Dog Community

Crockpot chicken

Pam

Posted : 10/31/2006 10:19:12 AM

How long do you have to cook chicken in the crockpot before the bones get mushy and able to crush. My crock setting only goes to 10 hours.

I cooked some chicken breast split with rib bones for 8 hours yesterday and the small rib bones were still hard. Where there was marrow, that part was crushable.

sandra_slayton

Posted : 10/31/2006 10:25:26 AM

I cook either just thighs or the entire legs, but cook for about 24 hours. I just did a batch of chicken stew for mine. Sunday night I put 5 pounds of chicken thighs in the pot, covered them with water, brought to boil, reduced heat and cooked over night. Yesterday monring I added a little over a pound of chopped calf liver (I use ground turkey sometimes), two large chopped sweet potatoes, a very large yellow squash cut up, a bag of frozen green beans, and since I put in a squash this time, I only put in one peeled, cored, and chopped apple, and some garlic powder Brought to boil on high, then turned down heat and cooked til 6:30 last night.Bones crumbled. Dog s enjoyed this added to their kibble. have enough stew to go 3-4 more meals for them.

dyan

Posted : 10/31/2006 11:04:54 AM

I started my 5 lbs of chicken thighs around 5 pm on Sunday and also cooked all night on low with just a little garlic and just enough water to cover. Monday morning I added a large bag of veggies,,,and some fresh apples chopped and cooked until around 7 on Monday... and the bones were soft by then, they were still whole and didn't look like they would crumble but they did...believe me, I think I tried everyone of them before feeding Bubby. She is still eating it,,,there is only one of her, tonight is probably the end.
Sandra, have you tried any beef cuts? I would like to try that next.

jjsmom06

Posted : 10/31/2006 11:33:46 AM

I have never cooked the bones long enough to include in the meal. So it is safe then if you cook it to death???

I usually just use boneless chicken breasts (fresh when there is a rockin sale or frozen when there is not).

I cook chicken and beef at least once every 10 days and I just started cooking lamb and apples in the crockpot for the pups. I think this is their favorite! [

]

sandra_slayton

Posted : 10/31/2006 11:48:11 AM

I think you could use any kind of meat and veggies that are safe for dogs, any combination. My dogs get about 1/3 of the cooked, 2/3 kibbles and to be safe I do give them a multi vitamin, an EsterC, fish oil, and Vit. E. They just love their stew. And this morning I put fresh cooked pumpkin on their breakfast--from the one grandkids & I carved yesterday--and they really enjoyed that also. Since I don't put a lot, I have enough to probably last a week for all 3 dogs.

willowchow

Posted : 10/31/2006 12:40:09 PM

I thought you weren't supposed to feed bones unless they were done in a pressure cooker or something like that???

jjsmom06

Posted : 10/31/2006 12:41:26 PM

I thought you weren't supposed to feed bones unless they were done in a pressure cooker or something like that???

Me too..can someone explain this. I am confused [&o]

sandra_slayton

Posted : 10/31/2006 12:46:50 PM

When cooked for 24 hours in crock pot the chicken bones will look just like normal fried chicken bones. But you pick them up and they crumble into almost a meal like substance in your fingers. I have a total phobia about mine and bones after seeing what happened to to that lab pup, but I am totally comfortable with the bones cooked this. It think the difference is pressure cooking is done under the pressure and much faster (I assume that is how the salmon, etc is done because those bones also go to mealy form when smushed betwen figners) and the slow cook crock pot does the same thing only it takes much, much longer.

PS I do crumble each and every bone and distritbute them through out the stew.

dyan

Posted : 10/31/2006 1:04:02 PM

Yeah,,you described it just about right Sandra...like the bones in canned salmon. I always love to eat those believe it or not!!! The little round ones!

I usually just use boneless chicken breasts

I WANT to keep the bones in, hoping that there is still something good left in them by the time they get cooked to death. They need the calcium from the bones.
I guess one day when I see a good price on beef I will try it and hope that those bones also get crumbly.. don't see why not. Bubblegum and Ollie are used to meat on top of their kibble,,,but maybe only about 1/2 cup or so....but when I did this chicken there was so much of it that I was giving her about 1 cup kibble and 1 and 1/2 cups chicken stew. But I don't really think I want to do that very much,,,I think I feel that the kibble is more balanced, so next time I won't make quite as much for her, and just go back to adding some on top.

jjsmom06

Posted : 10/31/2006 1:24:25 PM

Bubblegum and Ollie are used to meat on top of their kibble,,,but maybe only about 1/2 cup or so....but when I did this chicken there was so much of it that I was giving her about 1 cup kibble and 1 and 1/2 cups chicken stew. But I don't really think I want to do that very much,,,I think I feel that the kibble is more balanced, so next time I won't make quite as much for her, and just go back to adding some on top.

I always end up with WAY too much crockpotted meat, so I started getting the disposable 3 oz soufflé cups from smart and final. When I cook the meat I use less than ½ of it over the next couple days and the rest I portion out into the soufflé cups and stick in the freezer.
That way I have a bunch of lamb, chicken or beef in the freezer and it makes feeding time very easy. Every night before bed, I pull out the “cups” I want to feed for the next day. I usually rotate the meats every meal or two and then will rotate in canned salmon or sardines once a week. I always have a “emergency” evangers or canned pumpkin on hand in case I run out of the crockpotted stuff.

SO do you think I could try to leave in the small lamb bones and just cook it a lot longer????

SO you know when they are OK by the way they actually crumble then??

sandra_slayton

Posted : 10/31/2006 1:59:36 PM

All I can say is to try and if they don't crumble really easy, toss them away.

Pam

Posted : 10/31/2006 2:12:58 PM

When I get home I will see if my new crockpot will stay on "low". I got a new fancy one with 4 settings,,4,6,8,10 hours. My old old crock was low or high.

You answered my question that a crockpot will cook the bones down to mush. I wondered if it had to a pressure cooker which I don't own.

HAHA My crock pot was full to the brim last nite with chicken, sweet potato, white potoat, carrots a nd garlic. It will be all gone by tonite with 2 dogs. Of course I had to add calcium since I pulled the bones out. Then I mushed it all up toghether.

The went mad for it smelling it cook all day while I was at work !

sandra_slayton

Posted : 10/31/2006 2:32:11 PM

Heck, even my hubby went nuts over the smell and asking what i was fixing for supper that smelled so good ----and i had to tell him it was stew for the dogs!

jjsmom06

Posted : 10/31/2006 2:37:42 PM

The went mad for it smelling it cook all day while I was at work !

[sm=lol.gif] I love it!!!
My guys usually race downstairs in the morning and wait by the back door to go out on a walk and go potty...but on mornings that the crockpot has been going all night, they race to the kitchen instead and put their face on the counter and take a big whiff! [

]

Pam

Posted : 10/31/2006 3:00:57 PM

DH is so picky. He refuses to eat chicken if it is not browned. If it is white looking, forget it no matter how delicious. He also considered the new crockpot as the dogs dish. Even tho I clean it up, he thinks it's tainted with "dog food" LOL I will make myself a chicken sandwich with it. Its the best!