4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Peter S]

Hi All,

 

When I let the birds out this morning, one of my meat birds (Cotswold Gold) had died in the night - it appeared that it had regurgitated some feed and had choked, as its beak was full of feed. Very disappointed, as this is obviously a very sad and traumatic way to go, and I was going to dispatch the bird in the next few days in any case, as it had reached a good weight.

 

My question is, will the bird still be good to eat? The cold weather has helped to keep the bird fresh, but as it was not dispatched the usual way (broomstick), the blood did not drain and when I finished plucking, the meat looks to be distinctly red.

 

It would be an awful waste to simply throw the bird away, although I'm not sure whether the meat will actually taste good. The bird has dressed out at 5.5 lbs and was about 25 weeks old, so we're talking a fair investment...!

 

So, what do you think I should do?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

[Jools]

I wouldn't personally because you don't know the cause and also the blood not being drained will contaminate the meat. I'm not sure what that means mind, whether it's harmful or just not nice to eat.

[chelsea]

OH who works with poultry suggests you throw it away, mainly because it hasn't been bled straight away and secondly because you are not aware of what it had died from.

[Lewis]

I'd say no aswell, just because there could be an underlying reason which made it choke.

[Peter S]

Thanks all - I had a horrible feeling that would be the answer. Oh well, just have to chalk it up to experience.

 

Peter

[Lesley]

I have to say no as well - I know how you feel as we've lost three from this last batch.

[Lewis]

Could you cook it and feed it to the dogs so you don't waste it?

 

Not too sure, but don't want to give anything nasty to the dogs either

[Egluntyne]

The advice is always that you should never eat a bird that has died unexpectedly.

 

Meat birds sometimes keel over from heart failure, but you can't be sure that this was the case.

 

I wouldn't risk feeding it to the dogs either.

[Peter S]

Yes, you are right - I am assuming the cause of death, but it could have been anything. I also wouldn't feed meat to the dog that I wouldn't eat myself. Such a waste, but that's the reality of rearing your own birds, I guess.

 

Just have to increase my numbers next time, so the loss of one bird does not make such an (economic) impact!

 

Thanks all,

 

Peter

[chickenanne]

Totally agree with everyone: I would never ever ever eat anything that had died of an uncertain cause, or was ill before it was despatched.

[sjp]

meat from none slaughtered livestock is legally not fit for human consuption

[The Dogmother]

OH who works with poultry suggests you throw it away, mainly because it hasn't been bled straight away and secondly because you are not aware of what it had died from.

 

Exactly what I'd advise