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Classic
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page 154
VII. TAME AND WILD FOWL.
167. Points of Difference between Old and Young Fowl and the best Season for
purchasing. It is quite essential that every housekeeper be informed as to the
points of difference between fowl that are good and those that are not. Of
course the greatest safeguard against obtaining unwholesome poultry is to buy it
when alive. Poultry in good health has clear shiny eyes, smooth plumage, lively
movements and bright red combs. When purchasing killed poultry, first examine
the place or wound where they were killed, which should open outwards; the skin
should be white, the flesh firm and the bill retain its natural color. If the
skin has a bluish tinge or is slimy, and if the bill has changed color, the meat
is unwholesome.
The distinguishing points of young fowls are: A white, tender skin, an easily
indented breast-bone, a light-colored bill and skin of the legs, and a slender
body. With the exception of the turkey, which has a dark skin on the legs when
young, all old poultry has a dark, hard, horny skin on the legs. The windpipe of
young turkeys and geese can be easily compressed and with geese an infallible
indication that they are young consists in the fact that the head of a pin can
be inserted into the skin of the breast, which cannot be done with an old goose.
Young wild fowls have soft bills with a yellow ring and light colored feet
(partridge have yellow feet); the ends of the quills of the plumage of any young
fowl are quite soft and filled with blood.
Besides the age and wholesomeness of poultry, the tune of the year has some
influence regarding its adaptability for cooking. Young--so-called "Spring"
chickens--are best from May to November, capons in the Winter months and turkeys
from September to March, although the latter are the nicest in September,
December and January. Young pigeons are the plumpest in June and July. Fat geese
can be obtained from October to January and ducks are in season at the beginning
of November. The game laws of the various States of course govern the time when
game can be the market.
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