GAH! Can I save the meat???

[Dusky Beauty]

Darn kids. 3 of my turkeys, two only 2 months old got themselves into my cow pen, and couldn't get out. Told kids to get them out... they decided not to listen.
Young turkey number 1 got hot, jumped into the huge stock tank (tank equals about 3-4 bathtubs), fell into stock tank, drowned. Was submersed in the water (Clean water, Thank God-- I JUST cleaned the tank out for my dairy cow's benefit) for about an hour and a half before I found it-- water was cold. The other two are fine (but thirsty).

This one that I lost is about the size of a roasting chicken, so I'd like to save it if I can. I have it hanging and trying to drain it. (It's draining quickly and smoothly)

Can I salvage this guy and cook him up for human consumption? Failing that can I boil him down to stock for dog food? I'd hate for a food animal to be wasted.

[Wendy]

Me personally, he would be dog food. I have enough meat in the freezer that 1 turkey wouldn't make me risk it.

[kasilofhome]

Well, you know how well you cared for the stock tank right? No, one knows how clean the duck ponds are when hunting or the dogs mouth. If I was in need of the meat well I would clean it up. Heck rinse the meat skinned with hydro peroxide. it you would feel safer.

[wogglebug]

Buy a turkey breast for thanksgiving or even something unusual - duck, goose leg or roast ham or game bird (pheasant or partridge or guinea fowl) or even a brace of quail each for hub and you; serve the kids porridge as their thanksgiving meal, and have them give thanks for having any food at all, careless and irresponsible as they were about it. Give them a solid five months to look forward to their thanksgiving banquet.

If you're that way inclined, you don't have to tell them in advance that there will be standard Thanksgiving Day leftovers for the day after.

As for the use of the drowned bird, I'd go with animal food. It hasn't been cleaned or bled-out in a timely manner after death. Probably still safe, but not as tastie as it ought to be. Make sure the kids know, when they're feeding it to the pets, that that would have been their Thanksgiving-Day meal.

Actions (and inactions) have consequences. This was a cruel death they imposed on the turkey. It's time they learnt about consequences, and about empathy.

[Cliff]

As far as safety, it should be fine. It'll probably be a little strong tasting.

[cathleenc]

personally, I'd eat it. And I sure would not eat turkey in front of the kids and not let them have some....

[Rick]

Originally Posted by wogglebug

Buy a turkey breast for thanksgiving or even something unusual - duck, goose leg or roast ham or game bird (pheasant or partridge or guinea fowl) or even a brace of quail each for hub and you; serve the kids porridge as their thanksgiving meal, and have them give thanks for having any food at all, careless and irresponsible as they were about it. Give them a solid five months to look forward to their thanksgiving banquet.

If you're that way inclined, you don't have to tell them in advance that there will be standard Thanksgiving Day leftovers for the day after.

As for the use of the drowned bird, I'd go with animal food. It hasn't been cleaned or bled-out in a timely manner after death. Probably still safe, but not as tastie as it ought to be. Make sure the kids know, when they're feeding it to the pets, that that would have been their Thanksgiving-Day meal.

Actions (and inactions) have consequences. This was a cruel death they imposed on the turkey. It's time they learnt about consequences, and about empathy.

I know you did not ask for advice on this level. I guess we just feel like giving the kids a lesson. Don't wait for Thanksgiving - to Sacred of a celebration. But I'd sure do it with their favorite meal, or ice cream or other dessert.

[Kazahleenah]

I would have the kids clean it and pluck it before feeding it to the dogs... that should leave a lasting impression on them.

[bruce2288]

safety wise it should be fine. Ducks and geese that are hunted are often not cleaned until evening. In Europe rabbits and pheasants are hung by the neck in a cool location with the guts in until the feathers or fur easily pulls out, before they are cleaned for the table.

[mekasmom]

I wouldn't be afraid to eat it.

[Terri]

The 2 ents below are correct!I would eat it tonight.

Originally Posted by kasilofhome

Well, you know how well you cared for the stock tank right? No, one knows how clean the duck ponds are when hunting or the dogs mouth. If I was in need of the meat well I would clean it up. Heck rinse the meat skinned with hydro peroxide. it you would feel safer.

Originally Posted by bruce2288

safety wise it should be fine. Ducks and geese that are hunted are often not cleaned until evening. In Europe rabbits and pheasants are hung by the neck in a cool location with the guts in until the feathers or fur easily pulls out, before they are cleaned for the table.

[tailwagging]

Originally Posted by bruce2288

safety wise it should be fine. Ducks and geese that are hunted are often not cleaned until evening. In Europe rabbits and pheasants are hung by the neck in a cool location with the guts in until the feathers or fur easily pulls out, before they are cleaned for the table.

really? why? how do they taste?

[Aseries]

When I killed chickens last summer they were sitting outside for over an hour in a tub of not so cold water after we slaughtered them. I would think an hour or two wouldnt hurt anyone. If they were in the tank for an entire day, I would definately make dog food out of them..

enjoy eating your bird

[Yvonne's hubby]

Your bird should be not only perfectly safe.. but quite tasty. I have carried birds several hours after shooting them before getting home and cleaning them. I have also picked up a few fresh roadkills that rode home a couple of hours before getting plucked and cleaned.... they were fine.

[Dusky Beauty]

Originally Posted by tailwagging

really? why? how do they taste?

I did this with a duck last year just to try out, it wasn't really any different. (When I started slaughtering I gave every processing method I could find a try.)
It was easier to pull the organs out cleanly when I rested the whole dead bird in a tree overnight (in autumn)-- the lungs pulled out in one piece! That's always the most difficult thing on a species with a tiny cavity.

Thank you for the feedback guys... this all went down at dusk and in stay at home mom scheduling, it's panic time. I had a laundry mountain on my bed to deal with before DH came home in 2 hours, a fathers day dinner to make, and a bird to solo process--- my usual "think it out" skills were not engaged, doubly so since the bleedout was so time sensitive.

Appreciate the punishment ideas, oh my gosh I was so mad! Daddy got home and handled that... I probably have the last kids in America who start sobbing and lips start quivering when I say "wait till your father gets home". They had PB&J and missed the fancy dinner the adults had.

I've been very proud of these birds. It's a lesson kids need to learn early on the farm I guess-- and it's only our second summer doing the the hobby farming thing.
I'm going to take the added precaution this time of leaving shallow water and shade in all my enclosures in case they get stuck again when I'm not home.

The little bird is skinned and resting in a stock pot with salt water and a splash of vinegar. Does adrenaline make the meat taste bad, or just tough? I'd think that if it's just toughness of the muscle tissue between the young age of the bird, and a good rest period it'd balance out.
Although I may have a psychological barrier of eating something I know is less than optimal. I have a couple days to decide at least what to do with it. I don't think I'll mention this little incident to the extended family... they already think I'm "eccentric" with my whole "cruelty free meat" shtick.