Processing question

[pac]

Do you process a quail in front of the others?

I cannot handle my birds. They, especially the roos, avoid me. Running from one side of the hutch to the other when I open the door.
I can see me getting them out of the hutch one at a time using a net, but I cannot see me putting them in a bucket or small dog crate and getting them out of there one at a time. Not without having the others trying to escape. And probably succeeding. Or for that matter putting them into the crate with one already in there.

Just wondering if they realize what is going on, or if I should set up a cleaning station elsewhere?

 

[pac]

OK. I'm good.
I just found a video of someone processing a quail and he looked to be standing inside his chicken coop. He fed his other birds the bits and pieces as he went along.

I guess birds don't really pay attention to what's going on. Other than me grabbing them out of the hutch.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

OK. I'm good.
I just found a video of someone processing a quail and he looked to be standing inside his chicken coop. He fed his other birds the bits and pieces as he went along.

I guess birds don't really pay attention to what's going on. Other than me grabbing them out of the hutch.

Birds are curious a lot of the time, but I'm not sure they really connect the dots between the disappearance from the cage to their flock mate actually being killed as long as it isn't happening in the same space (the actual cage). I don't cull birds in front of the coops,but that's a preference

 

[pac]

I can do it "around the corner", but I imagine they are still going to hear thrashing about.

 

[pac]

Geez. What happened to sunny the rest of the day?
This sporadic rain is literally dampening things.

I got my scissors. My apron. Three buckets.
I am ready to go!

 

[catesquire]

We put our dinner guests into a big Rubbermaid and take it downstairs to the utility sink, away from the keepers. I don't know how much they'd actually realize, but I figure it doesn't hurt to be polite to my hens

 

[pac]

I read here where you are supposed to let them rest in the fridge for a day before eating.
I'm guessing that is in a covered bowl without water?

How long do I have before all three should be either eaten or frozen?

 

[pac]

"Resting" seems to be another item of contention.
I did some more reading and many conversation lead back to this forum with just as many saying to rest the bird 24 hours before eating or freezing. And the others saying quail are not like chicken and do not need rested at all.

 

[catesquire]

Resting is to get them past rigor mortis, I believe. So once they're wiggly again you're good to freeze them; or, if you're busy and don't want to check frequently, leave them for 24 hours.

 

[pac]

Thanks @catesquire

You are right on the rigor.
But some apparently don't run into it. Not like with chickens is what they said.

But we'll see. I'm planning on grilling a couple tonight. And tomorrow I'll fry the other one.

If the quail feel stiff tonight, then my dinner plans just got moved back a day, lol.
And I'll know which side I am on.

I've shot pheasant and eaten them the same day, but I always boned them and just used the meat in a gravy type dish. I wouldn't have known if they had rigor or not.