Re: Dressing our Thanksgiving Turkeys


Now, when you kill poultry they can struggle. For chickens this isn't a problem
but big commercial turkeys, especially when there necks are broken, can damage
themselves. They can flap so vigorously that they dislocate there wings. This
can cause damage and bruising to the breast which makes it look unattractive
when layed out on the table to be carved. Commercially 'killing cones' are used,
these are like a big funnel in a sturdy stand.


We did 24 turkeys in one day without a killing cone. We cut a corner
off a burlap bag, then grabbed the turkey and tied its feet together
leaving a loop that we will hang the bird from later.

Put the bird's head through the hole in the burlap bag, then wrap and
tie the turkey and bag in an old blanket (be prepared to throw both
blanket and burlap bag out when you are done) so it is thoroughly
swaddled and tied and pretty much immobilized with the feet loop
exposed.

We then used a hatchet to cut off its head and hung the bird up to
drain over a bucket from the loop around its feet. The bird drains,
there is no bruising and if you're like me and decide to stick with
chickens next year you won't have a turkey sized cone left over.

Allison MacLeod
www.chickenvideo.com



.