so go for it!

(Gods I love stock.  Even writing about it is fun.  :D)

– bring to a boil, then lower the temperature so that it's barely boiling / simmering

– ignore for as long as you can — stock that cooks all day is wicked good, but an hour is enough for the basics.  Just make sure you leave the lid closed and keep the heat low enough so you don't boil off all the water!  If it starts to get low, just add a little more water to compensate, but try not to do that too much.

– you can add extra seasoning if you want, but I don't!  You're going to use this magic fluid for cooking other things mostly, so you'll have a chance to salt/spicy/etc it later.  Some people who really like a certain seasoning (garlic, cumin, whatever) add it to their stock for that extra-layered oh-hell-yeah flavor — go for it.  Stock is really hard to screw up, if you haven't figured that out yet!

– once you declare it Done, strain it all into containers, cool and freeze the extra.  Now USE IT IN EVERYTHING, because it's amazing and nutritious and it was free!  Dump it in soup/stew/etc., use it in the crockpot with anything, pour it over food you're cooking that needs a little moisture, you name it.

– you can also just drink stock, as mentioned above; I ususally salt it a little and yup, that's it, just drink it.  If you like tea and sometimes want a savory hot thing that's low on calories (especially if it's veggie stock, but stock made by boiling meat-bones forever is not exactly high-cal either), go for it.  You can honestly do pretty much anything with this stuff!

FOR INSTANCE, YOU CAN DO THIS:

II.  THE SOUP

– there are three layers to a good soup:  The allium layer (garlic, onions, shallots, whatever kinds of those things you like), the meat layer (if using meat; I'm just assuming you are but obviously feel free to skip it if that's your bag — if you substitute tofu or mushrooms or something though, do the same things to it that I talk about here for meat), and the veggie layer.  

– almost EVERY ingredient here is substitutable, as long as you have something from each of those three categories.  I'll make suggestions, but wow are they *just* suggestions!  You can also have just one thing, or sixty things; it's all gonna be good.  BE BRAVE, because this is some of the hardest-to-ruin food there is, given these basic steps.  

– start by prepping / chopping the alliums, chicken/whatever, and big or hard veggies like potatoes and carrots.  Go any size/shape you want. 

BTW, I REALLY like using chicken gizzards (especially hearts, but all gizzards are good really) — they're high-nutrition, wicked cheap (because they're not great for a lot besides soup) and taste wonderful when chopped smallish and cooked forever like this.

A NOTE ON MUSHROOMS:  You can add these in either with the meat, so they get super soft and seasony, or near the end, with the "soft veggies", so they stay bigger and chewier.  What you want may differ by soup, and by mushroom, so experiment or just shrug and guess; it's all good.  :)  Oh, and super crazy hint: There's an asian mushroom called the Drum Mushroom (at least that's how my local store translates it) that is ~excellent~ in soup; it's very firm and pleasingly chewy, takes seasoning well, and never disintegrates.  I use it like crazy (it's also cheap, whee) and add it in with (or instead of) the meat.

– STEP ONE:  put about 2tbsp of butter in the pot and turn it on med-high.  (Yes you can use oil, but there's no good reason to.  Butter tastes great, does the trick, and you're putting a spoonful of it into a WHOLE POT of soup.  It's not fattening in this context, lol.)  Wait for it to melt and then add the alliums and stir.  Cook them by themselves until they smell amazing and have gone clear/floppy.

– STEP TWO:  Add the meat (or tofu/whatever).  Season it about twice as much as you think you should (with any seasoning you happen to like / want your soup-meat to taste like), and cook it for a while with the alliums, until the meat looks mostly done.  You want to fry the meat to cook it, rather than boil it, because it'll be tastier and more tender.  The boiling is for the veggies.  :D

– STEP THREE:  Add the hard veggies (or just all of them; it doesn't terribly matter — I add soft veggies later to keep them from falling apart, but it's not like it's bad if they do).  Carrots, potatoes, radishes, bok choi, turnips, *any* veggies, seriously.  Whatever you've got or feel like buying, it's probably great.  (Hard things like turnips and yucca will mean you have to cook the soup a little longer to soften them, FYI.)  Then fill the pot with liquid to a sane level.  I use either half water and half stock, or if I have a lot of stock, all stock!  The more stock the tastier.  Even a little bit really adds depth to the flavor, though.

