Live Poultry Markets

[Chris Amirault]

In the fried chicken cook-off, I posted a lot of photos of Antonelli's Poultry here in Providence RI, where there are a few live poultry shops. Click here for the post.

[LindaK]

In Boston, there are a few places in Chinatown. Also in Cambridge, Mayflower Poultry near Inman Square has a fine selection. I found a pic of their sign on the web---hope the link works. Mayflower Poultry

[Carrot Top]

We were lucky enough to be in markets in Brugge, Belgium, and Amsterdam last week. At both markets, we saw stalls selling live poultry of all kinds, as well as rabbits. I never did get up the heart to ask whether these were intended as pets, food...or both.

MelissaH

←

There's one in San Francisco's Chinatown called Neverending Quail or something like that.

[ . . .]

I think there may've also been rabbits for sale up front.

←

Yes, I've gotten rabbit from live poultry markets. Very good flavor, eons away from the frozen stuff.

[chezcherie]

i know there are several in los angeles' chinatown. asi we have chickens as pets, it's a little too "close to home" for me to point out a flapping bird and then take it home for dinner. (somehow, the pre-plastic wrapped bird doesn't bother me, although when we first got chickens, i could only cook chicken parts for a while, not whole birds)

. but i'm so curious about the difference in flavor...might have to give it a try next time.

[StanSherman]

They take care of preparing the bird for you.

There is special equipment that allows them to quickly slaughter, de-feather, and blanch for pinfeathers within a few brief moments while you wait. It is a cost that is built into the "price per pound".

They bleed the bird.  Place it into a "scalder" and then it goes into a "Plucker".  A plucker is like a clothes dryer with rubber fingers all over.  One to several birds roll around in there and the feathers are exhausted.

As noted earlier in the thread, it is a good idea to go the day before to allow the bird to rest in the refrigerator overnight for tenderness.

Four is even better

Someone also mentioned earlier being worried about going to these places "now" and I am assuming it is from a fear of bird flu.

Is there anyone out there capable of speaking knowledgeably upon this subject for us?

I know a fair amount since we have a small chicken farm

There are no markets near where I live, so the subject has not come up "personally", but certainly it is of some interest.

Naturally, these sorts of places do have to be licensed and I would imagine that they are regulated very closely. . .

←

The bird flu that is the big worry in not currently around. The concern is a bird to bird transmission mutating into one that will effect humans. Birds pass diseases easily to each other since they huddle together while sleeping for warmth.