Eating former pets

[chipmunkridge]

I have 2 bantam cochin cockerels that I have not bonded with, and have tried to rehome without success. Has anyone ever eaten a bantam cochin? is it worth the fuss? if I am going to have chickens, there will always be extra roosters, Should I just suck it up, butcher the things and eat them? I think once we've done it once, it won't be so bad. My oldest son hunts and I am sure he'd be willing to help me. If I grind his deermeat, maybe he can behead my roosters.

 

[EweSheep]

go ahead and eat them. They are a little smaller than the LF cousins.

As for me, I would not butcher them, they had little meat on them that it was not worthwhile my time to do it.

 

[dacjohns]

People eat quail, pigeons, grouse, and other small birds. I had a bunch bantam/full size mutts that went in the freezer. So if it is a matter of size, then yes, they are worth the trouble.

 

[chipmunkridge]

It's probably not worth the trauma to my self AND the chickens. Unless I did 50! to fill the freezer. I guess I should just keep bringing up- in every conversation- with everyone I meet---- "would you like a cute cochin bantam?"

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

If you cant get rid of them I would put them in the freezer, why not?

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Bantams are perfect single serving birds. Like home grown Cornish game hens. I'd butcher when you have enough for a meal for the family.

 

[pookiegoldman]

I've got the same problem too... Got a dozen roosters that I haven't got attached to. I've been asking EVERYBODY if they want them and posted on Craigslist but no luck. I have no problem going into the quail house and killing as many as needed, but I'm having trouble with the notion of killing those roos.

 

[Clay Valley Farmer]

Might not be worth a full out plucking, but would not take much to skin them and put them in a soup pot. If you have a hunter about it should be no trouble at all, not much different than cleaning a grouse.

 

[melody123]

If you haven't bonded with them, then they are not pets, they are livestock. It's perfectly acceptable to eat livestock, whether they be as small as a quail or as big as 2-year-old steer.

Now if they were truly pets, unless your family was facing starvation, then it's not worth the anguish and tears.

 

[chipmunkridge]

Sounds like a fall project. Like when we collected hickory nuts from the tree in the yard and made cupcakes. I think skinning sounds good, less fuss.