When is bird not safe to eat?

[MagpieEsq]

My wife and I decided we wanted to own raising some of our own meat this year, but we've had some trouble figuring out when it's not safe to process our birds. We have several muscovy ducks, and at least one of them has some sores on his feet (the polar vortex is to blame for that), another may (?) have bumblefeet, and I just dont feel like I have a good grasp of when to cut my losses and go. We dont want to waste, but, at the same time, we want to be safe.

Does anyone have any guides or references they use? Any and all help is appreciated!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Generally, if the wound isn't large and no antibiotics have been given, it's safe to eat. If there's a small infection, it's usually safe to eat, depending on how close it is to the meat and how large the wound is. If the infection's giving any indication of being in the blood, give it a miss!

Bumblefoot's one of those things where I'd just butcher and keep the feet away from the meat. Cook well, obviously.

 

[MagpieEsq]

Generally, if the wound isn't large and no antibiotics have been given, it's safe to eat. If there's a small infection, it's usually safe to eat, depending on how close it is to the meat and how large the wound is. If the infection's giving any indication of being in the blood, give it a miss!

Bumblefoot's one of those things where I'd just butcher and keep the feet away from the meat. Cook well, obviously.

Very helpful, thank you! How can you tell if the infection has spread to the blood?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Very helpful, thank you! How can you tell if the infection has spread to the blood?

Well, gone septic is the more usual term--means it's really hard to treat, well-integrated, and spreading. Generally, you'd see a fever, a hugely swollen foot, and loss of appetite. Those symptoms, I'd refrain from butchering.

 

[Parront]

I have butchered an injured chicken, it was fine. The chicken was attacked by dogs, but I would think that frost injury on the feet would be comparable. Cull the frosted ones right away, keep the hardy ones! ( I am not one to talk, I live in AZ now. But in WA state, where I lived many years, frost is a problem).

 

[MagpieEsq]

Thank you both. Being brand new, I get the sense I may be over thinking it a bit. I appreciate the feedback!

 

[Mrs. K]

I think the issue is time. If the animal is freshly injured, a quick dispatch and you are safe. Anything that has been injured for a while, I would just bury. I would not eat anything, where the guts had been damaged in the injury.

Or anything sick, just dispatch and bury.

Mrs K