Brookcove...if I want to cook a whole chicken

stanton

for Dakota and have the bones be part of the diet, I need to stew the bird for at least 24hrs??

It differs but that's approximately right. Until the bones get crumbly.

Do the cooked bones supply the calcium to offset the phosphorus in the meat, like it does with RMB's?

The ratio is "close enough for government work."

Also, once cooked, can I freeze portions and defrost safely? Meaning, will the bones still stay soft?

Yes, it will remain as a squishy stew. 

If you do this as pretty much the whole diet (except for added organ meats of course) - I recommend investing in one of these deals:

It's a slow-cooker roaster, but it's big - that's a turkey in the picture. I don't know how I would live without mine. I don't cook that much meat but it's wonderful for the family too. And I can steam a week's worth of veggies and fruits for the puppers' diets all at once - plus fish. If you do it this way, you can cook three chickens, or several pounds of quarters, or a turkey (dirt cheap around the holidays - takes TWO days to cook the bones down, though). Probably that would get your through the week so you aren't having to cook so often.

Good luck!

Thanks a bunch!

I do have a huge turkey pan just like you posted; used to be G-Ma's.

Off to the store....makes this cooking idea again so much easier!

Yep...got one of those too. Maybe I'll do that.....some people around here start complaining when chicken's been cooking ALL DAY let-alone if I have to cook it for more then 24hrs.