Portioning raw food

[hopps]

So I finally found a guy that grinds rabbits whole with everything but fur! He sells them in 2 lbs packages. How do you guys portion out the meals?

Do you guys thaw one day at a time or a few days at a time? Is it safe to thaw all the food I buy for the sake of portioning them?

 

[LTS3]

If the package is frozen, let it thaw a bit in the fridge and then portion the meat out into a day's worth of meal or so. Then re-freeze.

 

[missmimz]

Is it a complete meal or do you need to mix in supplements? For raw that is a complete meal (like Rad Cat) i thaw in the fridge and then portion out in 4oz containers. Sometimes i thaw partially and then portion out, other times i let it thaw completed (I get busy and forget). For meat that i need to mix supplements into i thaw in the fridge until its completely thawed or mostly (takes a few days) and then mix in supplements and portion into 4oz containers re-freeze. I take a couple days worth out of the freezer at a time, as my fridge is cold and it takes a day or so for 4oz to thaw. 

 

[hopps]

It's just whole ground rabbit, does that need supplementing? Last time I checked I dont think it was necessary (at least I hope it isnt!) I think I'll just stick with portioning it out by week because I dont really feel comfortable thawing out the whole thing every day. 

 

[silverpersian]

The sources I have checked (catinfo.org and others) recommend supplementing ground rabbit as well. The idea is that the supplements replace the nutrients lost as a result of grinding.

 

[lonelocust]

How are nutrients lost as a result of grinding?

 

[silverpersian]

My understanding is that it's not the grinding that causes nutrient loss, it's that ground meat has more exposed surface (as compared to a chunk) and it is the exposure that causes the loss. I am not an expert in feline nutrition, so the main reason I supplement is that feline nutrition experts recommend it. I take their word for it

 

[lonelocust]

Ah I see. Thanks!

 

[maureen brad]

Hopps, it does need supplements. It isn't optional. Only 15% of the weekly diet can be unsupplemented. I use Alnurtin for Meat and bone. I buy it from Hare-today .com. It is very easy to do.

 

[nora1]

Rabbit is very low in Taurine. If you're feeding this protein for weeks on end, you need to supplement. The bone content might be too much as well...watch the stool to see. You may need to add muscle meat to thin out the bone ratio.

I make a batch of raw using raw meats, then portion into 2 days worth, then freeze. I then take out a "portion" and thaw in the fridge for the 2 days it's needed.

 

[feline03]

I have been using Rabbit now for about 4 months.  I grind my own.  The butcher thaws it and cuts up the whole rabbit for me.  I do supplement it with boneless chicken thighs.  See Dr. Piersons recipe update on Cat Nutrition.  use 50/50 blend bone ratio.  You do have to add supplements.  That is not an option. 

I've had my three cats on raw now for a year and have cured one of my cats idiopathic hypercalcemia feeding it to them.  My other cat was overweight and is now perfect.

I have a 2 year old domestic whom I am having a litter box problem with lately; FLUTd VS. constipation.   I am actually picking up 30 lbs of meat to make 6 batches of food today and am cutting the bone ratio to equal parts whole rabbit and boneless chicken thighs.

I do top the food with Pure Bites freeze dried chicken or they won't eat it.  They used to eat chicken only and than I made the mistake of trying rabbit and they won't go back to all chicken now.  That's OK.  I am still saving a lot of money making my own than buying it.  As much as $125 a month.