Recent content by DCS

  1. DCS

    Florida Always Sunny Side up Chicken Swap. UPDATE

    Hi guys, long time no type... I live in Haines City, but won't be able to make the meet because the IM FL 70.3 race is that day and I'm competing with my sister. But, I have 2 purebred EE roos that need a new home, both from Murray McMurray. Both gorgeous birds, but missing tailfeathers as...
  2. DCS

    Oops... "accidentally" ordered chicks!

    Apparently, McMurray doesn't mind. You just have a minimum of 25. I suppose I could have just ordered one of their combos, but I do enjoy picking and choosing. Quote:
  3. DCS

    Oops... "accidentally" ordered chicks!

    Yeah, not planning on it! I love the variety, and prefer the heavies, but must concur that 1 silkie = 1/2 chicken. And a frizzle... um, what, about 1/3? Turkeys, however, are about 4 chickens. At least, as big as mine is! So far, not regretting it!
  4. DCS

    Oops... "accidentally" ordered chicks!

    I haven't been around in some time - my flock has been pretty stable for some time, but a raccoon or possum got into the coop last spring and took out 5 of my layers and my big, somewhat nice roo. So... I only have 3 dominiques, 1 australorp, 1 NH red and 1 red sexlink left. Since they're going...
  5. DCS

    How long to roast very large turkey?

    Well, he was delicious!!! Mom has a large convection oven, and the thighs reached 170 at about 6 hours; the breast took a bit longer (We cleaved off the thighs and drumsticks at that point). I thought it would be the opposite, but this was a huge BBB bird, and the breasts were much thicker than...
  6. DCS

    How long to roast very large turkey?

    We measured the oven before I even attempted to travel with it, and it will fit. Plan to wrap in foil, and we'll just see what happens.
  7. DCS

    Fowl Play: Turkey causes airport evacuation

    I checked our Christmas dinner on the plane, and had no problems. I was upfront with the airline AND the TSA, announcing that there was a fresh bird in the styrofoam-lined box, and that there were frozen gelpacks around out. The TSA still unpacked and searched it, but it made it. I did have to...
  8. DCS

    How long to roast very large turkey?

    So I let "Mr Christmas" grow too long... I butchered on Sunday, and he's been resting on ice, but I wonder how long we should roast him. He dressed at 38 lbs! I think we have a pan large enough, and the whole point was to keep him intact, rather than only roast half or a quarter. And yes, we...
  9. DCS

    Ideal resting time before roasting?

    So I'm counting the days until butchering, but wanted to ask the crowd: how long is the ideal resting time for an (um) 35 lb turkey? My BBB toms are HUGE, and I imagine the two of them will dress between 28-35 lbs. The biggest is getting checked under the plane and flown back for Christmas...
  10. DCS

    Bad news from the vet

    An otic preparation is ok for skin, just like an optic (eye) preparation is safe for ears or skin. (But not vice versa). I'm not a vet (I'm a people doctor), but a short course of an aminoglycoside shouldn't cause problems in an otherwise healthy, young dog. And any antibiotic can cause yeast -...
  11. DCS

    Unexpected kidding - help please! With PICS!

    Congrats on the babies! (Too cute! You're going to make me want goats!)
  12. DCS

    Turkey died of apparent natural causes - can I feel him to my dogs?

    Thanks! (I knew there had to be another raw feeder in these parts!) I was in a hurry and only got about 13 lbs of meat off him, but I thought that the dogs would LOVE it. If I'd had more time I would have gutted and kept it on the bone, but I had a meeting at work and couldn't get it done that...
  13. DCS

    Dry Plucking?

    That's what I did last year. It is a LOT easier than the chickens for some reason. The wings were definitely hard, and I cheated and just cut them off at the joint. I had to quarter them to roast them anyway, so it didn't matter. This year, I might try just scalding the wings after dry plucking...
  14. DCS

    Turkey died of apparent natural causes - can I feel him to my dogs?

    Actually, I'd prefer to feed it raw, as poultry bones are good teeth cleaners and they become brittle and dangerous after they're cooked. My dogs will always be a risk to my birds, which is why the birds are penned up. (And they've eaten plenty of raw chicken in their day - not mine, just what...
  15. DCS

    Tips on killing?

    Last year, I hit them on the head with a wrench to stun them, then put a slipknot around the feet and hoisted them up a little, slit their throats and walked away. I dry pluck them, as it's much easier than with chickens. Hanging them to kill and bleed tends to be much neater in my experience...
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