– bring it back up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and let it do its thing for at least 30m, preferably longer

– about half an hour before you want to stop cooking it, add these things:  A cup or two of rice (one cup will give it a nice heft and extra healthy-carbs; two cups will make it thick, almost a congee…I like both!); the soft veggies you want to survive intact, if any (usually celery and maybe mushrooms, for me); and a good amount of salt and pepper…and cayenne if you like your winter soups to have a kick (I do).  You want it to be not bland, and it takes more salt and pepper than you probably think to bring actual taste to a whole potful of soup — but also remember that a) soup is easy to season to taste per individual bowl, and b) it'll get more seasoned-tasting when it's reheated, so don't overdo it.  If you do though, don't panic; just add more water and cook a little longer.  You can also cut it with water to reduce the seasoning/spice when you re-heat it, if needed, too; it won't care.  Like I said, this stuff is HARD to mess up.  :D

That's it!

If you don't believe me, ask anybody:  I roll a pretty continuous batch of random-ingredient stock AND soup, and my friends and roommates vacuum it up happily, as do I.  I love that I can switch ingredients all the time; it keeps it from being boring.  And I can cook this stuff while watching TV and cleaning and napping and generally barely giving a crap about it, which is *precisely* how I like my cooking to go, heh.

Happy weather-related challenge time, everyone!  Enjoy!

[shtfandgo]

New Post has been published on SHTFandGO Survival and Emergency Supplier

New Post has been published on http://www.shtfandgo.com/2017/03/14/how-to-get-your-chicken-to-lay-more-eggs/

How to Get Your Chicken to Lay More Eggs

Does it seem that your egg collection is decreased or that your hens aren’t laying as they once did? Or the yolks are pale and lackluster, lacking the nutrients they should provide? When the chickens are part of a plan for independent living or as a structured food supply, this can put a damper on things and thwart being able to rely on them as a nutritional resource. It can be a catastrophic event in a survival situation to have your chickens stop producing a crucial food source.

Eggs come from happy and healthy chickens, so a few tweaks here and there in your program can improve egg yields immensely. In an emergency situation it may be already too late to solve the problem, so here are the top tips and tried methods for getting your chickens to lay more eggs for a bountiful future.

Remember They Are Birds

The first thing to remember is that they are living creatures with their own hierarchy and social order, literally a “pecking order.” Although they have been domesticated ever since someone discovered how tasty they were, along with their ability to be good little producers of versatile daily nuggets high in protein, the most important thing to keep in mind is that chickens still retain their wild bird instincts.

These instincts include foraging, pretending to fly, the desire to roam and scratch for their food, and the mental need to hunt their food. If you do not have the luxury of a large area for roaming, you can still build a nice comfortable coop that suits their everyday needs while providing a good diet. Meeting these needs will be rewarded with the nice steady production of quality eggs.

Put the Egg First

Before we start adding things that go into the chicken, let’s talk about output, the egg. The egg is an amazing little structure. A porous shell offers external protection, this shell mainly consists of calcium carbonate with an invisible barrier made of protein. This protective protein barrier is called the cuticle and it acts as a shield to prevent contamination from bacteria. The nutrient dense yolk is suspended in a liquid composed of protein and water called the albumen that acts as a shock absorber and cushion.

A chicken egg provides 6-7 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat, fatty acids, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. To achieve the highest nutritional output in an egg, it’s important a laying hen is provided a well-balanced diet that is nutrient rich with a diverse diet and fresh, clean water daily.

Top Reasons Chickens Stop Laying Eggs

If you have already had your chickens stop producing, don’t worry it’s fixable with just a few simple modifications!

To understand how to get your chickens to lay more eggs, we need a quick overview of the main reasons chickens stop laying eggs.

Temperature

Having chickens on the ground where it’s drafty or damp, or if they are housed in a poorly sealed coop will affect your egg production as chickens do not fare well in anything but a warm, dry environment.

Light

Chickens lay eggs as a means to reproduce. In winter when a chick has the odds against him for survival, the chicken’s body goes into shut down mode by way of its endocrine system. The endocrine system is signaled to slow production when the daylight hours get shorter.

Molt

About once a year chickens molt and that process can last 3-6 weeks. Having several ages can help negate any lags in production.

Protein needs

When the temperature turns cooler the chickens need more protein to burn as calories. If this higher calorie need goes unmet, the chicken’s body produces fewer eggs to save on expenditure.

Stress

Being prey to most animals makes a chicken nervous about anything it can’t control. Loud noises, excessive noise in its surroundings, or the scent of strange animals can almost guarantee the chicken will stop production.

