Turkey processing (not to graphic)

[Dogfish]

So I took a few photos of the processing for my Tom. I used a "little giant" type ladder for my gallows, and the bag method worked rather well.

I attached a pulley like this to the top of the ladder,

but you can use a cheaper type.

The pulley system made it really easy to lift the turkey up to slit the throat and then lower him down to bleed out. I tried pithing, and it worked, but I didn't notice a big difference to the hen I process a few days before. The pulley system also made scalding a breeze. Note the boiling water in the background and I used the blue tub as the scalding tank.

Having the pulley system did make it easier to pluck, because when I plucked the hen I had her laying in tub, so I had to constantly clear the plucked feathers from her to find the unplucked ones. Plucking the tom was a lost easier. It also made rinsing a 35# bird an easy chore.

Anybody have good suggestions on scalding turkeys? I just lengthened the time from 1 to 2 minutes, and I kept the water temp at 155 degrees. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[RAREROO]

What breed is this turkey ? A BBB or a heritage breed ? Steve had cool scalding set up with one of those big ol cast iron sugar cane cooking type pots with an open fire under it. That looks like it worked pretty good. Do you all think that those big galvanized type trash cans could hold up well to a fire and heat the scalding water ? If would that be too weak of a metal to use ? I have also heard something about some kind of toxins from the galvanized containers if they are rusted and that they shouldnt be used for water bowls for animals, but if it would work for heating the water, since its just scalding, do you all think there would be any danger from whatever toxins from the zinc or whatever it is that is exposed when they rust ?

 

[LindsayB]

Is it just me or does it look like the turkey had bumblefoot?

 

[Ema]

Quote:
I was wondering the same thing....

other than that it looks like it will be a good thanksgiving turkey

 

[Dogfish]

He was a BBB.

Probably was bumble foot. He roosted about 3' high on top of my integration pen. Even at that weight, he could still fly enough to get up there, but the landings were a bit hard on him. Saw that developing the last few weeks.

 

[NonnasBabies]

That's a neat setup!! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Rod W]

Excellent post, thank you, I was looking for this exact info! What is the best age to pluck/ process turkeys? I suppose it depends on the type of bird. NO, you don't have anything to worry about as far as toxins. Galvanized metals do give off toxins when cutting with a cutting torch but as long as you are not melting the metal, you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[schmism]

i use a galv trash can ontop of my turkey fryer burner for a scalder. Takes a while to warm up like 40 gal of water but works fine once warm.

 

[Dogfish]

I used hot water in the tub to begin with, which was at 130 degrees from the tap, then boiled another 3 gallons in my turkey fryer pot, and added hot water until I hit 150 degrees. Probably had a total of 8 gallon of water in that tub. Doing a single turkey I just needed enough hot water for a single scald.

My turkey was 7 moths and I had no issues plucking.

 

[vatterpa]

I don't know what that turkey did to you, but it sure does look like you got some "payback"