Kerry Jane
Super Boxer
Can someone please explain the difference between a neck and a back? I am getting ready to place my first order and I am wondering what is better (for dogs just starting out on raw) - necks or back or a mix of the two?
Chicken Necks vs Backs
- Thread starter Kerry Jane
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Depends a bit on the dog, I think.
Necks are handy because they're so incredibly easy for the dog to eat. One crunch (often not even that) and they're swallowed. They can thus be a good part for young puppies (for whom they're relatively large) or for tempting reluctant eaters. On the other hand, they're not a good thing for gulpers. If your dog is inclined to inhale his food, then they're a choking hazard.
Backs are altogether a great deal more work - for the dog. It is impossible to swallow those whole, so the dog spends a fair amount of time chewing. That's great for his teeth (and for recreation - he's most unlikely to go chew your shoe afterward
), and for overenthusiastic eaters/gulpers. But a reluctant eater may decide it's too much effort and give up half way.
So the answer to which one is "best" depends a little bit on your dog, and on what else you feed. A mix of both can satisfy most requirements though (but it's wise to feed the backs first, necks after for all but the most moderate of dogs).
Necks are handy because they're so incredibly easy for the dog to eat. One crunch (often not even that) and they're swallowed. They can thus be a good part for young puppies (for whom they're relatively large) or for tempting reluctant eaters. On the other hand, they're not a good thing for gulpers. If your dog is inclined to inhale his food, then they're a choking hazard.
Backs are altogether a great deal more work - for the dog. It is impossible to swallow those whole, so the dog spends a fair amount of time chewing. That's great for his teeth (and for recreation - he's most unlikely to go chew your shoe afterward
), and for overenthusiastic eaters/gulpers. But a reluctant eater may decide it's too much effort and give up half way.So the answer to which one is "best" depends a little bit on your dog, and on what else you feed. A mix of both can satisfy most requirements though (but it's wise to feed the backs first, necks after for all but the most moderate of dogs).
Kerry Jane
Super Boxer
Well, I have one gulper and another which is very dainty and often reluctant about new things. Hmmmm, so maybe I need a bit of both to start with.
Are their any nutritional variations between the 2 - or would a pound of each be pretty much the same?
Are their any nutritional variations between the 2 - or would a pound of each be pretty much the same?
Well, it would depend a little on the backs... Some have quite a bit of meat and offal attached - but some don't. Those that do have a decent amount of meat and offal there are probably superior to necks.
It would also depend a bit on the necks. I've never actually even seen a chicken neck for sale that still had the skin attached. But I've heard of plenty people getting them that way! And that's a bit of a pain if you end having to remove skin. So, if the necks you can get are skinless, then they're a pretty useful part to include. If they still have all the skin remaining, then I think they're more trouble than they're worth.
It would also depend a bit on the necks. I've never actually even seen a chicken neck for sale that still had the skin attached. But I've heard of plenty people getting them that way! And that's a bit of a pain if you end having to remove skin. So, if the necks you can get are skinless, then they're a pretty useful part to include. If they still have all the skin remaining, then I think they're more trouble than they're worth.
Regarding backs, the ones I can get from my butcher have way too much skin attached. I am not comfortable giving that much skin to my dog. And skinning 40 lbs of chicken backs is just too much! The necks, however, have always been skinless.
I have tried backs in the past, but my guy doesn't seem to like them as much as necks. Also, they are a lot messier. He typically won't drop a neck on the floor or drag it around, but since backs require more work on his part, they frequently wind up on the floor. I clean his feeding area (a tile floor) after each meal, but it's still a lot messier with the backs.
I have tried backs in the past, but my guy doesn't seem to like them as much as necks. Also, they are a lot messier. He typically won't drop a neck on the floor or drag it around, but since backs require more work on his part, they frequently wind up on the floor. I clean his feeding area (a tile floor) after each meal, but it's still a lot messier with the backs.
It also depends on what you can get. I have never been able to get just necks. Backs and necks have a lot of skin attached, sometime the whole skin of the chicken seems to be attached to the back. Sometimes I would get whole frames (breasts and legs removed) and they were much better, but they required more chopping up. :(
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