The Best Ways to Get Your Chicken to Lay More Eggs

We have covered the basics in chicken husbandry and what things can affect egg production. So now for the good news! A productive flock is as important to hobbyists as well as the off the grid lifestylists. Some people keep chickens as pets of course, but for those that are primarily raising a flock for the nutrition packed eggs production can be increased with some simple finessing and system tweaks.

Here are some of the best ways to get your chicken to lay more eggs, or how to get more bang for your “cluck”!

Basic Nutrition

No matter how happy or stress free your hen is, you must provide the basic requirements in her feed in order to have your hens lay. Good quality feed supplemented with oyster shells (or leftover egg shells) need to be available for her to peck at. Clean water is a must and should be readily available 24 hours a day.

How to Feed a Balanced Diet to a Laying Hen

Supplements

Oyster shell is the most common supplement for chickens, especially laying hens as the calcium provided by the shell is needed to make a healthy and strong egg. Many, as we do, use a portion of their leftover egg shells to add to the oyster shells. Without calcium supplements, the laying hen will pull it from her bones and it is similar to osteoporosis.

Kiss my grits

Good food and quality supplements are only half the battle, you need grit and oyster shell to supply the best possible foods for your chickens so you can get the best quality eggs. When chickens roamed free they consumed small pieces of stone and gravel as they foraged naturally, this also can happen when they free-range. Chickens in an enclosure need that grit to be supplied to them as it acts as their “teeth” by grinding food in their gizzard. Without this grit, food cannot be broken down or absorbed properly.

No junk food

Much like with humans, low nutritional value foods that are high in carbs are a no-no for your chicken. Breads, white pasta, potatoes, dairy and white rice are not good for your laying hen. Of course, the comfort foods we love are dangerous for your feathered friends. No salty, sweet, or fried foods and especially no alcohol!

This is a list of foods that can be toxic for your flock:

No spinach

No asparagus

No citrus

No onions

No raw beans that have been dried

No apple seeds

No eggplant

No avocado

Health conscious chicken treats

There are many things you CAN feed your chicken to promote more eggs and give them a healthy boost.

Oatmeal

Cottage cheese

Pumpkin

Melons

Sweet corn

Ginger

Broccoli

Kale

Spaghetti squash

Cucumbers

All grain pancakes

Mealworms

Hot tip: spicy. I had many people tell me that adding some red or green peppers boosted vitamin C and the chickens loved them.

Shed Light on the Subject

A hen needs 12-15 hours of light a day to provide the best production numbers in eggs. Installing a light can help keep the production even during winter, or on cool nights. Lights infused with red can prevent cannibalism and keep the coop soothed and calm.Most chickens lay their eggs by 10 am, so after egg collection it’s time for your hens to go out and get some fresh air and light.

Build a Proper Coop with These Tips

There is no one specific design that is best for a chicken coop. But there are a few basics to consider when making a coop.

Personal space

Allow 2-3 square feet of space per laying hen and it is easier to build out later on if your flock increases in size.

Flooring

Dirt is not a deterrent to predators as they can easily dig under the edges. Wood can rot and house parasites. Concrete is expensive and can crack over time. The most current materials used for chicken coop flooring are vinyl over plywood. Plywood also can be easily replaced as needed.

Roosts

Each hen should have at least 8 inches of roost space.  The most common way is to use a 2×4’ with the wider side facing upwards for the roosting bar. This protects those delicate feet in winter from biting cold and frostbite.

Make nest boxes a priority

A good way to make egg collecting easy is to use nesting boxes. A nesting box also protects the egg and helps keep it clean. One rule of thumb is to have one nesting box for every 3-4 birds, and install them about 2 feet off the floor. A layer of soft litter like wood shavings or hay can provide cushion for the egg while absorbing droppings.

Coop ventilation

Year round air ventilation is a must for a healthy coop. A good measure of thumb is 1/5th of your wall space should be vented. We used hardware cloth to cover the vents to keep off the little varmints and creepy crawlies. Be sure to use washers and screws to secure it down and check it regularly for any rips or holes.

Keep a Clean Coop

No matter what system you employ, the main thing is to provide a nice place to live, avoid overcrowding your chickens, and keep them in a clean and dry environment. A regular schedule of laying fresh litter in their houses and removing droppings will help the hens from tracking feces and dirt into nesting boxes and the eggs within. Hens flourish in hygienic conditions and it is advisable to have a quarantine period for any new stock before they are introduced into the flock.

