Help to Identify

muffin57 · Post by **muffin57** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:25 pm

Weird! My husband went out to the chicken coop when he got home from work and when he came back out there lay this dead bird just inside of the run. My husband had left the gate open and our poultry were all inside the coop. We think it is a hawk and may have flew into the gate door. It was still warm. Here's some pics. Anyone know what type of hawk it is?

Brebis · Post by **Brebis** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 7:33 pm

Looks like a grouse to me...

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 7:47 pm

with brebis, grouse.

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 8:40 pm

Yup...spruce chicken...

muffin57 · Post by **muffin57** » Tue Dec 20, 2016 9:27 pm

Thanks guys. We did wonder that too if it was a partridge. Damn I wonder if we could still eat it. It's probably too late.

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 8:38 am

They are delish but small! Give it a go LOL! But then bear in mind us Brits eat rotting pheasant.

muffin57 · Post by **muffin57** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 1:54 pm

I agree KB. When Brebis, Flat Rock Farm and TomK confirmed that it was a grouse it is the first thing I thought of was oh I miss eating partridge. It has been a couple of years, since we had any. My husband went out last night and cleaned it. He had left it outside until we could decide what to do with it. We don't hunt, but have been fortunate to have been given them in the past already cleaned. We had a trapper, hunter friend who would bring them to us, but he moved away. We never noticed any partridge here until a few years ago when the spruce and pine trees started getting bigger. We have the trees all around our house. This one is the first one, so close to the house. Maybe I will be able to get more with my air rifle. I remember when my boys were young they got one with their sling shot.

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Wed Dec 21, 2016 5:24 pm

If it was outside it will be fine to eat. Hubby hit one with the truck on the way to work last week and couldn't clean it until he got home 12 hours later. It was delicious :) Trappers often only check lines once a week. Rabbits still good to eat! Wouldn't do that in the summer, but in winter, heck ya!

Farrier1987 · Post by **Farrier1987** » Fri Dec 23, 2016 1:05 pm

They are one of the most wonderful meals there can be. Usually skiined, not plucked (the skin is very tender) just the breasts, roll in flour and fry. Havent had one in 20 yr or so, but a wonderful meal.