differences/advantages to commercial raw?

[zoologist]

I am switching my ferts back to raw soon, and wanted to know if there is a difference or advantage to going the commercial raw route as opposed to 'homemade' raw?

I am not too fond of the commercial raw because of the additives to the patties. yes, i understand that he majority of it is raw meat but why add all the fruits and veggies?
here are the ingredients in stella and chewy's raw chicken patties:
Chicken (ground with bone), chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic apples, organic blueberries, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, direct-fed microorganisms (Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Enterococcus faecium), magnesium oxide, natural tocopherols, vitamin E supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, vitamin D3 supplement.

also I am not too fond of the price... granted, it is a lot easier than cutting, grinding, mixing and everything i'll be doing to get Lily on raw...

[sherrylynne]

When I use commercial raw, I tend to use the Nature's Variety. Two reasons, really. One is that it's sold at a store pretty much across the street from me . Second is that it's less expensive than Urban Carnivore, which is just meat/bone/organ, and nothing else.
Pluses would be most are already in correct portion size(1 oz patties) You KNOW they are getting what they need from bone and organ- no guessing/hoping/thinking they've actually eaten that bone rather than stashing it somewhere you'll find it a week from now! And no convincing to eat liver/kidney
downside is no tooth action what so ever. And it is much more expensive than raw meat/bone/organ. That, and what you've already noticed. A bunch of stuff added you don't need, and that you have no control of what goes into their diet.

[Heather]

I use commercial, to give my guys a variety that they wouldn't normally get if I was to make it myself. I have way too many to rely on commercial to be able to feed economically and I don't like the fact that the grind is so fine. It does help my old 21 yr old toothless cat to eat raw though
ciao

[zoologist]

I am VERY lucky. there is a lady in orlando (1 hour from me) who does raw diets for dogs and sells raw meats. she can grind whole (organs, meat, bones) chicken, duck, turkey, lamb, pork and rabbit for a VERY decent price. I can portion it out myself. I plan on getting all of those different sources of protein and rotating them daily. Monday is chicken, tuesday is duck, etc. Maybe on sundays I can feed chicken wings/legs for the bones? that way they get tooth action?

I WANT LILY TO BE SWITCHED OVER NOW! haha