Disinfection

There is a lot of controversy on this. Many swear by bleach, but I do not like it around my animals or eating stock. After some trial and error, I use vinegar to disinfect my chicken coop and lots of elbow grease. I like to disinfect at least every few months by cleaning out everything and then giving it a good hosing. A liberal spray down with vinegar is next and then time drying in the sunlight, which also helps kill bacteria. I soak any bowls or feeding dishes in it, then leave them to dry in the sun also.

If you have your chickens on a dirt floor, you may want to use hay over barn lime to keep things dry and hay is dust free, unlike straw. It does need to be changed every week, but it can be added to the compost.

For smaller flocks, use a tarp. You can lay it out and then cover it in hay. It is easy clean up, as when cleaning time rolls around just fold that sucker up and drag it to the compost pile. Disinfect with vinegar before adding more hay and rebedding.

Rodent Control 101

Rodents can be devastating to a coop and any community they move too. Unfortunately chicken coops are a magnet for mice and rats. The main timeframe is the harvest in fall. Its then that rats will try to invade as their main food supply source is depleted. Colonies of mice will spring up by buildings and they tend to stay inside.

The biggest indicator that you have a problem is droppings. A rat has 40 droppings daily versus a mouse’s 80! This contaminates feed and exposes you, your livestock and your flock to diseases which can include salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and brucellosis.

Rodents are also responsible for more than 25% of all farm fires classified as “unknown origin.” These nocturnal dwellers can easily be underestimated, and can wreak havoc on your flock. They are predators and will seek out chicks. Rat infestations can consume hundreds of chicks a day.

The best steps to take to eliminate a rodent infestation around your chickens can be summed up in these 5 methods.

Tidy the coop

Deter the vermin by taking away all places they could set up shelter. Brush, woodpiles, or scrap piles should be well away from your coop.

Lock the feed up tight

Metal trash cans or drums are the best at deterring the little disease carriers, make sure the lid locks tight.

Build a wall or barrier

A mouse can squeeze into openings the size of your little finger, so sheet metal is the best bet to line your coop. Make sure your doors are in good repair with no entry points.

Trapping the pests

Physically removing the rats and mice is the best remedy. Place traps around the perimeter. Colony traps that hold many mice at once may be a good option.

Rodenticides

A last resort of course, and rodents can become immune, so switching it up is needed. Keep it away from other livestock and only in extreme circumstances do I use this. But if it’s between my flock and the mice, I do what I have to.

Thoughts on Confinement Vs. Free Range

Confinement and free-range options for keeping your flock have their advantages and disadvantages. Birds that can free-range will have more room and more opportunity to fulfill their need to be “free” to forage and hunt. But risks are abundant with threats by disease and predators. Being able to identify and find eggs quickly, as well eliminate problems in a timely manner is a plus to being in an enclosed environment.

Access to the Outdoors can help provide variety in their diet as well as plenty of time to take sunbathing and dust bathing seriously. But to me it’s not worth the risk to have them outside and unprotected 24 hours a day so we use a chicken tractor in summer and poultry netting in spring.

What Is a Chicken Tractor?

A chicken tractor is an attachable mobile coop with a trailer hitch that can be moved around so the chickens can have fresh grass and foraging area. It helps spread their fertilizer around the fields as well as keep bugs down as they have fun “exploring” their new surroundings. A happy, healthy hen is your most productive hen.

Exercise

Hens with more belly fat are impeded when it comes to producing eggs, so basic exercise is a must for physiological and mental health. Letting them scratch for their food gives them an activity that boosts base metabolic rates and keeps them warm and limber in winter. Throwing the girls leftover veggie table scraps or fresh cut grass and weeds straight from the garden will keep them happy little ladies.

Cabbage heads (the ends) and older lettuce pieces are fun to peck and I use the compost provided as they turn their food into the dirt and manure for my melon and survival gardens. Other ways to boost compost value would be to add corn cobs, carrot greens, melon rinds, kale, corn silks, or any other veggie leavin’s you may have. My girls love the after dinner treats and are lined up at the chicken yard’s gate waiting for them every evening!

Give Them Things to Do

Nothing is as fun to watch or as sweet as observing hens taking a dirt bath. Chickens like being clean and dirt baths are a way to do this and they promote healthy feathers by whisking away oils, sweat and parasites. If you do not offer a dirt bath, most flock owners come to find their chickens in the flower garden or in the crops.

