Turkey died of apparent natural causes - can I feel him to my dogs?

[DCS]

Ok, so this is a little random.

I'm gearing up to slaughter next week (for Christmas, not Thanksgiving) and went out to feed as usual this am. I find last year's Tom dead. He's still warm, and was eating and gobbling yesterday, although I know he's slowed down. (If a BBB bird can actually slow MORE down from their usual state of not-doing-much.) I know this was the guy from last year, as his feathering is different. I just never got around to butchering him, as I only have so much fridge space.

Just for the record, I would never eat a bird I didn't kill, and he wasn't sick as far as I could tell. As I feed by dogs raw occasionally, (and the LOVE it) what do you all think about this? Since he was still quite warm, I filleted off his breasts and thighs and tossed them in the fridge while trying to decide. I just hate to let 15 lbs of meat go to waste! (Or more, but I didn't do a really neat job, since it wasn't for my table.)

So, give my dogs an extra special Thanksgiving dinner? Or don't risk it?
Thanks!

Danielle

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Just in case..... I'd boil it first, to kill of any unsuspected diseases. Since he was a broad breasted variety, more than likely it was a heart attack, as they are prone to them.

 

[ColbyNTX]

I would cook it because I never want to give my dog raw poultry because I don't want him eating my birds! He is there to protect them, not eat them. He is a 7 month old Pyreneese and 2 weeks ago today at 7:24AM, he held a big male cyote out of the yard long enough for me to get the Ruger 22-250 and give him some lead poisioning!

 

[DCS]

Actually, I'd prefer to feed it raw, as poultry bones are good teeth cleaners and they become brittle and dangerous after they're cooked.

My dogs will always be a risk to my birds, which is why the birds are penned up. (And they've eaten plenty of raw chicken in their day - not mine, just what I've fed them. I don't think it's made them any more or less likely to go after them.)

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

Yes, feed it to them. Heck, you could get two weeks worth from him if they're small!

I've fed raw for over a decade and a year-old turkey would be manna from heaven for my crew. And no, it doesn't make them eat chickens (and not feeding them raw doesn't make them chase less). Prey drive and "It's in my bowl and delicious" are completely different.

 

[DCS]

Thanks! (I knew there had to be another raw feeder in these parts!)

I was in a hurry and only got about 13 lbs of meat off him, but I thought that the dogs would LOVE it. If I'd had more time I would have gutted and kept it on the bone, but I had a meeting at work and couldn't get it done that fast.

2 Border Collies and a German Shepard are gonna get the best Thanksgiving ever, but it isn't going to last for more than about 2 meals! They always get the necks when I butcher, and were drooling over this dead turkey like nobody's business.