Last Updated on October 31, 2023 by Michelle
It seemed so weird… but when I saw a company selling them as dog treats, I started wondering how to dehydrate chicken feet for Bixby.
First of all I spent many weeks researching this, even talking to the owner of a raw dog food company. (Catch the fun conversation on Episode 7 of Season 3 on my podcast: Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy.)
Are dehydrated chicken feet good for dogs?
I learned that chicken feet are high in glucosamine, which I had been buying for him in pill form for years to help with his hip pain. As I’m working at incorporating more real food, and not as worried about convenience, with my own diet, I was intrigued that I could treat Bixby daily with something he would long for, and look forward to, and also feed him real, whole food instead of making him take a pill.
Are dehydrated chicken feet safe?
Even after the days of dehydrating (yes, warning, it’s not fast), and being assured by experts that chicken feet would be really GOOD for Bixby, I was kinda terrified giving him his first one. I watched every one of his happy crunches and bites closely, worried he would choke.
I quickly learned my fears were unfounded. He not only did GREAT with his first chicken foot, they immediately became his favorite treat ever, still today, years later.
In the beginning, I did cut off all the toenails before dehydrating the feet, using my gardening sheers. Some folks say this is imperative but Bixby has been eating the feet with the nails ever since that first batch, with no problem. But if your dog is small, not-so-healthy, or you’re just not so sure (as I wasn’t), feel free to remove the nails. It only takes a minute if you have good sheers.
How long does it take to dehydrate chicken feet in a dehydrator?
It takes about 48 hours for chicken feet to be “done” in the dehydrator.
I did defrost bags of frozen feet, from our last meat bird dispatch, to make my first batch, and they may have been slightly frozen still which would have added to the time of course.
You’ll know your feet are “done” and ready for storage when they have no flexibility or juiciness in the padded parts and the skin. They will be very hard and dry. Once they’re all dry, take the chicken feet out of your dehydrator and let them cool completely.
At what temperature do you dehydrate chicken feet?
You want to dehydrate your chicken feet at 150 F for roughly 48 hrs. I can fit 2 dozen feet in my dehydrator, using only every other tray, since the feet are so thick.
How long do dehydrated chicken feet last?
- I love these chicken feet from my favorite raw food company who also offer many other amazing functional treats.
- And these chicken feet are great. I will often toss on an extra bag of feet when I’m ordering Bixby’s dog food from here, so I reach the free-shipping level.
How to Dehydrate Chicken Feet
- Wash feet
- Clip nails (or remove them all together) with garden sheers, if you prefer. (optional)
- Line dehydrator trays with feet.
- Run dehydrator at 150 degrees for roughly 48 hours.
- Remove feet when they are hard and dry and there is no flexibility or juiciness in the padded parts or the skin.
- Let feet thoroughly cool well/air dry.
- Store in glass jars with sealed lids or mylar bags or storage buckets.
More of Bixby’s Favorites
More Details About Pets on the Homestead:
Training your dog to be chicken friendly
When your dog gets sprayed by a skunk
Lies the pet food industry is feeding us (podcast)
5 things you need to know about raising barn kittens
Dog training & great dog products
Who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky? Job 35:11
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OMG when I saw this I had to laugh. I mean, really…chicken feet? See way back on 2007 I went to China on a whim…glad I went but wouldn’t go back, and a snack they sell in their convenience marts is chicken feet. So that is what I thought of when I saw this. Girl it brought back memories form that country and all the mystery food that was presented to us. What a trip. I am sure my dogs would love this so much that I might be inspired to try this some day. The only thing is what does it smell like? See I don’t have a garage or any other place to do it so they would be dehydrating away inside….
You are cracking me up! And crazy enough I dehydrate them right in my kitchen. The smell has never bothered us.