A few sources claim wood ash is good for a bath or diatomaceous earth, but I believe if I need a mask to be around it then it will get into my flock’s lungs also. I much prefer building my own dirt bath with a simple container that’s 24 x24” and at least a foot deep, or dig a hole and fill it. I use sand and dirt. This type of bath promotes sweet smelling ladies that are lice free, and it’s chemical free so you can’t beat that.

Stress Reduction

Stress is one of the top reasons why chickens stop egg production. A big stressor is also the cold on the body, as well as parasites irritating your chickens. Irritants such as pets, children, and loud music can affect production also. Chickens need a quiet, safe area to relax and claim as their own.

When bringing in new chickens, keep in mind that is a big stressor and production may stop for a few days to weeks as they adjust to their new surroundings. This is normal and soon they will pick back up where they left off when the transition is over.

Do you need a rooster to get your chicken to lay more eggs?

A rooster adds commotion and not much value to your flock unless you plan on raising hatchlings. For egg production, a rooster can make things worse. Plus half of your hatchlings will be roosters so be prepared to find new homes or cull the male chicks.

Culling for Optimum Production

Many people do not like the thought of culling their flock. For optimum production taking out the older laying hens and replacing them with young pullets not only keeps a chicken rotation going, but will release the need for the care of the older hens into retirement.

It is much more humane to find a loving home if you are attached. In situations where every resource has to not only produce, but be a functional part of a homesteaders life, it is better to butcher the older hens than let feed than can go to younger ones in their prime laying years be wasted on them. Soup stocks and frozen meat can last quite a while.

Final Thoughts

Life with chickens is a rewarding experience in any homesteader or food self-sufficient lifestylists program as there are so many ways chickens can help in a garden and around the homestead.

Integrating a chicken flock can benefit a homestead with a constant supply of nutritional eggs, quality compost, and meat when needed. Starting a flock is inexpensive and with just a few tips and tricks you can have those chickens laying more eggs and start to stockpile your bounty. In the old days, every yard had a few chickens pecking around as the eggs were a means of survival. Now it is becoming more and more popular to raise your chickens as the nutritional value and taste of fresh eggs are so much better than anything you can buy in a store.

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[centralparkpawsblog]

The Best Homemade Dog Food Recipes

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Why I Switched to Homemade Dog Food

A few years ago, I came home to find my poor 16 year old pup lying on the ground in agony. I quickly rushed her to the vet to find out that she had broken her back leg, probably from something as normal as jumping down from the couch, and had to have it amputated.

But that wasn’t the whole story.

It turned out that her bone was extremely brittle due to cancer.

That terrifying ‘C’ word.

The vet recommended a biweekly course of chemo for my baby. It would cost about $500 a visit and there was only a 30% chance of survival.

I decided, after seeing my aunt and stepfather go through the process, that I would rather enjoy the remaining time I had with her rather than subject her to that poison.

Of course, I didn’t just take it lying down, I researched as much as I could about the condition and what I could do about it.

That’s when I came across an article (can’t find it now, unfortunately) that led me to believe that Lady’s food might have something to do with her problems. So I decided to do something about it.

I began cooking her meals of chicken (livers, gizzards, breasts, etc), black beans, and rice in a big batch every Sunday evening.

Within a few weeks, my old girl was acting 10 years younger, her coat was looking better than it had in years, and she was much less “snippy” with the other animals.

She outlived her “life expectancy” by 3x, and passed away happy and full of life. My final memories of the dog that had been with me for all of my major life events are of how she really was, not slowly, painfully deteriorating away.

And I credit that to feeding her homemade dog food instead of relying on a big brand mystery bag.

Why You Should Make Your Own Dog Food

If that story wasn’t enough for you, there are many other reasons to ditch the bag and make your own dog food.

First, I would like to point out that commercial pet food is much less regulated than you think. The FDA and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) have rules in place but they are not as strict or scrutinized as hard as human food.

Which means that these companies can put almost whatever they like into your dog’s food. And they put a lot of trash in there. Why do you think pet food is constantly getting recalled? And pet owners CONTINUE to buy it!

So that’s why you shouldn’t buy commercial pet food but here’s why you should make your own:

Homemade pet food typically has more nutrients, less preservatives, can be tailored specifically to your furry friend, and actually costs less than store bought food!

That’s right, you can save money while providing your pup a healthier food option.

And if your canine companion has health issues like irritable bowel syndrome or allergies, DIY dog food can make a huge difference.

How to Make Your Own Dog Food

Making your own dog food really isn’t difficult as long as you follow a few simple rules.

