I have just worked out I am spending around £80 a month on feeding 3 collies on a barf diet! Where am I going wrong? I buy 16 400gm blocks of tripe a week at 56p each, two packets of chicken wings at £2.27 each and 2 packets of offal at around £1.20 each, plus sardines, veg, rice and yogurt on a monthly basis. I added this all up to be about £16 a week. I was horrified. I can't keep this up any longer and wondered if you could point me in the right direction. I buy all the meat from the supermarket, except the tripe which comes from Pets At Home.

I don't want to change back to commercial and didn't get on with Burns. Any ideas gratefully received, as ever.

Claire and 3 skinny collies.

That's one of the reasons I'm a 'half-and-halfer'! There's no way I could afford (money-wise or time-wise) to completely BARF my four, even if I wanted to.

Dividing your cost for 3 collies,that's about £6.50 per dog weekly? about the same as we pay for Spice BC.She has nature dietx1pk and a couple of small handfuls of JWB,plus her raw veggie treats.So even a non barf diet works out about that price :) That's without the occasional raw chicken wing or two and the raw bones for her teeth on occasion.I didn't think this was too much,but then again I don't have 3 mouths to feed :D
Jacqueline :)

Ouch! It cost me £80 per month to feed my two commercial food - since changing to BARF it has gone down to £35 :) I think the reason its so expensive for you is because you are buying from supermarkets - if I run out of carcasses I feed wings (from the supermarket) but they cost me £1.27 for one meal, where as the equivalent price I pay for carcasses is £0.30 per meal.

Perhaps you could see if there are any poultry wholesalers or abattoirs near you who will supply your meat cheaper? I also buy my tripe for about 2.5 times less than you can buy it for at Pets at Home.

Its worth looking around for a good supplier :)

Blimey!!!!!!!!!! I pay between 22p and 40p per pound for my raw feed and suppliment that with free chicken carcasses...so I would estimate I spend about £17 per month to feed my 4 dogs.
Archer

i get chicken wings for 75p a bag with roughly 42 in bones and other no good bits come free, chicken mince and tripe is 22p lb we go late to tesco and get the natural yogurt on the reduced. Go to your local butchers and they can probably sell you stuff at bargain prices

I think the problem is how much you are paying for your food. Barfing is not any more expensive in my experince that complete.
My 400g packs of minces tripe , good quality grade is 30p  , my trays of chicken wings are £1.12 each from Tescos. I pick up tescos cheaper beef mince at around 50p a tray.. my fish I get in trays whether salmon, sardines, whateever never cost more than £2 a tray. It doesn't even cost me £80 with 5 westies, a lab and a cat :-))

Where do you live you could get your stuff less than half the price you are paying.

I barf my two and it costs me about £30 a month. I get free ribs, trotters, spleens, chicken etc weekly from the butcher and I buy raw minced frozen meat (£20). I buy cheapo veggies from tesco and then they have an egg each per week. I do not feed any rice or pasta. Sardines I get from Lidl and they have those once or twice a week as well

The butcher is the key :)

Forgot to add that our butcher once a month gives us a huge sack of chicken carcasses FREE

You need to bargain hunt I think :-)

Have a look at www.Prizechoice.co.uk their minimum order has come down from £90 to £35 and their tripe is a LOT less than 56p a bag
I feed it to my 3 setters and I don't spend any thing like what you do.

Pets At Home prices are expensive.  If you have got an ESK near you this should be a lot cheaper and even be cheaper than ordering direct form Anglian Meats.  Buy the large packets not the small ones as the large freeflow stuff is VAT free cos it says it is for working dogs.

If you still feel BARF is too dear why not feed half BARF and half a good quality commercial such as All In One, Burns, Nature Diet, Denes etc.

Steer clear of the multinationals - they are a rip off and their methods for producing food are way below what I would consider desirable.

This tripe is VAT free and 'for working dogs'. Trouble is, my dogs can only eat chicken RMB - everything else upsets their stomachs, which is one of the reasons I feed barf -  commercial is seriously dodgy! I did look into Naturediet but that would mean 6 packs a day at least so still very expensive. One of my biggest problems is lack of storage space. We only have a small freezer and the dogs have a drawer so everything has to be bought weekly. That puts an end to bulk buying. I have found butchers will only sell chicken in large quantities and usually ready frozen. And before you say it, no I can't get another freezer - nowhere for it to go! :rolleyes:

I used to feed Burns but one of the dogs didn't get on with it too well. He was underweight, starving 24/7 and squitty. I haven't tried the others mentioned by Seddie but might give them a go.

Thanks everyone for your thought and suggestions. Keep 'em coming. :-)

Claire

I did look into Naturediet but that would mean 6 packs a day at least so still very expensive.

That would actually work out a bit more than you are paying now - it cost me £70 per month to feed two dogs on Naturediet (5 packs per day) and that was buying it in bulk from a company (I then spent £10 extra on recreational bones, pigs ears, treats etc).

