How do you butcher geese & ducks?? Is it done the same as chickens & turkeys. Do you scald them & pluck them like a chicken? Wasn't sure since geese & ducks have a sort of water repellant on their feathers. Would like to save the feathers if there is an easy way to do it. Thanks!

-- Wendy (weiskids@yahoo.com), November 25, 2001

Answers

Wendy,

I just did one of my geese before Thanksgiving. I did not scald it, I just dry plucked it. This is the first goose I have ever done. I did not save the feathers but, I could see that by useing this method it would be very easy to save the feathers. Be aware that geese have many more feathers then chickens. Wish you the best.

When I do chickens I skin them. I don't want to mess with the feathers.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), November 26, 2001.

We raise chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys at our cabin. All are processed the same...cut jugulars, let them bleed, scald them, pluck them, gut them, cut them up then eat or freeze them. We vacuum-seal before freezing. Doesn't matter that a duck's feathers are water resistant. The scalding water opens the pores in the skin to facilitate easy plucking. My wife was born & raised on a farm in the Philippines doing this, and can do the whole process in about half an hour per bird. You will be able to process them this fast, too, after "doing" a few birds. Any questions, send me an E-Mail. Good luck & good eating!

-- Roger Pettitt (rogerpettitt@hotmail.com), November 26, 2001.

My advice is to leave those waterfowl alone. We were all set to butcher our ducks when the geese put up a big racket as a pre-planned distraction out front. Then when we went to see what the commotion was, the ducks pulled out our phone wires from out back. We didn't know this until the geese lured us inside into the room we're currently trapped in. now we're stuck in here while the geese and ducks act like they own the place. I wouldn't mind but they keep playing that dang rap music on our stereo. Lousy dang waterfoul. I better go now...I hear sinister quacking noises outside the door, and I'm scared they know I have a laptop in here.

-- Rema Lemos (remalemos@coolquiz.com), November 27, 2001.

I am so glad my husband had me read this last repsonse, I really needed a good laugh tonight, thanks!

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), December 02, 2001.