Turkey processing (not to graphic)

[moetrout]

Can you still pluck without the scalding? I imagine the answer is yes, but how much harder is it? I only have the one turkey to do (BBB). I don't have a large outside burner so I would have to boil serveral pots inside to achieve the desired temp.

 

[Dogfish]

Yes, you can pluck without scalding, but I'd suggest scalding. If you can boil 3 or 4 gallons of water (2 or 3 pots), that is all you will need. Just add enough cold water to bring the temp down to 150 degrees.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

dogfish, that looks really good. Have you done a lot of them before? and I am wondering what he weighed after butcher?

 

[Dogfish]

It worked well Katy. I had done a few batches of CX up to that point, about 50, so I had the butchering down. This was my second turkey, Tom. He was 35lbs in the pan. I cleaned him up a bit more, so that last shot was taken before I searched for pin feathers.

The feed bag trick worked really well.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

35 lbs ! ! ! ! ? ? ? do you have an oven big enough? I realize you said he was a BBB but how old was he?

 

[clairabean]

He is huge!

 

[Dogfish]

Quote:
I got the two BBB's on April 28th as day old birds. My guess is they were hatched that Monday. That would make tehm almost exactly 7 months. The hen was a little smaller, weighing in at 25lbs dressed.

Yup, they fit in the oven without issue.

My toast at Thanksgiving was more like a eulogy to Tom. They were both very sweet birds.

Tom in his glory.

I'm glad that my heritage birds aren't as attached to me.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

boy mine are. I took Ned in to be butchered in October. The others only witnessed him leaving in the cage, when I got back they were so upset & stood around gobbling at me while I unpacked the Ice chest. I swear when I unpacked that plucked and bagged turkey they all about had heart attacks. They went back and forth between that big empty ice chest and the freezer gobbling their heads off for two days . . . these are NOT dumb birds!