Processed a turken. Some questions and thoughts.

[superchemicalgirl]

Quote:
Well, it was that, a hockey scholarship or prison.

Or maybe he was sick of the same 30 biddies always nagging him.

 

[brandislee]

The snot-like goo is normal, I have that sometimes with my broilers. I can't remember what it is, though.

And I don't know about the hair question, as broilers (at least mine...) don't have any hair either.

 

[LarryPQ]

I would suspect it is the fluid that helps feather growth...TO THE GOOGLE!

Prior to molting the blood vessels supporting feather growth dry up and feather attachment to the surrounding tissue becomes loosened.

So, if the turken was NOT in a molt cycle, the blood vessels would still be strong, and pulling them would cause the capillaries to leak.​

 

[galanie]

Quote:

Once again Laree educates the world. I'm thinking of getting a Laree tatoo as well. (runs to hide in the stink-eye thread)

 

[LarryPQ]

Perhaps some of the answer:

http://books.google.com/books?id=4K...&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[superchemicalgirl]

You couldn't have found something a bit more modern than 1897??

 

[superchemicalgirl]

But also, thank you. I had assumed it was some kind of basement membrane for the feather, but it was just so... gross. And incredibly difficult to pull out, not unlike some human boogers.

 

[Terri O]

I have seen that stuff when butchering...and sometimes when catching a bird and inadvertently pulling a feather! Many chickens have hairs too...I have seen them on poorly cleaned chickens in the store! If you use a wax dip then all the pins and hairs come off for a really clean bird. Going to my neighbor's place on Thursday to learn the technique on ducks...which I guess are hairy AND pinney at times! T

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
How was the carcass? I was thinking about including naked necks as part of my meat bird project. I used to have some, although I never butchered any. Great birds. Lay huge brown eggs, big, gentle birds. Tolerant of heat and cold.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We haven't eaten him yet. He's by far the oldest bird we've butchered. He was gigantic, though, compared to the other young guys.

Here's his leg:

I do love turkens - they do amazing in the cold winters up here. I just have an incredibly hard time getting rid of turken babies that I had to cut (his) losses and get a non-turken rooster. I still have 6 turken hens though!