Different Kinds Of Poultry To Try!

With Christmas coming how about trying something different then the same old turkey or ham.  Here are a list of different kinds of poultry available to create something different for your holiday feast.  If anyone needs a recipe for any of them just let me know:

Chickens:

1. Cornish Hen:  These cute little birds are about 6 weeks old. They only weight about 1 to 2 lbs.  Make one for everyone at the table.  They make a great plate presentation.
2. Chicken Broiler or Fryer:  These birds are about 10 weeks old.  They are very tender and weight about 3 lbs.
3. Roaster:  About 4 to 5 months old and weight  4 to 5 lbs.  I buy this one at the market when I make a whole chicken.
4. Capon:  These are male chickens that have been castrated (ouch).  They are very tender, weight about 7 lbs or so and are about 8 months old.
5. Hen:  Mature female about 10 months old.  They weight about 5 to 6 lbs.  They have tough flesh.
6. Rooster:  Tough flesh  and are mature males about 10 months old.  They weight about 5 to 6 lbs.

Duck:

• Broiler or Fryer:  They are very tender and about 8 weeks old. They weight about 2 to 4 lbs.  Their bill is even soft!
• Roaster:  Under 16 weeks old and weight about 4 to 6 lbs. 
• Mature Duck:  Over 6 months old.  They have tough flesh.

Goose:

1. Young Goose:  Very tender and young approximately 6 months old.  They weight between 6 – 10 lbs.
2. Mature Goose:  Old!  They have tough flesh and are over 6 months old.

Pigeon:

1. Squab:  Tender light meat about 3 to 4 weeks old.
2. Pigeon:  Tough dark meat over 4 weeks old.

Pheasant: 6 to 12 Months old.  The females are more tender then the males.

Guineas:

1. Young Guinea:  Relative to the Pheasant. They are young and are under 6 months old.  they weight about 1 to 1.5 lbs.
2. Old Guinea:  Up to 12 months old and weigh about 1 to 2 lbs.

Turkey:

1. Fryer/Roaster:  Young bird under 16 weeks with tender flesh. They weight between 4 to 6 lbs.
2. Young Turkey:  Tender flesh is about 5 to 7 months old  They weight 8 to 22 lbs.
3. Mature Turkey:  Tough flesh and is over 15 months old.  They weight 10 to 30 lbs.

If anything we have learned as these birds get older their skin and flesh becomes tougher. So remember bigger is not better.  They younger the easier it is to eat and enjoy.

Chef