getting ready to dispatch, just one question.....

[dbone]

Should i remove food 24 hours before I do it ? or does it not matter?

 

[byoung14ever]

I don't think it matters. I never have. I suppose you may have less of a mess if you are new to cleaning out insides. Be careful what and where you cut or you will have stomach contents on your meat.

 

[Struttn1]

Be sure to remove the craw. My 1st experience at dressing a turkey I was not aware of the craw until the bird came out of the oven and as I began to carve the breast I noticed this dark area. Upon further investigation I found the pouch and when I opened it imagine my surprise to find baked grass, seeds, acorns and grasshoppers !!!

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

I don't have turkeys (I'm lurking here) but I did butcher chickens recently and I am SOOO glad that I locked them up without food for the last day. Give them PLENTY of water, but no food and the crop (is it called something different on turkeys?) should be empty or near empty and you don't have quite so much poo to deal with when dispatching. I still had to deal with a little, but not much at all. Hope that helps! How old are your turkeys?

 

[kenman]

I would suggest fasting the birds before dispatch. I didn't do this when I butchered six earlier in the year and the crop (craw) was huge and easily cut into.

 

[Rosalind]

Quote:

That's hilarious! DH had to come in the room to see what I was cackling about. Thanks for the warning!

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Yes you want to not give them any food for the last 24 hrs. Just all the water they can drink. That means no free ranging etc. It makes the cleaning job WAY nicer. There is nothing worse then dressing a bird that has feed in its system. YUK !!!

 

[silkiechicken]

For the chickens and turkeys, I withheld feed just overnight and it was enough. With especially meat type birds, it reduces the size of the offal by at least a half if not more.