Wayne Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Greetings from a newbie! Well, I've searched the net & can't find any sensible answers - can you eat feral pigeons safely or not? The closest search item I could find were articles from around the Sellafield area - apparently radioactive ferals are definitely a 'no-go!!' lol OK, I'll come clean - I have shot & eaten around 7 feral birds - I was fairly sure that their diet was seed rather than McDonalds leftovers, but they were feral, none the less. They tasted great (recipe later perhaps!) and I had no adverse side effects. But was I just lucky? I hear two sides - first, that these birds carry diseases which can't be eradicated by boiling etc, but second, that these birds are the semi-wild ancestors of domestic birds, bred specifically for the pot since mediaeval times. Which side shud I pay most attention to? I *want* to include the sp. on my list of suitable quarry, but I won't shoot anything I can't eat (unless its trying to eat me!). I would be very grateful for any help, advice, links etc.,....in return, I'll share my recipe......think pigeon breast in red wine with garlic & onions, all cooked up in a home made pie with mature cheddar & mange tout.....damn.....thas half the recipe already.....I'll shut up & drink more ale whilst waiting for your learned opinions! All the best, Wayne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrelhunter Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 My advice is eat them, if they look healthy and there not road kill eat them, cook em and et em hot and you wont have any problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead-eye-dick Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 :( :( I know for a fact they are highly toxic....... 10 years ago, when I lived back home with my mum, the lad I grew-up with had a ferret. One day we fed it a feral pigeon. - We were just kids remember and knew no better - I meet my old childhood chum in a pub the other day - I turns out the ferret died recently So there you go, proof if proof were needed Seriously, I have eaten them mixed in with woodies and never come to any harm, I do mainly try to avoid them though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billm Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Dont think they will do you any harm, it is just the thought of eating them when there is plenty of woodys about. billm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted November 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Thank u very much.....I'll get me rifle! I'm surrounded by townies see so its hard to get sensible advice on these things where I live. Now then, as promised, my pigeon pie recipe! I found that 7 birds (feral) was enough for 1 well-packed plate pie plus a decent pasty. First, cut out the breast meat of the birds & discard the rest of the carcass (unless ur reaaaally hungry & can be bothered with the tiny amount of meat in the wings & legs - personally, I don't think its worth the effort. Scald the breasts in boiling water (ie, pour boiling water over em) & ensure they're covered - add salt & pepper. Stew until very tender (I find that in a microwave on full power this was about 20 mins. At this point you can allow them to cool, cut em up & freeze them if u haven't got time or inclination to cook! But to continue with pie..... Chop a medium sized onion (or two if u like) & crush a few cloves of garlic - cook these (simmer & reduce) in some red grape juice or cheap red wine (or half & half). When the onion pieces have softened a bit (about half cooked) chop the pigeon breasts & add them & simmer for a while longer - just long enough for the pigeon to take on all the tastes. Then, leave the whole lot to marinate while you do your pastry. Fill your pastry with the pigeon/garlic/onion stuff & add a bit of the juice to keep it moist. Add some slices of mature cheddar & some of ur fave veg - I used chopped mange touts - worked well. Mushrooms would also work well. Then jus cook it like any other pie & enjoy, served with roast potatoes & a good ale, wine or port. And thats that! All the best, Wayne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 It's sad that you have to resort to eating ferals, as they are generally such horrible manky looking things that are not worth the price of a shotgun cartridge, and best left to forage outside the KFC for last nights scraps. The best recipe i've heard was to take 6 birds, pluck, dress and boil in stock for about 3 hours, then throw the lot away and eat the pan - it'll taste better...!!! Anyone for Sauteed Seagull or Casseroled Crow....?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted November 19, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 lol! I'll pass on the seagull thanx! But ferals don't all look manky & anyway - woodies & ferals look pretty damn similar in their 'in-pie' stage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 I've eaten loads of woodies but never ferel pigeons,i just dont like the thought of what they have been eating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammergun Posted November 19, 2003 Report Share Posted November 19, 2003 Try Collared Doves - they are much better than ferals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vermin Dropper Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 Try Collared Doves - they are much better than ferals. Unless you are in Northern Ireland. I believe they are protected over there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilbe2 Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 Thank u very much.....I'll get me rifle! I'm surrounded by townies see so its hard to get sensible advice on these things where I live. Now then, as promised, my pigeon pie recipe! I found that 7 birds (feral) was enough for 1 well-packed plate pie plus a decent pasty. First, cut out the breast meat of the birds & discard the rest of the carcass (unless ur reaaaally hungry & can be bothered with the tiny amount of meat in the wings & legs - personally, I don't think its worth the effort. Scald the breasts in boiling water (ie, pour boiling water over em) & ensure they're covered - add salt & pepper. Stew until very tender (I find that in a microwave on full power this was about 20 mins. At this point you can allow them to cool, cut em up & freeze them if u haven't got time or inclination to cook! But to continue with pie..... Chop a medium sized onion (or two if u like) & crush a few cloves of garlic - cook these (simmer & reduce) in some red grape juice or cheap red wine (or half & half). When the onion pieces have softened a bit (about half cooked) chop the pigeon breasts & add them & simmer for a while longer - just long enough for the pigeon to take on all the tastes. Then, leave the whole lot to marinate while you do your pastry. Fill your pastry with the pigeon/garlic/onion stuff & add a bit of the juice to keep it moist. Add some slices of mature cheddar & some of ur fave veg - I used chopped mange touts - worked well. Mushrooms would also work well. Then jus cook it like any other pie & enjoy, served with roast potatoes & a good ale, wine or port. And thats that! All the best, Wayne. WOW!!! AND THERES ME JUST ROLLING THEM IN FLOUR AND SHALLOW FRYING THEM :*) IM GONNA PRINT THAT ONE OFF!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted November 28, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2003 Hope u enjoy it m8. Bon apetite! (oh & don't forget the good ale or port to swill it all down with - thas *highly* important!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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