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Fresh killed vs store bought Turkey

Charlesmaneri
Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
edited November 2013 in EggHead Forum
I concerned I have a opportunity to get a fresh killed Turkey from a farmer the reason I'm concerned is I bought a fresh killed Chicken from this farmer and the Chicken was very very tuff almost uneatable had to make soup with it so that being said has anyone had any experience with fresh killed Turkey I don't want to get this Turkey and serve it for Thanksgiving and have it turn out uneatable 
2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
Long Island N.Y.
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Comments

  • TexanOfTheNorth
    TexanOfTheNorth Posts: 3,951
    Been buying fresh from a local turkey farm for several years now. Never had a problem with any of them.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, "spa-Peggy" is kind of like spaghetti. I'm not sure what Peggy does different, if anything. But it's the one dish she's kind of made her own.
    ____________________
    Aurora, Ontario, Canada
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  • Charlesmaneri
    Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
    @TexanOfTheNorth this farmer that I buy from has the Turkey live until I get their then I have to kill gut& pluck the Turkey then take it home  thats what I had to do with the Chicken  and for that matter even for my suckling pig I had to slaughter remove the hair and gut out the pig like I said before the chicken was bad so I'm not sure that I want to get involved with all this work and have the Turkey tuff 
    2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
    Long Island N.Y.
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  • Little Steven
    Little Steven Posts: 28,817
    I find free range birds can be tough. I would brine and inject if you get one.

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

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  • Charlesmaneri
    Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
    I always brine my turkeys and inject
    2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
    Long Island N.Y.
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  • lousubcap
    lousubcap Posts: 36,794

    Since the Thaksgiving turkey is such a star, if you want to go fresh then you may want to give it a trial run before commiting to the Thanksgiving bird. And if not satisfied then go the alternate route.  Brining, injection and the BGE can cover lots of issues but you don't want to be dealing with that on the Day.  Just an opinion and we all know what those are worth

    :)
    Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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  • Toddski
    Toddski Posts: 26
    I get my fresh killed turkey's from miloski's turkey farm in calverton every thanksgiving.Fresh killed is so much better than store bought as long as the bird is under a year old.The way the bird is slaughtered makes a difference.If you have any questions about slaughtering the bird let me know I have raised and killed a few
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  • Charlesmaneri
    Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
    @Toddski the farm that I buy from is in Aquabouge  on Sound ave just east of Palmer vineyards in on the left hand side as you go east anyway I was telling SWMBO that we should go to Miloski's  farm and get the Turkey there I would assume when you get the Turkey from them it's all cleaned packaged and ready to go am I correct 
    2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
    Long Island N.Y.
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  • Toddski
    Toddski Posts: 26
    Correct it is ready to cook.Very expensive but for once a year it's worth it.
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  • Charlesmaneri
    Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
    @Toddski I assume you live on Long Island if so where ?

    2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
    Long Island N.Y.
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  • Toddski
    Toddski Posts: 26
    Southold
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  • Charlesmaneri
    Charlesmaneri Posts: 1,295
    I live in Sayville but work in Riverhead 
    2 Large Eggs and a Mini 2 Pit Bulls and a Pork shoulder or butt nearby and 100% SICILIAN
    Long Island N.Y.
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  • TexanOfTheNorth
    TexanOfTheNorth Posts: 3,951
    Charlesmaneri said:
    @TexanOfTheNorth this farmer that I buy from has the Turkey live until I get their then I have to kill gut& pluck the Turkey then take it home  thats what I had to do with the Chicken  and for that matter even for my suckling pig I had to slaughter remove the hair and gut out the pig like I said before the chicken was bad so I'm not sure that I want to get involved with all this work and have the Turkey tuff 
    Charles, the place I go takes care of killing and dressing the bird. They are usually slaughtered two days before pickup as they have to be inspected before they can be sold.

    Not sure I'd want to do all the "dirty" myself... not that I couldn't handle it; just seems like more work than necessary.

    Good luck with whatever you end up doing!
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Well, "spa-Peggy" is kind of like spaghetti. I'm not sure what Peggy does different, if anything. But it's the one dish she's kind of made her own.
    ____________________
    Aurora, Ontario, Canada
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 19,780
    When we lived in Iowa, we would get fresh chickens and turkeys from an Amish farmer. Killed the morning of pickup, dressed, weighed, and bagged whole. Best poultry we've ever had. Fresh turkey beats store bought any day.

    What size chickens did you buy previously? The bigger they are, the older they are= meat can be tough. If you buy a smaller turkey , it may be more likely to be tender. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    I only get fresh. The farmer I go to does heritage breed(Narragansett) free range organic. Holy crap is it awesome. You don't have to add anything to the bird since the flavor is so good. So much better than the large breasted hybrids found everywhere else.
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