Culling Injured Birds

[Erkenstein]

Hi, Everyone.

I raise quail, and a nasty raccoon pulled some of my birds toes off and managed to get almost an entire leg off of one of them (from underneath 1/2-inch hardware cloth, yes I have blocked access to underneath the pen). When I butchered the injured birds, there was some blood in the leg meat from inflammation/bleeding feet, and a couple of them had bruised breasts from their ordeal.

I wasn't able to get the blood out since it's in the tissue, so will it ruin the meat or taste bad? Should I cut those parts out before cooking?

Thanks!

 

[Shadowfire]

Bruises are definitely going to be unsightly and might make the meat taste bad. I would cut out those parts before eating/cooking/selling.

 

[LlamaGirl4]

Bruises are definitely going to be unsightly and might make the meat taste bad. I would cut out those parts before eating/cooking/selling.

Agreed with @Jessie The Chicken Lover! Cut off bruises or meat will taste quite awful!

 

[aart]

Not sure bruising will 'taste bad'.
Soaking in brine while rigor resting in fridge right after cleaning carcass might help draw the blood out.

 

[Erkenstein]

Thanks I'll cut it out. So little meat on a quail and they weren't at processing age on top of that. Maybe I should eat a coon to make up for it.