For the past 12 years or so I've decorated with chicken feet. I usually boil them for a few minutes (adding a touch of food colouring if desired) and then stick them in the oven at around 200 degrees for a few hours. I don't know how that would work with pigs feet, but it sounds like a fun thing to try.

The kids can't believe that the feet are real (mainly because I often wear them as hair ornaments and necklaces). I usually string a few on yarn to give out to the tots when they have their parents with them. It's amazing how many people ask for them!

One tip, after baking the feet, sprinkle a little (and I mean a little, it's pretty strong) cayenne pepper on top - it keeps the cats and dogs from getting too close. Also, I warn the tots to keep the feet away from cats and dogs due to the little bones!

The first year I did it, I hadn't cooked the feet at all so I was worried about the kids touching them and getting sick. I wrapped up licorice Twizzlers in Alcan foil and handed them out to the kids that asked for feet!

Thanks for all the great ideas and for getting into the gross mood with me! Mr. L is already working on a way to make a latex cow tongue (I really like the idea of having it lick people...now that is really gross!). I keep looking for calf brains at the store but can’t find any yet. Scarychery, I love the chicken feet idea as that would fit perfectly in our Leatherface meat market but where do you get chicken feet?? Our local grocers don’t have them. Mr. L said he’s seen them in Crystal River, where his folks live, so we’ll be checking out the butcher shops on our next visit to see the in-laws. And, oh yes, there will be pigs feet hanging from strings at the Leatherface meat market!!

__________________
"Look what your brother did to the door!" Original TCM

Hi Mrs Leatherface,
I did try posting a reply earlier and it's disappeared. Hope I didn't send it somewhere it doesn't belong!
I used to order chicken feet at our local grocery store a couple of weeks before Halloween. The meat dept guy was curious as to what I was needing them for and was very helpful and even offered to bring in a pig's head if I wanted. (He said the local police order them in for retirement parties etc.) Now the chicken feet appear all by themselves around Halloween! No pre-ordering!
We live in a cultural melting pot as well, so chicken feet are usually available for the Chinese New Year (around Feb, I think) They do freeze well, so when I see them I stock up. You can never have too many feet! Maybe try Chinatown.
BTW, they look really nice with nail polish on them, and froot loops make nice rings! There are tons of recipes for chicken feet on the net, so why not cook up a batch to serve to TOTs who come to the door with their parents!
Good luck finding them - they can sure add to a creepy decor! (Oh, if you can get friendly with a chicken farmer you can get them from there as well. My hairdresser raises chickens so I got a few dozen last year - an added bonus, they came with feathers attached! Really creepy. )
I've got uncooked chicken feet in the freezer as we speak. They are really handy when you have a house guest who says "no, really, I'm not fussy, I'll eat anything you make"

Yeah, try ethnic meat markets. Asian, Indian, and Mexican stores (at least in these parts) are great repositories for more... exotic... choices in meat selection! I've seen plenty of prop possibilities in them.

__________________
Guns kill people... just like spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat.

Scarychery, thank you for all the good chicken feet info. I was wondering if they could be frozen. Now I know thanks to your expertise. Now I am determined to find some!! And I love the “house guest” idea! Perfect way to get rid of unwanted house guests!! LOL

Sipesh, great ideas of places to look that I hadn’t thought of. I’m always interested in scary, oh...I mean, exotic meats! Thanks!

__________________
"Look what your brother did to the door!" Original TCM

wow gross !reminde me of never putting MY hand in a black box!!!!! very good idea but hey dont put anything alive in there.....lol might traumatize the kids till next halloween