[Dizzycow]

I'm a total wimp, thought I could do it but I can't!
Does anyone know of anywhere in Fife where I can take my redundant cockerels alive and kicking and have them returned to me oven-ready?
 

[FiB]

you have my greatest sympathy..  I couldn't have done it without my OH standing by with the seymour book (and an airgun, which was used when I didnt think they were gone quick enough).  I managed the gutting and dressing, but it took my HOURS!!!  I've almost gone off chicken!! And it has certainly put me off raising from day old chicks for a while - 4/4 were cockrels!!   I think a course is the way forward or support from someone who has done it before lots - perhaps you will have luck that way?  best luck, Fiona

[Womble]

How many have you got DC?

[Dizzycow]

Thank you for your kind words, Fiona! I really thought I'd be able to do it, hats off to you that you have.

I've got three big boys who are surplus to requirements, Womble. Christmas is coming......!

[nic99]

I was looking into this recently, as I decided to hatch some and knew I wouldn't be able to dispatch them myself. As it happens I only got 1 chick in this lot and will be able to keep it whatever the sex. However before they hatched I found a couple of places that do pheasants and was going to call them nearer the time and see if they would sort out a cockeral or two. One place is in Lindores and has a website: http://gamecart.woodmillshootings.com/

The other place is called pluckin magic and is in Rathillet. They don't have a website but i'm sure googling it will give you a phone number. I would be interested to hear how you get on.

[Dizzycow]

Doh! Never thought of the pheasant angle, and I live right in the middle of a shoot! That's excellent, thank you so much. I'll look into it tomorrow and let you know the score!
Cheers.
 

[Womble]

Hiya, Well three isn't too bad - I was worried it might be 33!!

You have my utmost sympathies here. I had to steel myself with whisky the first few I did, but after that it gets easier. The thing that worried me most to begin with was causing unnecessary suffering, but once I had been through it a few times, and was convinced in myself that I was being as humane as possible, it wasn't so bad. Unfortunately we've had a summer of breeding cockerels (10 boys and two girls hatched this year!!).

The pheasant shoot option is a good one, but how about getting some pheasants to practice with? (i.e. birds you don't know personally!) What we do with pheasants and spare cockerels is to open up the skin at the breast, and take out the breast meat and legs. This yields 90% of the meat, for about 10% of the effort of plucking and drawing. Pheasant recipes are also very good for cockerels, since they are far more 'gamey' than your standard supermarket chicken.

You're not too far away, so give me a shout if it would help for somebody to give you a hand.

[Dizzycow]

You're really kind, Womble, thank you!

I'm slightly annoyed now that I got a friend to dispatch two young cockerels (they were still inside, too young to go out) and now they'd be nice and big! If I'm going to drive to a slaughterhouse then I may as well make it worth my while by taking a few.

I'm regularly presented with a brace of pheasant during the season, and always take the breasts, but never the legs. I'll certainly bear in mind the gaminess of a cockerel, I've got an astonishingly lovely pheasant recipe which uses dates, wine and loads of cream...... it's delicious!

I'm sure it would get easier if I just plucked up the bloody courage in the first place! Maybe one day.....! If I ever feel that I'm ready I'd really like to have someone on hand who has experience, I'll need to give you back that bottle of (coq au) vin! 

[JEP]

i had the same thing first time how it was explained didn't work out
after a few times it gets easier
also its right easier to skin than to pluck but when you cook rap in foil
to keep moist

[Dizzycow]

Nice crispy skin.... mmmmm! Worth the effort, surely?!
 

[bigchicken]

When I worked for the commercial poultry industry I dispatched quite a few chickens so its old had to me. Now pheasants, dose anyone know how much the game dealer is paying for a brace of pheasants and any estates locally that would be willing to sell a few brace for a little bit more than game dealer prices I'm Dunfermline way.

[Dizzycow]

Err, me.

I'll find out and get back to you about prices. An average day here, usually a friday, is over 150, all go to the game dealer except a brace per gun and beater.

Would you like to swap a few brace for turning my three blokes into oven-ready chooks? How many brace per week or month or season are you looking for?

[bigchicken]

I was looking for maybe five brace just to put in the freezer, could  do this twice a year  I will do your birds for you if you want cheers.

[Dizzycow]

Yaaay! I can get you five brace. Will you really do my cockerels? I can maybe even get you your ten pheasants in an oven ready state if that would suit you? Will need to ask the powers that be......! When would suit you to come by, if that's ok with you? I'm home by 3.15 every day.

[bigchicken]

Great all I need is a price I don't mind plucking the pheasants  and yes I will do your chocks no kidding