➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Sara L]

They aren't making any noise yet.
Don't remind me of this!
They are all still being nice.
ARGH....Maybe I should wait until they piss me off and I am ready to kill one?

No. Do it on your terms. They will wait to piss you off when you have NO time to take care of them, and then they scalping the females and causing havoc until you make time or put something else off to get it done. Trust me. Do not procrastinate. They go from sweet little guys to crowing machines who constantly chase the females. And usually since the males mature a little faster, the hens same age aren't ready for it yet, so they get hurt worse by trying to escape than they do if they just squat and the male falls off because he doesn't know how to balance yet.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

I got an idea!
Maybe I will go buy a package of the quail meat from HEB and do a taste test!!!

WOOT.

Do that! Give a little more time to grow.

 

[Kiki]

No. Do it on your terms. They will wait to piss you off when you have NO time to take care of them, and then they scalping the females and causing havoc until you make time or put something else off to get it done. Trust me. Do not procrastinate. They go from sweet little guys to crowing machines who constantly chase the females. And usually since the males mature a little faster, the hens same age aren't ready for it yet, so they get hurt worse by trying to escape than they do if they just squat and the male falls off because he doesn't know how to balance yet.

I know I know.
I am going to do it this weekend.

 

[Kiki]

Do that! Give a little more time to grow.

No I meant to cook along with my three little quailies so I could compare the taste.

 

[Kiki]

Do I need to pull the 3 now and starve them for a while?

 

[RUNuts]

Best finish that other hutch and pull the obvious boys out. That way you can see if whitey crows and protect the girls. Takes the pressure off. But it is raining and you have a hutch to assemble. Finish thinking through it yet?

 

[Sara L]

Make sure you let your quail rest in the fridge for at least a day, probably two before you cook it. I find with mine if I don't cook them immediately, and I mean in like 20-30 min, they get rigor mortis and the meat is tough. Let it sit in the fridge for a day or two and it loosens back up and gets tasty.

 

[Kiki]

Make sure you let your quail rest in the fridge for at least a day, probably two before you cook it. I find with mine if I don't cook them immediately, and I mean in like 20-30 min, they get rigor mortis and the meat is tough. Let it sit in the fridge for a day or two and it loosens back up and gets tasty.

Oh thanks.
I was thinking that I was going to put them straight on the grill.
I have no clue what I am doing.

 

[Sara L]

Do I need to pull the 3 now and starve them for a while?

I did that for the first couple batches I processed, but haven't for the last couple. I think it depends on how you butcher. If you are going to keep them whole you should probably withhold food for 12 hours and provide plenty of water. If you are going to cut the spine out you don't really need to withhold food.

 

[RUNuts]

Do I need to pull the 3 now and starve them for a while?

YES!
Less poop to deal with and we all know how you dislike poop. I need to review, but I'll guess 12 hours with water only to clean the systems out.