How to slaughter a really big tom turkey

[SkyWarrior]

Actually, I have two tom turkeys. Last year, we had a hen turkey, who was big but not as much. I'm thinking well over 30 lbs and closer to 40.

We've actually been talking shotgun to the bird's head.

Insane?

I don't think I can figure out how to hold him down for a good chop.

 

[stoopid]

This sounds like something you need to film. One of those moments you'll laugh about waaay later.

 

[manybirds]

Quote:
if they're between 40 and 50 ibs on a tom and around 40 on a hen they're probably broad breasted's and are bound to have leg problems soon any way (or a heart attack)

 

[bigd36322]

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Good sharp Machete. Hold by his legs and when his head curls upward....SWOOSH.. off goes his head........ Let him bleed out...works everytime.........

 

[cassidy22]

YOu need a friend. Someone to hold him down, and someone to slice or cut the head off.

I would suggest holding him down through the last throes, so legs and wings don't get broken, and he doesn't end up pushing a lot of dirt up under his feathers.


I had to do an injured tom last year a week before my thanskgiving processing. My husband was out of town, and I didn't have the scalder/plucker/kill cones set up.

I had a friend come over, she practically sat on him, I cut his throat. The two of us continued to hold his wings in until he was done. It took both of us to get him up on my table so I could skin and gut him.

I generally use kill cones, and I have some mighty big ones. It holds the bird still so I can cut them, and let them bleed out.

 

[silkiechicken]

I did my two almost 50lb live toms by cutting a hole in a corner of a feed back and stuffing them in the bag and sticking their head out. I just used a knife to cut their heads off and hung them from the back porch rafters to bleed out. One tore the bag while flapping and I can assure you that you do not want to get hit in the face with a turkey wing. Kinda felt bad for the boys, they both just followed me to the back and just were like, why are you putting me in a bag for? They were well handled and so did not fuss when I bagged them and tied their feet together. I miss the turkeys, they were awesome. But they were broad breasted birds for food.

 

[erinszoo]

It sounds so gruesome talking about it but we are going to have to do the same soon, too. However, we just have a smallish white midget female to dispatch. Let us know how it goes!

 

[SkyWarrior]

Quote:
if they're between 40 and 50 ibs on a tom and around 40 on a hen they're probably broad breasted's and are bound to have leg problems soon any way (or a heart attack)

Two BBWs, to be exact. One tom is showing some leg problems. But this doesn't answer my question.

 

[SkyWarrior]

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If home grown turkey wasn't so good, I wouldn't bother with it. LOTS of work to dress one out, let alone two.

I can't wait to get my heritage birds next spring. Assuming they all survive the shipping.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

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This is what I would do. Less chance of anything going seriously wrong.