If you can't buy in bulk it does tend to push the price up :( We have two freezers (one being a chest freezer) and still run out of space :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I have ordered a sack of All in One, which is certified holistic and has an official stamp from the holistic guarantee people - BNNR or something! It is under £33 for 15kg and should last my three a month, so a lot cheaper. I can then still feed RMB and the odd can of oily fish without upsetting their stomachs.

I have room in the shed for bags of food, unlike the freezer! ;-)

Claire

Under what statutory body are BNNR claiming their "official" status?

Official status of British Association of Holistic Nutrition & Medicine
http://www.bahnm.org.uk/

Christine, Spain.

But who appointed them, what makes it "official"?

Isabel I think seeings tho its only you who wants/needs to know, the onus is on you to find out :)

Christine, Spain.

I think we do know ;)

Know what???

Christine, Spain.

That they are self appointed.

Is it just me who has noticed this, but has anyone else noticed Isabel following people around on Champdogs just to argue with and pick holes in everything they say? :rolleyes:

These people have a code of ethics they have to follow. I am capable of checking that they do by noting the ingredients on the bags, which by law have to be true. Whether they are self appointed or not is irrelevant to me, as long as they are doing what they say they are, which as I said, I have checked.

The fact that you have not done much research yourself on this is obvious - you didn't even correct me when I originally called them the 'BNNR'...............

I don't believe I have ever responded to one of your post ClaireH before this one, well I can't remember doing so, so I am not sure why you think I am following you around.  I asked the question because I had never heard of the BNNR only when Christine told us who they actually are was I able to look at their website to see whether they were an "official" body.  If you did not know who they were either why was it so important that your food was "officially" approved by them, if it is important to you that your choice be organic or whatever just go for it you don't need anyones approval :)

Claire i have noticed, you aren't cracking up lol.

Can you help me find the thread where I have spoken to Claire before then, thedark? :)
I seem to have offended her but I don't remember it.

I've noticed there are several posters who get seriously affronted if you ask for clarification ...

I've not critisised Claire's choice of feeding in anyway, I have only questioned this associations authority to pronounce on a company, presumably charging a fee passed onto the consumer.  I have a few foodie issues myself and if someone pointed out a possible exploitation on those issues I don't think I would be shooting the messenger :)
I don't know where the accusations of following round have come from the only person on this thread I have conversed with lately was yourself and Christine and she posted after me...................you don't think she's following me round do you?

Only joking Christine :D, I think we are all entitled to place posts wherever we want especially those who know how to conduct themselves civilly even in quite heated debates :) without recourse to personal insults.

>Is it just me who has noticed this, but has anyone else noticed Isabel following people around on Champdogs just to argue with and pick holes in everything they say<

ClaireH and thedark,no your not cracking up.I have said this exact same thing on numerous occasions.

Go back and read some of my posts if you want,guaranteed 9 times out of 10 the aforementioned poster appears under my post ready for a confrontation and argument,and ofcourse stupidly i oblige everytime :rolleyes:

Are you following me, Rose? :D

I find it a topsy turvey world when the very people who advocate never taking a professional opinion without question are most likely to be the ones who resent any enquiring into their views.  I don't understand it myself, I am always happy to explain my rationale, even if it based on no more than a hunch, that way people know exactly where you are coming from and you never know you might win them round to the same view point :)
BTW I'm still not sure who I am supposed to have followed here to this thread, do you know?

What is it that you think is wrong with them Isabel, is it that you do not have any respect/trust for self appointed bodies?

Christine, Spain.

They may or maynot be trustworthy but I think it is worthwhile knowing if there is any governing body, for them to actually be accountable to, as a factor before you make your decision.

But they are accountable Isabel, they are an official association & thats why unlike you, I didn`t put the official in brackets ;) The very fact they are registered with the registry of associations,clubs & charities entitles them to use the word official. Besides having to abide by the law of the land, as we all do, they also have to abide by the rules of the registry & then lodge with the registry their own set of rules by which the association will be governed & regulated.

Christine, Spain.

Thats true, Christine, but I believe that makes them accountable only to financial audit but its all useful information on which people can base their decisions :)

No, financial audit is not the only thing they are accountable for.
They state very clearly on the link I gave you for them what their aims are & what they do, they must abide by what they state, they cannot breech their rules/regulations :)
The same as any association or club etc, be it the kennel club, dog breed club, British legion etc :)

Christine, Spain.

But do the registry of associations, clubs & charities regulate it in the sense of dictating how many inspections must be carried out each year, what the inspection must include, who would be qualified to inspect etc?  This is what you might expect from a Government appointed agency.

Hi Isabel,

Can I ask why, as you're clearly a highly inquisitive soul, you don't Google for some of the info you enquire so much minute detail about?  Obviously it's good to bring many details out to as wide an audience as possible but you seem to keep questioning the same people about the same subjects time and again and yet never appear satisfied that they provide you with sufficient data   Therefore would it not be easier, more rewarding and considerably quicker to investigate some of these matters yourself if all the ins and outs are genuinely so intriguing?

