Thanksgiving Turkey Fiasco

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IceAngel

IceAngel

Songster
6 Years
May 2, 2013
408
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Ohhhhhh! What a fiasco I had with my Thanksgiving Turkeys. I advertised them for sale live but lots of people called and asked if I would slaughter them. They think I am their mummy, so no way, plus I am not even sure if Turkey farmers need a special license to butcher. Anyways, I found someone who would dress them but they all wound up with tiny black spots all over. I spent over half an hour picking them out with tweezers. We did something wrong . The feathers came out really easily but there were way too many black spots left to make this worth while. Anyone know what we did wrong.
 
Were they bronze, pin feathers will leave marks and you have to hand pluck them or single them off, that's why large producers use white turkey.
 
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Yes they were. I just want to post this picture of my deceased Heathcliffe again. He had a good life. As you can see from the picture he had the run of the place. He loved our basement glass doors because he could strut his stuff for his reflection.
I really don't want to go through plucking out those pin feathers again so I guess I will skin the Bronze the next time and try to breed to white.
 
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Heathcliffe sure was a handsome guy.

Laws probably vary from state to state but here in FL, you have to be licensed to butcher animals for sale and there is a hefty fine if they catch you butchering/selling without one (that's what the county extension office told us about chickens and rabbits anyway). So around here, it's not just a matter of mothering someone as it is risking trouble with the law. You might want to check your state law on it so next time someone wants you to do it for them, explain why they have to take care of it themselves.
 
Years ago a neighbor three houses down, used to have cages in his garage and pens. I knew he didn't have any pets. Turned out he was butchering animals for his use for social occasions He'd have lambs, pigs, goats, - never saw or heard anything going on - he had thick coverings over his garage windows. This is a very residential neighborhood. He hasn't done it for quite awhile, so don't know if anyone reported him.
 

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