Chicken Drumsticks

[teekay]

I've been meaning to ask this on here for a while now. I have read numerous times that when feeding raw, weight bearing bones should be avoided because of their risk of splintering and or they are too hard and can break teeth. Obviously the chicken drumsticks are not going to break teeth but I suppose they may fit in the first category, so, my question is; Do you feed chicken drumsticks and have you ever had an issue?

I used to feed wings but read somewhere that they didn't have enough meat on them so the bone to meat ratio was way out and drumsticks were better, so I started feeding drumsticks and have for the past year or so. No problems so far but have I just been lucky or is the risk pretty low?

Decided to do a poll (my first one, hope I did it right :) )

Edited August 25, 2014 by teekay

[sheena]

I couldn't vote as I HAVE fed them in the past but I don't come under the category of DO YOU FEED. I had no problem with them, but I feed turkey necks, which I think are fairly balanced.

[sandgrubber]

Ditto Sheena.

I have fed them. I would much prefer frames. But if the supplier has only drumsticks, I'll take them. This hasn't happened very often. Never had a problem with drumsticks, but they seem riskier than frames. I'd avoid feeding them to a small dog or puppy. I don't much like wings either.

[teekay]

Thanks. Maybe I should add another option. I'll go try :)

Yay, it worked. Hope I worded it right. It's hard to cover every situation :)

Edited August 25, 2014 by teekay

[silentchild]

I've avoided feeding drumsticks because I tend to worry about that long, thin sharp bone most of them have, but I don't know if they really do pose a real risk or not. I do feed wings occasionally and they often have the little drumette bit attached, I have had no problems with those.

[persephone]

'Chicken' legs are hardly the same as bones from a mammal - they are constructed to be light - so have a lot of air spaces, They are also not hard from weight bearing, really , as the poor chooks only live 6 weeks or so, and don't walk much at all...

Remember , dog stomachs are made to digest bone ..and I think chicken bone would digest pretty quickly before causing problems .

I have fed, and do feed them ...but prefer feet , or turkey wings :)

[Brandiandwe]

I feed chicken frames, turkey necks, sometimes chicken drumsticks, but my dogs REALLY love turkey drumsticks. Mind you, sometimes the meat is almost the same size as their head, so their eyes pop our when they see them and their other meal of the day needs to be adjusted accordingly, but they've been find. They also don't eat the long sharp bits and leave them for me to pick up (or DH top stand on).

[Steph M]

We have no drama, and we have hoover dogs!

[suziwong66]

i don't feed them to brown dawg because of the splinter factor but i also don't feed him turkey wings because he tends to vomit up bone shards -

[Maddy]

I have fed drumsticks but only when I couldn't get frames. Frames have much softer bones and I just feel a bit safer with them. Plus, they can be stuffed with meat and frozen, which the dogs enjoy in the warmer months.

[trifecta]

I voted yes, but just to clarify I don't feed multiple drumsticks at a time. When my two get chicken, I cut a no.11 or no.12 bird down the middle & they get half each :)

[pie]

I feed every other piece of chicken - but not drumsticks, my dogs are small though (9 & 6kg) I probably would if I had a large dog.

[WreckitWhippet]

Not my preference

[Staffyluv]

I will buy them just to change things up.

I buy drumsticks, chicken wings, turkey necks, turkey wings and lamb ribs most of the time - I also buy brisket bones but they seem to be really fatty these days and he doesn't do well with a lot of fat.

[halfthewords]

Carl and Jag eat them, way too big for the Min Pins, though. Takes them a few minutes each to eat so it doesn't do much in the way of their teeth, but neither of them scarfs it down :)

[Guest Clover]

I no longer feed them after one dog choking to the point of unconsciousness. We thought she was a goner. But we were able to get the bit she was choking on back up thankfully and get her going again.

[Dame Aussie]

Yes we feed them, usually frozen, but I prefer carcasses as they're more substantial . We've never had an issue with either :)

We also feed turkey wings and legs and lamb necks.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Dame Aussie

[Tay.]

I feed them and have had no issues with both my Golden Retriever (who hoovers his food) or my Border Collie (who has better table manners).

[DeltaCharlie]

Never had a problem with them but they cost too much to be a good option with 11 dogs! Frames are much cheaper LOL. Ours also get turkey wings.

[LisaCC]

Nova can't eat chicken but I've fed turkey drumsticks.