Processing carcasses after predator attack?

[nikbrown]

So a month ago a pack of coyotes got our flock

They took 4 of them off and left the other 5 decapitated. The temperature that night was 10degrees.... so when I found the 5 bodies in the morning they were frozen solid.

The only damage I could see was they were missing their necks and heads... so I threw them in the freezer thinking I may be able to salvage some meat from the sad situation.

I’ve processed ducks in the past (when we’ve had and excess of drakes).

Can I just partially defrost them and just cut off the breast and legs? Or is the meat no good because the blood wasn’t properly drained? Any ideas if I can salvage anything from this?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Very sorry for your losses. I think if you go to the meat bird forum you'd have better information.

 

[Pennys Mama]

So a month ago a pack of coyotes got our flock

They took 4 of them off and left the other 5 decapitated. The temperature that night was 10degrees.... so when I found the 5 bodies in the morning they were frozen solid.

The only damage I could see was they were missing their necks and heads... so I threw them in the freezer thinking I may be able to salvage some meat from the sad situation.

I’ve processed ducks in the past (when we’ve had and excess of drakes).

Can I just partially defrost them and just cut off the breast and legs? Or is the meat no good because the blood wasn’t properly drained? Any ideas if I can salvage anything from this?

I have no idea since you delayed the processing. I witnessed my "owl" attack on my guinea so we did it right away. 0530 at 20° F wasn't my optimal conditions for processing either! Lol!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Can I just partially defrost them and just cut off the breast and legs?

Sorry for your loss.

Yes, I think you can do that. It is how we sometimes process our birds for grinding or what have you.

Good job, BTW... thinking about salvaging the meat that you can! It took a while before I learned that mindset.

 

[nikbrown]

I have no idea since you delayed the processing. I witnessed my "owl" attack on my guinea so we did it right away. 0530 at 20° F wasn't my optimal conditions for processing either! Lol!

Thanks.... yea they were already frozen solid by the time I found them around 6:30...... so I figure there wasn’t really any risk of just chucking them in the freezer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Can't imagine plucking a partially frozen duck , let us know how it goes.

 

[Pennys Mama]

Thanks.... yea they were already frozen solid by the time I found them around 6:30...... so I figure there wasn’t really any risk of just chucking them in the freezer.

I'd have done the same thing, after I walked around yelling for a while first!

 

[Ratchnick]

Can't imagine plucking a partially frozen duck , let us know how it goes.

Certainly i would skin them in this instance if it were me.