Just processed a quail with a broken back have a few questions please

[Crazy4Chicks]

I have a cage that has 5 roos and a very aggressive hen - all are being processed for the freezer

DH noticed the other night that one of the roos was unable to walk but managed to scoot across if he flapped his wings and lifted himself up

I was not sure what his problem was so I seperated him from the rest to watch him - it has been a few days with no improvement so I figured he had a broken back from them figthing and jumping around

so I went ahead and culled/processed him tonight - you can clearly see the break in his back once I skinned him

the meat was tinted a wierd color it looks like it bleed under the skin - there is no bad oder or anything I cut away the skin that had the wierd color and now the meat looks just fine

Is this bird still safe to eat ? he looks fine other than the break in the back - smells fine ??

I have him in the freezer and plan to process the rest in the next day or so ( might do it tomorrow )

 

[shelleyd2008]

I would think so. It sounds like it was probably just a bruise. Since you cut away the discolored skin, there shouldn't be any problem. Just like with us, bruises change many different colors as they heal, and it sounds like it had been a few days since he hurt himself.

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I feel awful that he had a broken back for a few days I did not want him to suffer even though he was a meat bird I wanted him to be happy and healthy till the end - poor guy

I was hoping he just got stepped on and was sore but when I saw his back I knew for sure it was broken

DH was worried about eating him since it looked like he bleed alittle under the skin

thank you for posting so fast about it

 

[shelleyd2008]

I had a rabbit that did that a few months ago (broke her back, of course she was my favorite

). I made my dad cull her for me, I just couldn't do it. I knew she needed it, but I just couldn't.

So kudos to you for being able to do it. I got quail with the intent of raising them for meat, but I guess I'm raising them for other people's meat, I sell any extras I have!

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I NEED to hatch out more females badly - I have 2 females 1 male and he has been going nuts over mating the one girl she has a huge bald back now so I am going to either hatch eggs from them or look for a few new colors just for fun to give him

I got my quail mostly for fun - and to sell eggs or birds but I figured I should learn how to process a few

it is really not that bad and thankfully they are small and easy to work with





sorry about your bunny

{{ HUGS }}

 

[shelleyd2008]

Thanks, she was the sweetest little mini-rex. She loved to be cuddled with, I'd give her a kiss on the nose everytime I went out there to check on them

I just can't bring myself to kill something I've raised (though my son is pushing his luck

). Maybe I'll get over it, I have 2 culls in my bathroom, that should have been culled a month ago.

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I did not think I could do it either but DH is not getting the hours at work like he used to which means less on the paycheck - and I can hatch out quail whenever I need/want to so I figured this would be my way of helping feed us.

DH cant be in the room when I cull them he sees it as animal cruelty but he has no problem with sitting down to dinner LOL

The way I get through the whole cull/process thing is I dont over think what I am doing - I just get in there and do it as fast as possible - I try not to handle the bird alot I want to make it less stressful on them and me.

You can get through it - like I said it really is not that bad and they are small so that helps with getting through the whole thing pretty fast

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Quail are great for extra on the table. between the animals we raise and hunt it's not very often at all we store bought meat on the table. For me the hard part is the killing process - once that is out of the way it's just a chore.

Steve in NC

 

[saddina]

I find if I think "dissection" instead of "butchering" I can get thru it easier.