Madchook Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I am seriously considering dispatching Diego my cockerel-for the sake of the girls really. I separated 2 of them as he had torn their combs with treading -let them back out today and he is like a ball of testosterone flying round the garden. He is reasserting himself I know, and he may settle, but he is so huge ( 2x size of his parents -rir cock and hen) ..and would prob made a good meat bird. He hatched in May-so is he too old? My friend I got him from hatches every yr and dispatches the boys when they mature-won't eat them as she says they are tough as old boots and not nice..??? Thing is, if I were to eat him I'd feel much more vindicated in my decision iykwim? Also- can you eat them if they have ever had ivermectin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 You could eat him if you cooked him slowly in a slow cooker to tenderise the meat - look for a recipe for Coq au Vin, which is designed for 'older meat'. Lesley has experience of desptaching and cooking old birds(!) she'll be around later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 I did it last night. The act itself was not as bad as I imagined, I mean I didn't find it easy but I could do it again-certainly wasn't technically difficult. But I wasn't prepared to feel so emotional about it afterwards. I don't think I would if he had been a meat bird, but he was one of mine with a name... Anyway, made a total botch of trying to gut (had my laptop next to me with directions-no help whatsoever!) so I wound up removing breast and legs which my dh is adamant on eating. I feel squeamish about it so prob won't -more from a hygiene angle than anything, but then it was me that tried to gut it I'm not sure now about the whole meat bird thing-not for the reasons I originally thought but for the pure hassle of plucking Off to convince myself I did the right thing....he had a good 5 months with me, he was going to have his neck wrung when I took him anyway and I always knew it was a possibility (which is why I felt strongly about doing it myself). Just hope my hen pulls through -don't want to be doing it again all too soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
