Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[Sally Sunshine]

Sally,
What is the approximate weight on the quail breasts like you did them? They look great but don't have anything to compare their size to in the pic, so wondered if they were 4 oz, 8 oz...?

We kept track of all of our expenses with our Cornish X project this spring, and ended up with $1.25/lb cost. (we weighed the 'ready to eat' carcasses)
We were really happy with the 'effort to reward' ratio on the project and will be doing it again, that's for sure!

Our total cost actually may be slightly less because we also use the bones/feet/necks for soup, then after soup we grind all of the bones and left overs to make a chicken paste (looks like light colored sausage) and we freeze that in 2 oz portions that look like meatballs. We keep that in the freezer and thaw as needed for animal treats or even for emergency soft food (we used it last week for Mindy after a horrible porcupine encounter, she had to have soft food for 2 days due to mouth trauma)

oh!! DOH I will weigh on Saturday! awesome! and sorry about Mindy that sucks!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: awesome thanks!

 

[lizanne]

Did a processing demonstration last weekend and one little lady wanted to learn how to do it but stated she was afraid she'll cry when she does it. My response? "Go ahead and cry. Then grit your teeth, pull up yer panties and get the job done. Crying isn't wrong, it's a natural human reaction to killing another creature and especially for us women, who are instinctively nurturers and tender-hearted. Nothing wrong in crying, just something wrong in not trying."

That little girl was timid, but fearless in the end, and she got her hands dirty, did the hard stuff and walked away with some confidence in her skills and fortitude. I was so very proud of her. Funny thing, her husband refused to kill and seemed very smug about "paying other people to do that" for him...weird pairing.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I soaked Boring Boy in brine for two days then baked him. He did taste a lot different than the chickens I've bought at the store. My eldest son (10) didn't like the way it tasted. It was very tender...which is DEFINITELY not like any other chicken I've ever baked. That is probably do to overcooking on my part...I'm always worried it's not been cooked long enough and my kids will get sick. Anyhoo, I didn't overcook boring boy...i cooked him until the meat thermometer read 180. So tender he was. But, the flavor was different than what we're used to.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I soaked Boring Boy in brine for two days then baked him. He did taste a lot different than the chickens I've bought at the store. My eldest son (10) didn't like the way it tasted. It was very tender...which is DEFINITELY not like any other chicken I've ever baked. That is probably do to overcooking on my part...I'm always worried it's not been cooked long enough and my kids will get sick. Anyhoo, I didn't overcook boring boy...i cooked him until the meat thermometer read 180. So tender he was. But, the flavor was different than what we're used to.

awesome! They get VERY tender and juicy, we all agree in the end its MUCH better than store bought! Well done! He looks very good!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I didn't bake the quail yet, we have a heat wave and I just don't want to get the stove going! maybe later today if I am not with heat stroke!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I did the quail and I personally feel they are NOT worth the hassle for three bites of meat, we will be searching for freedom rangers or bresse.... GOT EGGS? lol
I wrapped a pc a bacon around each breast and honestly I feel if I want meat, I want real chicken breasts! These tiny darkish meat breasts would have to be completely mouth watering for me to feel its worth it, but unfortunately they are not, and quail chicks stink to raise. My personal opinion. I told Chad if he doesn't want the breeders or all the babies I just hatched I will sell them off!


sooooo hows the weather? H O T here!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

I forgot to weigh the breasts! ooopsie again! I am no help am I!

 

[sharron]

I did the quail and I personally feel they are NOT worth the hassle for three bites of meat, we will be searching for freedom rangers or bresse.... GOT EGGS? lol
I wrapped a pc a bacon around each breast and honestly I feel if I want meat, I want real chicken breasts! These tiny darkish meat breasts would have to be completely mouth watering for me to feel its worth it, but unfortunately they are not, and quail chicks stink to raise. My personal opinion. I told Chad if he doesn't want the breeders or all the babies I just hatched I will sell them off!


sooooo hows the weather? H O T here!

sally, you know that the taste of the wild bird is what makes it good, these quail were raised in a cage so of course they will taste more like chicken than a wild bird. i grew up hunting and eating wild quail and doves, they never tasted like chicken to me, but then momma fried them, not baked them, if i raised quail, would fry like momma did.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I have Chads bag yet, come and fry them for us! LOL