I'd like to hear what people are using to wean their pups of the mama at 4 weeks of age.
I saw that Jack suggested Natures Variety Raw/Frozen diet and I think this is great but also a little pricey.
What have others done successfully?
I'd like to hear what people are using to wean their pups of the mama at 4 weeks of age.
I saw that Jack suggested Natures Variety Raw/Frozen diet and I think this is great but also a little pricey.
What have others done successfully?
There are no reasons to wean them on anything else than raw food. If that's what you're going to feed them. Use a good grinder and feed the the same diet as you feed the adults. The milk from mommy gives them the extra fat and nutrients they need as small pups. When you have weaned them of the mother I use extra fat to pups, thats all.
I use NV in the earliest stages, only because it is already made and processed and doesn't require me chopping bone into tiny fragments with a meat cleaver by hand.
But what Skipper said is true: you can feed the same raw diet I recommend for adults (and if I had a meat grinder that ground bone, I would just do that).
My 9 week old pups right now are eating the same raw diet as my adults, I just chop of the chicken for them; I just don't have to chop the pieces that small anymore.
Jack
My butcher does the grinding for me. I feed pretty much everything he slaughters (Besides pork). Moose, deer, chicken, beef and so on. To the older dogs I also give whole cow bones, fur and all. Makes them occupied a day at least.
And therefore quietOriginally Posted by skipper
LOL true.
These pups I have are 5 weeks yesterday and have been on the NV and Primal raw. They are so active and lively that mama is 100% done with them. They are really thriving, and I would say are a week ahead of things on their activity and coordination level compared to my normal pups in the past on high end kibble. I have seen 8 week olds raised on crappy kibble that aren't near this nice. The raw feed does wonders for them.
Thank you for the responses. I was planning on using my raw diet as well since I find NV to be expensive. I just wondered if it was any better than what we would be supplying through our premium raw diet (on a fair budget). I guess it just means I have to spend more time fine chopping. How small/fine are you guys breaking the meat and bones down for this age? I don't have a meat grinder.
Where are the pups old man? Are you getting senile already at your age?
You have to cut it pretty small at that age, which is why I don't bother and use NV for a few weeks, until they're old enough to take bigger chunks.
I can't tell you an exact size, I just eyeball it. I look at their little heads, little teeth, and little throats and do the best I can.
If you're using a meat cleaver, and if you have a lot of pups, I can tell you that you will get blisters trying to cut through that much bone every day.
At least a peddler like me does
Jack
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