Regards, Teri :) 

I`ve no idea Isabel!!!! My goodnes I know I can be cynical at times but you sure take the biscuit!!!!
I do know that what they say they do, they have to comply with it & do it otherwise they are in breech of their rules & regs. Do you ask this of the kennel club, your breed club, AA, RAC, royal legion & thousands of other associations that comes across your life??
Don`t answer that with another question!!! :D :D

Christine, Spain.

I'm sorry if your find being inquisitive a bad thing, Teri and Christine.  I am rather surprised to hear you say it Christine!  Not sure what the point of a forum like this is then.  Of the other associations you mention the only ones I am a member of is 2 breed clubs and a breakdown service.  I can attend the breed club meetings and I receive a year book so in a way they report to me direct and my breakdown service turns up when I break down so alls well there :)
Phew, avoided any questions :D

*Phew, avoided any questions * lol :D :p
Yea but inquisitve & inquisitive tho. I`m a member of few things as well & as long as they do what they`re supposed to I`m happy. They`ll also have to give their members the equivelant of year book/report & be answerable to them as well ;)
Best leave govt to running country or should that be trying :D they got the fingers in enough of peoples life as it is!!

Christine, Spain.
ps I just used examples of other assc. as first thing came to mind

OK We'll leave it at that :) The discussion's gone on so long the food has gone out of fashion again :D

Lol@Isabel :D

Christine, Spain.

Hi Isabel,

I didn't say that being inquisitive was a bad thing ;)

>Phew, avoided any questions<

and avoided any answer too :P

Teri

Now we have established enquiring is not a bad thing :) I will answer your question.
I did Google for information about this association but could not establish from their web site whether they had any official standing (or my interpretation of official anyway ;)) it was possible that ClaireH had discovered more than this so I felt the question was worth asking.

>you seem to keep questioning the same people about the same subjects time and again

My original question was to ClaireH who I do not believe I have ever had a discussion with before, Christine, who I do discuss things with sometimes, chose to respond but I do not believe I have ever discussed this subject with her before, in fact I do not remember any thread about this subject before.
Perhaps you would care to answer (one more ;)) question from me, three people have entered this thread and commented in the same manner, as not one of them has bothered to contribute anything to the topic, am I to assume that they have only come here to berate me?  If the answer is yes perhaps a reaquaintance with the TOS might be in order.

Hi Isabel,

I fail to see why you assume I can personally comment on anyone else's reason for contributing to this or any other thread   I asked (very politely) why you were not making your own investigations because on this topic, as with quite a few others, you have been noticably persistent in responding to questions answered with still further questions ;)  There is nothing wrong with anyone asking questions - indeed as you've mentioned that is part of the point of such forums - what I don't quite follow is that you appear to expect a level of in depth knowledge from certain posters about subjects which they themselves are not professionally involved.  Ergo if the need for intricate facts and accuracy is vital, why not pursue answers from a source which you deem more able?

Just because you have chosen to take umbrage to my previous post does not suddenly make the reason for my post less relevant nor, for that matter, warrant the add-on regarding TOS - strange indeed that someone so fluent in posing questions should be so offended by being asked one.

Teri 

Isabel

My comment did not apply directly to me, more towards other posters towards whom I had noticed you popping up with hair splitting or impertinent questions. Maybe it is not so much as you asking questions that grates on people, as the attitude you appear to ask them with, whether or not intended. Snidey comments as opposed to open queries come accross as demeaning and with a lack of respect. If you genuinely wanted to know where I found the information about the BAHNM, fair enough, ask. Or if you had some information you felt necessary to pass on, then again, fair enough, share. But to write bitty comments with no explanation makes you appear rude, although I am sure you are not really.

That, IMO, is what is getting peoples backs up. It certainly did mine.

HTH, Claire

My original question is utterly straightforward, what I asked is what I wanted to know!  I am not interested in your personal opinion of me nor do I think it has anyplace in a discussion.  If you think my question was out of order I suggest you contact Admin otherwise I suggest we stick to topic.

Responding with questions is part of discussion, personally I find civilised discussion far more useful for the openminded to learn from, on both sides of the opinion, rather than mere pronouncements such as, such and such food will give your dog cancer or if you dog sleeps in a certain place you do not love it and you better just believe me!

>certain posters

Yet again I will tell you my original question was to ClaireH, who I do not believe I have ever had a discussion with before!

I have never objected to answering questions I am always happy to give a rationale behind my thinking :) you were the first of the beraters to actually ask a question! which I hope I have now adequately answered.

Isabel,

Thank you for your reply.

>personally I find civilised discussion far more useful for the openminded to learn from, on both sides of the opinion<

I could not agree more.

>you were the first of the beraters to actually ask a question<

I have not berated you Isabel - I merely asked a question in general terms based on having read many of your posts on a variety of threads.  Asked, and answered.

Regards, Teri

>beraters

Sorry, I should have put a smiley after it, I was using it a bit tongue in cheek I don't think its a real word is it? :)

Probably not - but I won't make a drama out of it!
Teri :P