First, unless your pup needs a special diet like grain free or vegan, you should try to stick to this meal ratio: 50% protein, 25% veggies, and 25% grain. You can also follow this ratio of 40-60% raw meat/protein, 20-30% cooked starch, and 20-30% raw vegetables/fruit.

Second, be sure to know what foods dogs can and can’t eat. I’ll go into this more later.

Lastly, add supplements to their meals to make up for nutrients that they aren’t getting from the food alone. There are 6 essential nutrients that every dog needs.

The National Academies of Sciences has put together an amazing resource detailing which vitamins and minerals dogs must have and the exact amount to feed them daily based on age.

But don’t start worrying that you’ll need to take a science class to feed your dog, we’ve compiled a collection of over 80 recipes below that cover almost every type of diet.

Resources

Adding Fresh Foods to Commercial Food

10 Foods You Should Be Adding to Your Dog’s Food

Create a free custom recipe

What Should and Shouldn’t Go Into Your Recipe

Of course, dogs can’t eat all of the same foods that we can. So before you start whipping up something in the kitchen for your pooch, you’re going to need to know what you can and can’t feed a dog.

Can

Here are some popular ingredients to use when cooking for your pup. These are only the most popular so if you’re not sure, consult an authority like your vet or a trusted website like the AKC or PetMD.

Proteins

The protein portion of your dog’s diet can come from poultry (chicken, turkey, etc) – including organ meats such as livers, hearts, and gizzards – eggs, beef, tuna, salmon, venison, lamb, or pork (be mindful of the fat though).

There are also a few less common safe meats like kangaroo and rabbit, just check with your vet before adding to your menu.

Veggies

Some of the best vegetables to add to your pet’s bowl include broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, celery, cucumbers, green beans, peas, spinach, and sweet potatoes. So basically everything that your 3 year old won’t eat.

Grains

If your dog has a grain allergy, or you just prefer a grain free diet, feel free to skip this section. If grains aren’t an issue to you, especially for larger dogs who take more to fill up, oatmeal and rice (preferably brown rice) are great choices and they are ridiculously cheap.

Supplements

Which supplements your dog needs will depend on what you choose to feed them and what conditions they may have. For example, glucosamine would make a good addition for older dogs – especially those with arthritis.

For dogs with digestive issues, you may want to try out a probiotic.

We’ve also included a few recipes down below for “toppings” to add to your dog’s food that can make up for missing nutrients.

Resources

6 essential nutrients for dogs

Dog’s nutritional diet

Foods for senior dogs

Can’t

Here are some of the most common foods that are dangerous to dogs. This list is not exhaustive so if you’re not sure, do your research first.

Grapes/raisins

Cherries

Avocado

Onions/leeks

Macadamia nuts

Garlic

Brewer’s yeast

Alcohol

Avocado

Uncooked spinach

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine

Citrus

Coconut and Coconut Oil

Milk and Dairy

Nuts

Chives

Xylitol

Yeast Dough

Tips for Making DIY Dog Food

As with most things in life, preplanning can make your life a lot easier. Many of these meals can be made in large batches and used throughout the week (obviously you should refrigerate it).

Most of them can also be frozen if you decide to make a really big batch. Don’t worry, I’ve included a section for that too.

And if you don’t have enough freezer space, you can also can your homemade dog food for long term storage.

Lastly, if you’re making a meal with eggs, don’t throw away the eggshells, add them to the mix for extra calcium.

Choosing the Right Diet for Your Pet

The diet that you ultimately decide on for your pet will, of course, depend largely on your pet (breed, age, medical conditions, size, etc), your budget, and your schedule.

There are meals that can help with diabetes, healthy coats, arthritis, allergies, weight loss, and diarrhea. There are also recipes specific to puppies or senior dogs.

Here are a few resources:

Choosing the right diet

Pet diet types

Dangers of homemade dog food

Homemade Dog Food Recipes

I know that was a lot of information and you’re probably overwhelmed. But really all you need to do is pick a diet plan and then choose a recipe that you like from the list we’ve compiled.

Many of these meals can fit into multiple categories (like a grain free puppy food that can be made in a crockpot) so be sure to scan through them all.

If you can’t find one you like, you can create a free pet recipe here.

Healthy Dog Food Recipes

While almost all home cooked dog food recipes are healthier than commercial pet food, the ones below are specifically designed for dogs with diabetes, arthritis, diarrhea, and general health.

