snow white Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 Do any body here my age remember how to pull the tendons out of the turkey legs we used to use a piece of flat steel about 4 inch wide with an vee cut in it bolted to a strong fence post the knuckle of the leg was put across the vee then the leg was pulled down leaving the claw with 5 tendons the you could pull to make the feet open and close I used to chase the kids round the garden opening and closing them bit of fun at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 Loop of strong cord under your foot .break turkeys leg under joint twist put cord round turkey leg And pull .or you can put cord high up and use your weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 20 minutes ago, snow white said: Do any body here my age remember how to pull the tendons out of the turkey legs we used to use a piece of flat steel about 4 inch wide with an vee cut in it bolted to a strong fence post the knuckle of the leg was put across the vee then the leg was pulled down leaving the claw with 5 tendons the you could pull to make the feet open and close I used to chase the kids round the garden opening and closing them bit of fun at the time I still do it with chickens that I kill or pheasants. Using the back of a knife blade or pliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 Done 100s in the past, the hardest one we had tried to do was a 30lb plus, there were 2 of us hanging on the legs. If your pulling the legs of a decent size turkey (15lb +) all the best using a piece of cord and pulling it up while standing on the cord. We need some video of this method please preferably in slow mo as you knock yourself out . Your better off having 2 6inch nails, (or if you know anyone get some decent steel and have someone put a split in it into a Y shape, bend it up into a hook and fix that securely onto a wall), hammered into a wall or similar about head height, brake the turkey legs on pull. They dont tend to do this now, its a pity as it ruins the legs leaving the tendons in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dipper Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 When I was butchering long time ago .most shops I was at had a flat bar with V cut in it mainly for chickens .But a big Turkey could need 2 people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted December 17, 2021 Report Share Posted December 17, 2021 4 hours ago, dipper said: Loop of strong cord under your foot .break turkeys leg under joint twist put cord round turkey leg And pull .or you can put cord high up and use your weight. 2 hours ago, dipper said: When I was butchering long time ago .most shops I was at had a flat bar with V cut in it mainly for chickens .But a big Turkey could need 2 people. Do you kill it first? 🤔😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minky Posted December 18, 2021 Report Share Posted December 18, 2021 Father used to put the legs is the hinge side of a gate. From what I remember the tendons pulled an amount of muscle out. 30 pounder !!! There was Turkey, Turkey, Turkey sandwiches, Cold Turkey, Turkey curry and the bin. this some of the reason that we don't have Turkey and we have about 3 smaller joints. Gamon, beef and lamb. This way people can have some of what they like or something of everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokingdragon Posted December 19, 2021 Report Share Posted December 19, 2021 A couple of years ago we kept sbout 6 free range Turkeys for Christmas - they were b*stards, escaping, perching on neighbours patio! Anyway after the free ranging they had good leg muscles and the tendons........ 2 of us hanging on the door frame and it still wouldn't detach so I just cut them with snips 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted December 19, 2021 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2021 Was asking to see if there was a different way of doing as I am getting older I had trouble pulling them last year (and before I get any comments I am on about the turkey legs ) really hard job but I did it.this year I have got to do three of the ruddy things got nice piece of 4inch wide steel with vee cut in it so hoping all goes well on Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted December 22, 2021 Report Share Posted December 22, 2021 Sounds like your on the right road with what you have. There is a work top tool for doing them that would be easier, but cost and your usage of it just isn't worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted December 22, 2021 Report Share Posted December 22, 2021 (edited) Good reading. Never heard of these techniques. Wild turkeys are a quarry here. Legs are virtually inedible due to the tendons. Made for an interesting Christmas dinner a few years ago 😀 Edited December 22, 2021 by Houseplant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted December 29, 2021 Report Share Posted December 29, 2021 50 years ago working at turkey farm for a few quid as we used to, one year the last to go was the old stag a bronze, 2 of us failed to have the strength to do his tendons despite having the hook on a beam. Seems much bigger birds needed then than now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted December 29, 2021 Report Share Posted December 29, 2021 5 hours ago, old man said: 50 years ago working at turkey farm for a few quid as we used to, one year the last to go was the old stag a bronze, 2 of us failed to have the strength to do his tendons despite having the hook on a beam. Seems much bigger birds needed then than now? I nearly gave myself another pair trying to do the same, gave up in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted December 30, 2021 Report Share Posted December 30, 2021 12 hours ago, Dougy said: I nearly gave myself another pair trying to do the same, gave up in the end. Yep the old sod had is beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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