If you've been diving into the world of raw pet food, you may have noticed something confusing: the bone content in recipes seems to vary wildly. Some guides suggest feeding 10% bone, while others recommend 50% or more raw meaty bones. So which is it? And how can 50% & 10% be right?
Let’s break it down and clear up the confusion.
Bone vs. Raw Meaty Bone
When you see the typical 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ), the "10% bone" refers to the actual bone material, not the weight of raw meaty bones (RMBs). RMBs like duck necks, chicken backs, or turkey wings include both meat and bone. That means you'll need to calculate how much actual bone is in the RMB you're using.
Here’s where things get a little mathy.
How to Calculate Actual Bone Content
You’ll need to know the average bone percentage of the raw meaty bone you’re feeding. Thankfully, plenty of resources online offer estimated bone content for common items:
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Chicken & Duck Feet: ~60% bone
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Duck Necks: ~50% bone
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Chicken Backs: ~40% bone
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Duck & Rabbit Heads: ~70% bone
Let’s say you’re preparing a pound (16 oz) of food using duck necks, and you're aiming for a traditional 80/10/10 mix. You need 10% bone—so that's 1.6 oz of actual bone.
Since duck necks are about 50% bone, you’ll need 3.2 oz of duck necks to get that 1.6 oz of bone. The remaining 1.6 oz of duck neck counts toward your muscle meat portion.
This method gives you precise control—but requires a bit of math and tracking depending on what RMBs you're using. It also requires you to do math for each different RMB you choose to use.
The Simpler Route: Percentages of Raw Meaty Bones
Some raw feeders prefer a more relaxed approach—using percentages of raw meaty bones, not just the bone inside them. You’ll see recipes that call for 40–50% RMBs by weight. In this case, you don’t need to calculate how much bone is in each cut. You’re simply feeding a portion of the diet made up of whole items like duck feet, rabbit heads, or chicken thighs. So, for a pound of food you would use 8 oz of raw meaty bones.
This makes meal prep much faster and more flexible—especially if you’re feeding a wide variety of proteins and cuts. Just keep in mind that not all RMBs are created equal. Some have more meat than bone, and vice versa:
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Chicken thighs have more meat than bone—so they may lead to softer stools.
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Rabbit heads have a lot of bone—so they can firm things up quickly.
That’s not a bad thing! Firmer stools can help naturally express the anal glands, so occasional bone-heavy meals can actually be beneficial—as long as it’s not causing constipation.
Which Method Is Better?
There’s no single “right” answer. Using the precise bone percentage approach gives you tight control, which can be useful for pets with sensitive digestion or specific needs. The RMB percentage method gives you more freedom and variety, which reflects how carnivores eat in the wild—sometimes a little more bone, sometimes a little less.
The key is to balance over time, not in every single meal.
Try both approaches. See what works best for you and your carnivore. Pay attention to stool quality, energy levels, and overall health—and adjust as needed.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a precision planner or a variety-loving feeder, understanding bone content is essential to a balanced raw diet. With a little knowledge (and maybe a calculator!), you’ll gain confidence in building meals that truly nourish your pet.