Mini Omelettes – Vet approved

Ruby Stewbie – For diabetes

Healing Mash – For Diarrhea

Hamburger, Lettuce, and Tomato – Holistic

Multi Grain Dog Food Recipe – Multi grain

Arthritis Dog Food Recipe – For arthritis

Arthritis Stew – For arthritis

Chicken Casserole

Meatloaf

Holly’s Healthy Homemade Recipe

Pancreatitis Recipes – For pancreatitis

Cookbooks

Feed Your Best Friend Better

Home Cooking for Your Dog

The Dog-Gone Good Cookbook

Dinner PAWsible

Dog Food Recipes for Puppies

Puppy Power Smoothies!

Puppies need extra nutrition to feed their growing bodies. These recipes pack in a lot of nutrients into a smaller package. You might want to think about adding supplements to your puppy’s food as well.

Puppy Power Smoothies

Snap Guide’s Puppy Food Recipe

Puppy Stew

Daily Puppy’s Home Cooked Recipe

Puppy Patties

Recipes for Senior Dogs

Older dogs require a different diet than their younger counterparts. Their food is generally easy to chew and has supplements for joint pain relief. Cutting calories while maintaining protein intake is also important as their metabolism slows down.

Auntie Stew

Restless Chipotle’s Low Protein Senior Recipes

Daily Puppy’s Elderly Dog Recipe

Grain Free Recipes for Allergies

Grain free meals have many benefits over those with corn, wheat, rice, soy, or oats. Many dogs have an allergic reaction to soy, corn, and/or wheat, causing them to scratch incessantly, develop sores, sneeze, or have digestive issues. Fortunately, switching to a grain free diet can solve many of these issues quickly and without medication.

It is important to note, though, that many dogs are also allergic to protein sources such as beef, chicken, or eggs.

You can also make any of these other recipes grain free by following this guide.

Food Pucks

Chicken Liver Meatballs

3 Little Pitties Raw Food (and grain free) Recipes

Doggy Fishcake (video)

Cookbooks

Gluten-Free, Grain-Free Dog Food and Treat Recipes

Trudy’s Holistic Grain Free Dog Food Recipes for Home

56 Homemade Dog Food Recipes

High Protein Recipes

Most dogs, especially younger ones, need a large amount of protein. Pregnant and lactating dogs also need a lot of protein. Canines are not carnivores though, they are omnivores like us. So don’t feed them just meat.

High protein diets can also be used for weight loss since extra protein doesn’t get stored as fat.

Beefaloaf

Doggie Chili

High Protein Puppy Chow

Cookbooks

Good Food Cookbook for Dogs

Dog Obsessed: The Honest Kitchen’s Complete Guide to a Happier, Healthier Life for the Pup You Love

Better Food For Dogs

Low Protein Recipes

Woofloaf

Low protein diets are typically recommended for dogs with kidney disease. However, the article above, by T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM, argues that that myth was started by a study using rats, not dogs. And rats don’t eat meat naturally.

Eggs and Potato (and more) – There are 9 recipes in this list

Woofloaf

Recipes for Kidney Failure

Cookbooks

Becker Animal Hospital & Pet Resort’s Cookbook

Raw Food Diet Recipes

While there is a lot of hype around raw food diets, both for pets and humans, many vets aren’t as quick to jump on board. Some even recommend cooking the meal before serving (is it still raw food at that point?).

If you do decide to go with a raw food diet, be careful of salmonella. Up to 80% of animals on raw food diets were exposed to it.

Midsummer Farm Homemade Fish-Based Dog Dinner – Can be frozen

Jenny’s DIY Raw Dog Food Recipe – Grain free

7 Day Raw Food Plan (video)

Cookbooks

The Healthy Hound Cookbook

Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog

Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs

Easy Crockpot Dog Food Recipes

I don’t know about you but I absolutely love my crockpot. It’s almost magical how I can put food into it in the morning and come home to a meal.

If you want to cut down on the time you spend cooking your dog’s meals, a crockpot can do that for you.

Scooby’s Organic Stew

Easy Crockpot Dog Food

Chicken and veggie crockpot

Double Meat Slow Cooker

High Iron Dog Food Recipe – High iron

Crockpot Chicken

Home Cooking Low Fat Recipe (video)

Beef Stew with Chef Poodle (video)

Cookbooks

Feeding Your Finicky Pooch

Dr. Greg’s Canine Crock Cuisine

Vegetarian Dog Food Recipes

As we established before, dogs are omnivores. Which means they eat meat and plants. So can dogs survive and stay healthy on a meatless diet? The short answer is yes (but NOT cats).

