A Homegrown Thanksgiving Bird

[Jessika]

At what age is prime for eating? This guy is from may...so my dinner will be 6 months old.

 

[bheila]

We did our first trial turkey about 3 weeks ago. He was soooo juicy and tender. He was about 38lbs and just barely fit in the oven. He was so heavy that he was bending the rack in the oven. We will for sure be raising our own turkeys every year from now on. I highly recommend that everyone tries it at least once.

 

[silkiechicken]

Not to smush your dream, but yeah, I'd test out the birds first before presenting it at thanksgiving to make sure it is what you want. Even a "fat fluffy dual bird" really is pretty scrawny after you take out all the feathers. Imagine the weight of the bird alive, cut in half, with 2x the bones as a store bird. Plus, if the birds are over about 4 months old... they might need some nice long slow cooking after 2-3 days resting the fridge.

It may be a shocker on "tough and chewy" when compared to the 6-8 week old babies we eat from the store that have rested upwards of a week after being butchered and put in your oven. Great idea, but test it first just in case.

For our thanksgiving, we'll just be buying a 25lb bird from the store.... that's because I'm selfish and keeping my 33lb dressed baby in the freezer all for myself! And well... my mom doesn't think he looks that good with the black pin feather spots. I sure miss him and his brother.

They were totally awesome but their job had come. They were 5 months old.

 

[bheila]

Quote:
It's funny that you mentioned pin feathers. My mom thought that they were rosemary that I added on top of the turkey. I just had to laugh.

 

[MissPrissy]

Use the flat blade of a butter knife and rub it over the skin and most of the black will come off under running water. I do that for dark fethered chickens too.

 

[becky3086]

I would love to but haven't found any turkey eggs that I can afford and the hatchery wants me to buy too many. Next year I am doing meat chickens though and if I ever can get any turkeys I would love to try them. By the way, how do you kill a big turkey like that?

 

[MissPrissy]

Down in your area of Georgia you should have no trouble finding someone with a backyard type flock of turkeys. Ask around.

You dispatch the same as with a chicken.

 

[Buster]

I am looking forward to eating my homegrown Thanksgiving bird this year too. I have a 30 pound Giant White that will be going in the freezer soon, as well as the 25 Pound Broad Breasted Bronze that will be for Christmas.

 

[justusnak]

Miss P....I have to say, I am in awe of you. I bow down to your courage and strength. We are wanting to raise a few sheep next year as well...but will take them to the butcher. I know DH would never be able to help, he wont even help with chickens processing. I dont think I could do a full grown sheep by myself. Now, if a certain Miss P could come visit for a few days...when the time comes to butcher...I might!

That ram looks delish...I cant waite to get one in my freezer!

 

[lovemychix]

We always get a free frozen bird from hubbys work.