wild critters

**puppydaze** · 03-17-2008, 12:42 PM

All right folks

what concerns should I have about feeding a pup wild critters ???

this would be after we've slowly week by week introduced the usual proteins.
In the fall he will be getting venison but I was curious about varmint type critters like muskrats and raccoons.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

**WillV341** · 03-17-2008, 01:06 PM

dang varmints!

sorry I couldnt help you, Ive just always wanted to say that...

that came off a little weird...

**ObedienceLabs4Me** · 03-17-2008, 01:22 PM

A friend of mine, her husband hunts so each year after he gets his deer, I get all the venison they had left over from the previous year. In fact, Caleb had venison steak this morning. He loves it!

**Apollopuppy** · 03-18-2008, 02:10 PM

By varmints do you mean road kill? I know some ppl who feed road kill, but I personally wouldn't. The crushing of the body allows bacteria to enter the carcass. If you are talking freshly killed, is it legal to hunt raccoons and muskrats? (i dont know because I dont hunt).

If you do feed wild I would freeze everything you get to kill/slow the growth of certain pathogens. But what if you get a rabid raccoon? Then what? I really dont know, so I'm not saying "do it!" or "don't do it!" I guess I am as curious as you are.

What do the rest of you guys think?

**Baloo317** · 03-18-2008, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Apollopuppy

By varmints do you mean road kill? I know some ppl who feed road kill, but I personally wouldn't. The crushing of the body allows bacteria to enter the carcass. If you are talking freshly killed, is it legal to hunt raccoons and muskrats? (i dont know because I dont hunt).

If you do feed wild I would freeze everything you get to kill/slow the growth of certain pathogens. But what if you get a rabid raccoon? Then what? I really dont know, so I'm not saying "do it!" or "don't do it!" I guess I am as curious as you are.

What do the rest of you guys think?

That's pretty much my line of thought. Not only rabies, wild animals can carry a plethora of problematic diseases/parasites. I wouldn't, personally.

**ObedienceLabs4Me** · 03-18-2008, 02:24 PM

I would not use racoons or skunks, rats, etc. I do use venison. I would consider rabbit, too. Think about it, if your dog got loose, what would it survive on? Rabbits, squirrels. maybe a deer. But, I would stick with stuff I know people eat themselves. Would not use roadkill persay. Do know a man who hunts who got a deer cause he say it get hit, called the Sherriff's department and got the proper stuff to be able to take it to get dressed and he ate it. But, he saw it get hit.

**Apollopuppy** · 03-18-2008, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Yellow Boys Mom

Do know a man who hunts who got a deer cause he say it get hit, called the Sherriff's department and got the proper stuff to be able to take it to get dressed and he ate it. But, he saw it get hit.

yuck! I dont care if I see it get hit or not, i personally would never eat roadkill, simply because when something is crushed it starts the decomposition process faster. *cringes* that's a brave man lol, a lot braver then I.

-Giuli

**puppydaze** · 03-18-2008, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the responses folks.

we will be doing venison in the fall when my husband can get out hunting - can't wait for that!

we have been racking our brains for economical meat sources and one of the things he thought of was the carcasses that fur trappers have. Now someone has brought up parasites so I guess we will keep trying to figure out how to get MM we can afford.

I've been talking with all the butchers in town but they don't seem to work with the whole animal anymore.
Chicken is the most economical but I want more protein sources in his diet. Did find pork shoulders for .79/lb so I guess it may just be searching until I find those deals and stocking up on that - luckily we have a freezer!

Thanks again for your thoughts.
Trac