Gift of a dead guinea

[Mrscutjack]

my friend is raising guineas for mostly eggs and pest control. This morning she found a cock with a broken neck in her coop. She isn't enamored with the idea of processing it so decided to give it to me. I've read forums and watched videos. I think I know what I'm doing. My biggest issue is that she wants some feathers if possible but skinning looks the easiest way to dress it. Is there a way to get feathers off after skinning?

My other question is when to process it. Right now it's in rigor. What's the best timeline for skinning/plucking and gutting the bird? Can I just leave it somewhere cool and dry a day or 2?

 

[Geena]

So she found it dead this morning and doesn't know exactly what it died from or how long it had been laying there? Personally, I wouldn't eat it. It could have been laying there all night in the summer heat before you even received it. It's best to bleed and gut something as soon as possible after death.

 

[Mrscutjack]

It died sometime overnight. It had clearly broken it's neck by running into the wall. We think there was a bear in the yard that spooked the flock.
We live in central NY, it was about 55°f at her place last night.

 

[Geena]

I know how you feel, I don't like for anything to go to waste either, but I would definitely pass on that guinea. You have to consider he's been laying there for hours full of blood, feces, and undigested food that is going to "go bad" rapidly at that temperature. Anything between 40 and 140 degrees is the danger zone for bacteria in food items.

 

[itspebbl]

2x
Better safe than sorry! You could still get a few feathers for the owner, though.

 

[RUNuts]

I'd try it. As a hunter, first ducks on the water is at first light, if everything goes according to plan. Limit out by 10. Boat house at 11 and home by 12 to start processing. That is almost 6 hours dead. Rigor in full swing. It didn't kill me, but conventional butchering likes things bled out to be kosh or halal. Taste is different. Not bad, just different if it isn't bled.

Pheasants, squirrels, rabbits and even deer aren't bled until back at camp sometimes hours later. So, the guinea is still good. All depends on how you look at it.

Some pheasant hunters like to hang the pheasant by the neck until the body falls before processing it. "tenderizes the meat" they say.

Yes, you can pluck after skinning. Not easily, but if you only want a few feathers, no issue. Keep the clean ones. Skin may tear. You can also tan the hide and preserve it for whatever.

Cheers!

 

[Mrscutjack]

I guess my husband is now squimish of eating it. Talked to my friend and I'll be bringing it back to her place so she can give it the burial she'd like. I'm sure I'll have a chance again since she needs to keep her population low-ish and doesn't have the heart to do it herself.

 

[nightowl223]

I guess my husband is now squimish of eating it. Talked to my friend and I'll be bringing it back to her place so she can give it the burial she'd like. I'm sure I'll have a chance again since she needs to keep her population low-ish and doesn't have the heart to do it herself.

When you get another chance, if you like dark meat on a turkey, you'll enjoy guinea!

 

[RUNuts]

makes good catfish bait.

 

[AllenK RGV]

makes good catfish bait.

Yes at least it is useful for bait if you don't want to eat it, for me it would probably be shark or redfish bait based upon my location. Also an excellent opportunity to learn how to process a fowl. I really need to get to Houston/Beaumont and have @RUNuts show me how its done!