JP, a couple of great articles, I bookmarked the one about chopping up the duck. MY method of chopping up is almost identical. Except, I cut off the poops nose, I think that is where the oil glands are and I don't want oil in the duck when I cook it. I generally cook a duck whole though, I think that retains so much of the moisture.
These articles kept talking about the oil in the ducks. The Muscovy ducks that we raise are practically oil less. I am not kidding. There is hardly any grease when they are cooked and the gravy is dark and very very flavourful. Eeks, it is 5:00 A.M. and I am drooling here over duck.
I tried a regular duck once many years ago, and it so turned me off duck that I could not ever bear to eat it again. When I cooked it I found that it was so oily that it was kind of revolting. I probably did something wrong and if I had had these internet sites to look at way back then, the duck may have been very good, 27 years ago.
Anyways JP, weep and drool about Whoppo in the pan, he actually is becoming much more well behaved. He still comes over to me hissing, but now I think it is only a greeting because he goes away, hee, hee. The two turkey hens make sure that he doesn't bug me any more too, I am protected, hee, hee. Have a beautiful and wonderful day. Cindi
Right, when I had made a post about when Whopppo was hissing at me through the fence and Abigail, the younger of the turkey hens intimidated him and he took off a few times, Angi responded that sometimes turkey hens will take the human into their flock and protect them. I have seen this turkey hen and the other one too now, warding Whoppo away from me, making that strange sound and forcing him to go away, them hot on his tail. He is obviously very intimidated by them and leaves. It is a rather strange sensation to think that a turkey girl is protecting ya. It makes me feel good, it makes me feel that the like me alot, and yes, I feel rather protected to say the least.
I was working in the chicken barn the other day and I could hear Whoppo coming in, I was kind of trapped in there and I knew that I might have to have a little fight with him if he decided to attack me. He came over to where I was in the roosting part (I was fixing up some roosts to be in a different spot in there). I could hear him a mile away (I am very aware of this dude and where he is). He was hissing and hissing and when he came around the corner I just looked at him and he looked at me. Then he let out the air in his lungs like that old wind bag and looked at me. Well, wouldn't you know it. In through the main door came Abigail. She went straight over to him and started that weird noise, walking around and around him. Nope he had enough of that he he immediately left the house, rather quickly. I think that he felt kind of in a tight spot too, so off he went with Abigail hot on his tracks, her making that kind of purring sound, that is the only way to describe it, but it obviously bugs the crap out of Whoppo and away he went. I said thank you to Abigail in my mind and I carried on. Oh, just another day in the interesting life in the chickenyards. C.