Here is an update on my Homemade Dog Treat Chicken Jerky making...
I bought a Nesco FD-80 Snackmaster® Square Dehydrator & Jerky Maker from Walmart for $60. I justified the cost due to me being a heavy gardener (at least 13 Tomato Plants were planted this year) and I plan to use it to make the homemade dog treat chicken jerky as well as drying veggies and fruits from my gardens and fruit trees. (I'm sure my hubby will make Deer Jerky with it also)
The above batch of dog chicken jerky was made in the new Nesco Dehydrator. I love it since it has a fan in it to circulate the heat, it has a temperature setting also (up to 160F) and it comes with 4 trays (4 extra trays can be bought cheaply) and will hold up to 8 trays (I bought the 4 extra trays, so I have 8 total). It did take less time to make this batch of dog chicken jerky (about 15 hours less time). I started with 4.79 lbs of boneless/skinless chicken breast which was equal to about 8 medium sized chicken breasts. They were sliced 1/8" to 1/4" thick. I filled up all 4 trays and they were packed in there pretty close together on the 4 trays. (no overlapping but some touching each other). I set it to 160F and it took about 9 hours for all of it to dry. I rotated the trays around and flipped the chicken twice during the full 9 hours. I unplugged it after 9 hours and let everything sit over night. In the morning they were ready to be bagged up and place in the freezer. (I keep them in the freezer now at all times and I just take out one when I treat the dog).
I decided to run the costs again on what it costs to make them at home vs buying the nasty China made ones. Here is the run down. (not including the cost of the dehydrator, but I think the $60 cost is well worth it because you could easily X that by 10 if your dog gets sick from feeding them "made in china" dog chicken treats or any kind) - You can use your oven or a cheaper costing dehydrator to make them.
MADE IN CHINA Dog Treat Chicken Jerky Prices (Walmart Online 6/15/12)
Milo Brand - 20 ounce pack for $11.98 = $0.60 per ounce*
Milo Brand - 14 ounce pack for $9.98 = $0.71 per ounce
Waggin Train - 22 ounce pack for $14.88 = $0.68 per ounce
Waggin Train - 5 ounce pack for $4.97 = $0.99 per ounce
*your boneless/skinless chicken breast meat from your butcher or fresh meat dept. would have to be $2.99 lb for your cost to be $0.60 per ounce. Most non-organic boneless/skinless chicken breast meat runs less than $2.99 per lb. (see below)
HOMEMADE Dog Treat Chicken Jerky Prices (how to make them info is here)
Buy only Skinless/Boneless Chicken Breast Meat from your butcher or the fresh meat dept. Do not buy frozen or unfrozen with water or saline solution added to the Chicken Breasts as they are loaded with wet additives that weigh down the meat and will only dehydrate out of the meat.
Below is based on 4.79 lbs of Non-Organic but Fresh Unfrozen Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts from the Fresh Meat Dept or Butcher. (which was about 8 medium sized boneless/skinless chicken breasts)
Find your on sale or everyday price below to see what they will cost you to make
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $1.99 a pound (avg. on sale price for my area)
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $9.53 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$9.53 divided by 24 ounces = $0.40 per ounce
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $2.29 a pound
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $10.97 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$10.97 divided by 24 ounces = $0.46 per ounce
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $2.49 a pound
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $11.93 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$11.93 divided by 24 ounces = $0.50 per ounce
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $2.59 a pound
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $12.41 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$12.41 divided by 24 ounces = $0.52 per ounce
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $2.79 a pound
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $13.36 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$13.36 divided by 24 ounces = $0.56 per ounce
~ Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast @ $2.99 a pound
Purchased 4.79 lbs for $14.32 from Meat Butcher
4.79 lbs (raw) yielded 24 ounces of dried chicken jerky
$14.32 divided by 24 ounces = $0.60 per ounce
FYI - My diabetic dogs get a half dollar size piece of homemade chicken jerky treat each time he gets his insulin shot (which is every 12 hours). Diabetic dogs have to stay on a strict high protein and limited calorie diet which is fed to them every 12 hours.