For those owners who would like to switch their dog to a vegetarian diet, there are a lot of options. Here are a few:

Black Bean Bowl

Kale and Quinoa

Fruit and Veggie Melee

Homemade Sweet Potato–Peanut Butter Vegan-Dog Delight

Dr Ben’s Vegan Dog Food Recipe (video)

Cookbooks

Homemade Vegetarian Dog Food & Treat Recipes

Dog Food Love: Allergy-Free Recipes, Vegetarian Edition

Simple Little Vegan Dog Book

Vegan Dogs

Natural Dog Food Recipes

Preservatives and chemicals are what you’re trying to avoid by not buying dog food from the store. So why would you use foods with preservatives and chemicals when you’re making Fido’s dinner?

Turkey Veggie

Chicken Rice Balls

Ace’s All Natural Dog Food Recipe – Organic

Salmon Delight

Cookbooks

Cooking for Dogs

The Animal Wellness Natural Cookbook for Dogs

The Natural Pet Food Cookbook

Dry Dog Food Recipes

While all of these recipes are nutritious and delicious, they are a bit of a pain to serve. But dry dog food keeps longer and can be served with one hand in ten seconds. Or you can make your wet food stores last longer by mixing them with some kibble.

Crunchy Dog Food

Droolworthy DIY Dry Dog Food Recipe

Homemade Kibble

Baked Dog Kibble

DIY Dog Food (video)

Cookbooks

The Homemade Dog Food Bible

Why Leave It to Chance?: Best 50 Homemade Dog Food Recipes

Recipes for Weight Loss

With America leading the globe in obesity rates, it’s no wonder that our dogs get fat too. And just like us, this extra weight can have a negative impact on their health.

If your pooch needs to lose his pooch, try out a few of these recipes. He’ll get back into his beach body in no time.

Damn Delicious

Weight Loss Diet

Chicken, Rice, and Carrots – Healthy coat

Turkey, Rice, and Veggies

Shredded Chicken Salad – Low fat

Healthy Hot Air (video)

Cookbooks

Your Pet Chef Cookbook

Frozen Dog Food Recipes

For those of us who are short on time, or just like to do everything at once, making a large batch of dog food and freezing it is very handy. Take them out the day before or in the morning and they’ll be ready for Fido’s dinner.

The Farmer’s Dog

Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, and Kale

Chicken Spinach Balls

Raw Beef & Vegetable (video)

Cheap Dog Food Recipes

Getting prepped to make beef stew

Most of the recipes on this list are pretty cheap to make, especially when you cook in bulk. Here are a couple of meals that won’t dent your wallet.

Muttloaf

Beef Stew

WiseBread’s Homemade Dog Food

Cooked or Raw

Food52’s Cheap Recipe

Healthy & Inexpensive

Easy, Healthy, and Cheap (video)

Food Addins/Toppers

Whether your dog isn’t getting enough nutrients out of his regular diet or he needs extra supplements for a medical condition, adding what he needs into his food is pretty easy. And there are a lot of options. Adding glucosamine can ease joint pain and if your pup is lacking calcium, sprinkling egg shells into his meal can be a simple solution.

Of course, there are plenty of companies out there more than willing to sell you a pill or powder to add to your dog’s food but we’re talking about homemade solutions here! So check out these food toppers for improving your dog’s health:

Not-Quite Satin Balls – For weight gain

Bone Broth

Pumpkin Please – Pumpkin

Chicken Stock

Superfoods Topping (video)

Egg Shell Calcium (video)

Dog Food Recipes for Small Dogs

When feeding a small dog, there are some things you need to keep in mind. They have smaller mouths so whatever you feed them shouldn’t be too large for them to eat or get stuck in their throats. They also have smaller stomachs (go figure!) so adjust their portions proportionally.

For more information on their nutrient needs, check out this article.

Chicken and Veggies

Georgie Meatloaf

Noreen’s Kitchen (video)

Homemade Food for Yorkies (video)

Dog Food Recipes for Large Dogs

This might come as a shocker to you but large dogs weigh more and have bigger bones than their smaller cousins. Carrying around all that weight means that the larger your dog, the more prone to joint pain and calcium deficiencies.

Big dogs are also more likely to have digestive issues.

Raw Diet for Big Dogs (video)

Most of these recipes will work for big dogs, just keep an eye on if you need to add supplements

Your Turn

Do you have a recipe for homemade dog food that you’d like to share? Send it on over!

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