What is the best way to store dehydrated chicken? I work with irradiation (gamma ray) regularly with my job in biotech and it’s used to safely sterilize millions of medical components, when it behaves with the materials in the product! I do want to say, in regards to food safety, that while it is true that our dogs can handle the pathogens found in raw meats, they are also capable of shedding them, thereby passing them on to us. Feeding raw bones are recommended for calcium and phosphorus. Love my dehydrator, I’m new at trying homemade treat for my dog. If you have no idea where to start when buying a food dehydrator, I would consider a budget-conscious Nesco or a super-duper Excalibur (if you’ve got the dough – i don’t even own one yet). I have an 11 year old German Shepherd that loves them. It did to me up until a year ago. Or did I overcook it? Otherwise, like you said, pre-cook the meat in the oven. I’m dehydrating a sample batch now after putting baking it in the oven. I never thought of using a slicer, since I always considered them to be well out of my price range. All-Natural Chicken Feet Treats for Dogs Campfire Treats’ crunchy, dehydrated chicken feet for dogs are a perfect chew for smaller breeds, and a welcome snack for larger canines. Super easy!! You may be able to find them locally, but shop around, some are marked up as they’ve become kitchen decorations rather than actually used items. It’s commonly lumped into the same category as onions, which are highly toxic to dogs due to the thiosulphate concentrations. Not only that, but the production of chicken feet dog treats also prevents unnecessary waste from the chicken meat industry. Hell, my parents even bought one. Do not totally freeze the meat solid or use frozen meat just out of the freezer, as it will be too much for the motor on the meat slicer to handle and you will kill your meat slicer! That might help out here! I know to wash hands anyway but like putting a bit down in the side before giving it to our dog, do I have to be aware of it? Thanks for your comment. If needed, dehydrate longer. Debbie – Once I’m proficient and move quickly on these, I might try other types of meat treats. // ]]> DISCLAIMER: This article, originally published in June 2011, came well before the FDA issued warnings on chicken treats made in China. My dogs love “salmon” treats and I would love to make my own with salmon or cod if the meat will produce a jerky through this process. Also, how long will it last? If I were to make beef jerky, I would recommend you use the leanest cut possible to start. Do you have a recipe for beef jerky for dogs? I was glad to run across your instructions for my two old girls, because I didn’t want to add salt into their diets the way human jerky does. My cat loves dehydrated chicken. I have been making chicken strips for years. Chicken feet also offer the benefit of naturally brushing your dog's teeth. Cut the breasts into strips, making sure that they’re 1/4” long and then lay them across each tray of your dehydrator. I have been making my own chicken “crack” (we call it) for my corgi for years now, and just got a new dehydrator for Christmas. LOL I do the ground turkey in their food. The best and easiest method I’ve found is to place them in a storage jar with a gasket. Since I doubt any of these chemicals come out of the chicken meat during dehydration, but rather concentrate in the meat itself, I recommend avoiding the unknown consequences. I found you post very helpful. calvinthecanine.com/2019/07/18/homemade-dehydrated-dog-treats My dehydrator’s top temperature is 158f which on manual says thats the temp for cooking meat. I’ve put them through the food processor and formed them into meat balls. I’ve done a lot of reading and asked a couple of veterinarians about this and the information I get is that raw garlic (or onions) is not good for dogs, however, garlic powder is ok since the toxic chemical is virtually eliminated in the processing of garlic powder. Very welcome Patrice! What tempted me to try them is because they are generally half the price per pound of breasts and tenderloins. I have been buying chicken jerky from a local producer for a while now and they really are well made. Good luck and happy drying. But now they are getting older and I got paranoid. add sugar as an ingredient Since moving to Fl my Westie has been having ongoing skin issues due to yeast-so making my own eliminates the added sugar problem! Place the chicken feet in your food dehydrator, arranged so that none are touching. I decided I could make these, and this helps! However, since dehydrating isn’t the same as cooking with heat, but rather just pulling the water content from the meat, I think that’s why the meat doesn’t turn white. If you want to store them long term, I bet you could just store them in a freezer bag or a pickle jar in the fridge. Im sure theres a sweet spot between temp, cook time, and dryness. One additional tip I can provide, a good butcher will slice the chicken very thin for you. They should keep them good long enough before you’re ready for another batch! How can I make them soft, but cooked thru. We stopped at the nearest town and this awesome vet saved her. I first bought dried chicken feet in the pet shop 3 years ago for my new puppy Flo. To make them softer, I would take them out of the dehydrator sooner, so they are still pliable/chewy. Dehydrated Chicken Liver Dog Treats Recipe. Place them on the dehydrating tray. You can search the web or go on Ebay and buy one pretty reasonable for around $25 – $50. Garlic, on the other hand, doesn’t contain these high amounts of thiosulphate. Its good to hear that other people have used garlic powder without ill effect. So sorry to hear that Jane, but I’m glad he’s okay now! I don’t guarantee this is a perfectly safe alternative, but I’ve been feeding it to my dog, and as long as it’s good quality chicken, I personally feel better using it. First time user. I’m so excited to try your recipe for the dehydrated chicken strips. I find that I sometimes get these tiny bits of dehydrated/melted chicken stuck in between the screens on the trays, which I either have to pick off or use a green abrasive sponge to remove. http://patricedodd.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/labor-of-love-and-economy/. I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about seasoning this for your dog either! I do have some, but they are more intended for long term food storage. Undigested jerky treats can cause choking and stomach upset as they take longer to digest). Microbial buildup isn’t a huge cause for concern, but it’s better just to be safe and prevent ruining your treats from an excessive buildup over time. Use the same prep as the chicken jerky, cut into about 1/4″ strips and dehydrate 8-12 hrs, checking it for texture after 8. The directions were awesome and the jerky turned out perfect! Cut to about 1/8" to 1/4" thick. I’ll include a link at the bottom of the main post that has an example of what I’m talking about. HI, I live in UK. My workaround was to just have it on a small, but heavy gauge power strip (the ones with the beefy cord to handle the load). So excited because I’ve never made any jerky or anything dehydrated. Hope this helps! Thanks for your response. Luckily, most trays are also dishwasher safe, so that’s my go-to method after making a batch of jerky. But the peace of mind and reward of making them yourself far outweighs the time! //