- Thread starter
- #41
Quote:
Well, depending on how you do the math, it could be more or less expensive to feed them home raised raw. It also depends on how you raise your animals. If you free range them and are very frugal about their feed, you could come away having spent less to feed them off your farm. If you have to buy everything all new, add supplements, feed the animals store bought treats etc, you may end up raising very expensive meat! I do things like gather the "reject" corn cobs (stuff that didnt get big enough or kernel out well) after the farmers gather their crops. I gather the fallen and buggy apples and even freeze them so i can have some for winter to feed the chickens.
However, even if you end up buying meat, you can source it so its a lot less expensive. You can often buy from packing cos, restaurant suppliers etc. If you know hunters, ask for their leftovers. I get the rest of the deer after the guys take the backstraps and tenderloins. If you arent squeamish about processing stuff yourself, you can get on the deer roadkill call list, or ask any farmer friends for their downed animals. I've gotten goats and cows that died in labor or from complications or were just old. I wont kill them, but I have no qualms about doing the rest.
I see you have a cat and a ferret. You should really look into raw for them too. They are both obligate carnivores, and should not get anything but animal products. Feeding them grains as in kibble is really harmful to them. Even meat based foods arent really appropriate. Pizza has garin in it, but you wouldnt feed a horse pizza, right?
Well, depending on how you do the math, it could be more or less expensive to feed them home raised raw. It also depends on how you raise your animals. If you free range them and are very frugal about their feed, you could come away having spent less to feed them off your farm. If you have to buy everything all new, add supplements, feed the animals store bought treats etc, you may end up raising very expensive meat! I do things like gather the "reject" corn cobs (stuff that didnt get big enough or kernel out well) after the farmers gather their crops. I gather the fallen and buggy apples and even freeze them so i can have some for winter to feed the chickens.
However, even if you end up buying meat, you can source it so its a lot less expensive. You can often buy from packing cos, restaurant suppliers etc. If you know hunters, ask for their leftovers. I get the rest of the deer after the guys take the backstraps and tenderloins. If you arent squeamish about processing stuff yourself, you can get on the deer roadkill call list, or ask any farmer friends for their downed animals. I've gotten goats and cows that died in labor or from complications or were just old. I wont kill them, but I have no qualms about doing the rest.
I see you have a cat and a ferret. You should really look into raw for them too. They are both obligate carnivores, and should not get anything but animal products. Feeding them grains as in kibble is really harmful to them. Even meat based foods arent really appropriate. Pizza has garin in it, but you wouldnt feed a horse pizza, right?
