repurposing pigeons

**Bugbear** · 9th November 09, 08:58 AM

Don't worry, most dead animals are consumed by several things... They don't go to waste even if they are thrown in the trash.

I am mildly interested in this feather sporran concept. Is there anything traditional about it.

**Foxgun Tom** · 9th November 09, 11:02 AM

As someone who is a fanatical pigeon decoyer/shooter ie: shooting pigeons for the table as part of my crop protection duties, I certainly would'nt eat a city/feral pigeon most of the pigeons I shoot are woodpigeons, those are destined for the gamedealers and fancy restaraunts, the city/feral pigeons end up processed for animal feed.

Many feral pigeons have great colouring ie: red grizzles, chequered pies etc: and I'm sure the lady from the north of Scotland who makes the pheasant and duck sporrans, http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk/sporrans.html I suppose could rustle up a passable sporran??

Tom

**Squeaky McMurdo** · 9th November 09, 12:10 PM

Just talked to a friend of mine who does falconry and uses trapped pigeons to train and feed his birds, and mentioned your sporran idea.

His method is to use a live pigeon trap and to put a flea and tick collar in with them for about 3 days (you'll have to feed them) before using them.

--Chelsea McMurdo--

**Rawlinson** · 9th November 09, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by BEEDEE

IMO town pigeons just are too dowdy.

I'd normally agree with that, but within the last few weeks, I've noticed a few well fed birds with nice looking feathers and beautiful patterns: definitely not the majority, but they're out there.

Originally Posted by Squeaky McMurdo

His method is to use a live pigeon trap and to put a flea and tick collar in with them for about 3 days (you'll have to feed them) before using them.

Now there's an idea.

Anyone know how to actually go about preserving the skin with feathers?

I'm getting the feeling that a dorm room may not be the best place for this project: 2 of my roommates are tolerant and all-around good people, but the other one is pretty much my antithesis.

I've always heard it was a bad idea to eat city pigeon, but I was curious if anyone knew some way of cooking one that'd negate the likely numerous problems the meat has. So don't worry... I promise not to eat the sporrans.

**Heming** · 9th November 09, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Rawlinson

I've always heard it was a bad idea to eat city pigeon, but I was curious if anyone knew some way of cooking one that'd negate the likely numerous problems the meat has.

You might try nuking it for about a week and then cooking it in strong lye until it dissolves. Make sure to dispose of the lye safely afterwards.

**james a. husky** · 9th November 09, 02:22 PM

"I live in a dorm, so no compost."

In a dorm situation, the "composter" is usually the fridge's vegetable keeper!

Still not certain I'd want a bird carcass swinging around down there, however... too much fodder for bad Fruedian puns!

Jim aka kiltiemon

**joecool** · 9th November 09, 02:31 PM

I commend you on the idea of not wasting anything, but in this case, I think that city pigeons are probably not the best way to go (or even the prettiest bird to make a sporran out of). I definitely would not eat it (especially if it is dead/dying when you find it) because there are a lot of diseases that birds can die from that can make you sick. If you have to eat it, I would cook the heck out of it until it was beyond well done.

**Rawlinson** · 9th November 09, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Heming

You might try nuking it for about a week and then cooking it in strong lye until it dissolves. Make sure to dispose of the lye safely afterwards.

Some guys got that on their hands in chem lab the other day... I found it slightly amusing that they were turning into soap.

Originally Posted by james a. husky

"I live in a dorm, so no compost."

In a dorm situation, the "composter" is usually the fridge's vegetable keeper!

Our fridge is surprisingly clean and vegetable-free.

Originally Posted by james a. husky

Still not certain I'd want a bird carcass swinging around down there, however... too much fodder for bad Fruedian puns!

I'm a broke college student in a city: I'm just looking at the materials around me. Most of the squirrels here look too mangy, and I'm pretty sure I'd get in a lot of trouble for trying to turn the falcon that lives on the Cathedral of Learning into a sporran. Those're the 3 animals I have access to right now that could possibly be used for sporrans... besides humans.