Turkeys For 2013

[Arielle]

Do you have a pic of one of your Auburns and one of your Bourbons side by side?

Porters has great pics-- have you looked at that web site?? THe phots are beautiful!

 

[Arielle]

I always get way too many hens from Porters...

I've ordered in the fall (August) to be on the list for spring hatch (May delivery).. and I've ordered in June (poults delivered in July)...

Maybe timeing is everythign-- my shipment arrived the last few days of AUgust.I had a flock of 13 boys and the trio, and lost a few of the poults. Much have been the girls, IDK.

 

[B J Hopkins]

Quick question for those who cook their own birds. When I process chickens, I chill the body before freezing. Do I need to chill the turkey before cooking? We want to cook the same day we process him but have never cooked our own turkey before.

Company day is tomorrow and to our surprise, our City daughter in law want to do the dispatching.

 

[Arielle]

I have heard to chill until rigor is relaxzed-- I just don't know the timing.I do have a more tender bird if I put turkey inthe frig for a day; anything else and the meat is more chewy, not tender. Flavor is the same. In my experience a low oven for a long time sworks to help tenderize it too. Low and slow.

Hopefully someone else can hlep you-- perhaps have one bird dona ahead of time. Like a TV cooking show, lol, process the second bird and pull a swap : fresh bird into refirg and chilled bird to the oven . . . .

 

[desertmarcy]

Quick question for those who cook their own birds. When I process chickens, I chill the body before freezing. Do I need to chill the turkey before cooking? We want to cook the same day we process him but have never cooked our own turkey before.

Company day is tomorrow and to our surprise, our City daughter in law want to do the dispatching.

That is not a good idea. The meat needs to rest, or cure for 2 to 3 days before cooking or it will be tough.

 

[yinepu]

Quick question for those who cook their own birds. When I process chickens, I chill the body before freezing. Do I need to chill the turkey before cooking? We want to cook the same day we process him but have never cooked our own turkey before.

Company day is tomorrow and to our surprise, our City daughter in law want to do the dispatching.

I have heard to chill until rigor is relaxzed-- I just don't know the timing.I do have a more tender bird if I put turkey inthe frig for a day; anything else and the meat is more chewy, not tender. Flavor is the same. In my experience a low oven for a long time sworks to help tenderize it too. Low and slow.

Hopefully someone else can hlep you-- perhaps have one bird dona ahead of time. Like a TV cooking show, lol, process the second bird and pull a swap : fresh bird into refirg and chilled bird to the oven . . . .

back in the good ol days we would butcher and toss the birds straight into the oven (or on the stove depending on type of bird) BEFORE rigor could set in.. but if we ran a bit late the birds would be tough as shoe leather.. but you also have to keep in mind that we hadn't been used to eating mushy cornish cross or butterballs back then... now people are used to a "tender bird".. so unless you are VERY fast at butchering and processing and can get the bird into the oven BEFORE rigor sets in.. you'll be gnawing on a tough bird...

If it were me I would use Arielle's suggestion of using two birds... but again that all depends on how much prep time you have to get the first bird processed and rested before the family arrives.. with them arriving tomorrow.. hopefully you already have a bird in the freezer that you can pull out NOW to thaw for dinner tomorrow.. otherwise you may have to plan on a different kind of meat for dinner..

 

[B J Hopkins]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Looks like it's clean a bird tonight or tomorrow morning if I'm to feed turkey Fri night. Kids get here Thur late evening.

 

[NewToFarming]

Toms are a lot easier to find than hens

Yes, you are right! Maybe I will see what I can find. I would like to get another Nar though.

 

[LBejaran]

So...I found this thread about four months ago, right before I bought my turkey poults from my favorite feed/pet store. I was really torn, just because we had bought a few poults before and they had all died due to issues that BB Whites tend to have. Needless to say, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again.

So we purchased three standard bronze poults and only lost one a couple months ago. The remaining two are going to be 17 weeks this Friday and I'm so excited. It appears like we've got a tom and a jenny, a lucky pairing! And just the other day, our tom displayed for the first time.


They've been doing really well so far. He's by far the heaviest bird I've ever held, but what's worse is that our jenny hops up on my shoulder or arm whenever she gets a chance. Having a 12 pound bird (to be honest, she feels heavier than that) on my shoulder is so scary, haha! It doesn't look like I'll be processing anyone this year, but I did have a question.

Around what age do you prefer to process your turkeys? I got these turkeys with the idea that they should be about 9 months old before processing, but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just because I want them to lay some eggs for me to hatch so I don't have to buy anymore poults. And maybe it's because I've gotten oddly attached to them. They haven't tried to escape the yard, they are inquisitive, they actually listen to me more than the chickens. I even raked apart a termite mound and they ate all the larvae for me without fear of the rake, unlike my silly chickens.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: I am little too, less than 5 ft and under 100lbs, the bbw have been difficult, but I process one a week.I have 7 left out of 21.
I use the tractor to lift them, flat huge birds, not doing them again they are mean and aggressive. I am getting too old to deal with a mean bird.

Quote:
He is 2 as of july. I will estimate over 30 pounds, largest bird I have.
The hen is an april hatch. She is maybe 12 pounds at most.. I am so pleased with both! Gentle and calm. The lil girl did so well raising them.
My other 2, snoodles and snickers are tom and hen, so I am really excited for next year!
With my porters order I will have 4 bloodlines to work with, I am really happy with how the birds have worked out.
I have to say I still love the turkeys more than my chickens shhh dont tell them!!!