Multi-bird roast ... which one? How big?

[NotQuiteCockney]

We will have 6 adults (maybe 7?), and 3 kids. Nobody is tiny, everyone has a decent appetite.

How big a bird do I need?

I want something with duck in it, and no (or minimal) bones. There are lots of websites selling multi-bird roasts. Has anyone tried any of them?

[ToThrottleABlackBird]

Bump for morning crowd for you

[Carmenere]

I would get something that weighs about 12-15lbs I think, although that would be a LOT without bones so maybe 9lbs, ask the vendor

[fossa]

There was a beauty in the Waitrose Christmas food brochure, Goose, turkey and duck, serves 10-12 priced...£120...gulp.

[Carmenere]

I might do one myself, it would take ages but it would only cost about 40-50 quid

[NotQuiteCockney]

Yeah, they're pricey, but it's Xmas, whatever. I'm not comfortable doing butchery, so I'm not making my own.

I think DH wants us to have a practice run, too ... it's a lot of bird, isn't it.

[broodymom]

Try shopping around some different butchers, my butcher is doing a bonless bird in a bird in a bird (pheasant in a duck in a turkey)!! for us with all the trimmings (stuffing balls, chippolatas etc(sp!))for £60 but we do go to him every year they also do turkey guilded with either gold,silver or saffron to really make an imression if you want! I would stay away from a big retailer and go to a good local butcher if you can find one you should get good value for your money.
I could reccomend mine only if you live in scotland tho!

[broodymom]

Guessing by the cockney name you prob down south somewhere! lol

£120 price tag at waitrose glad we dont have that sore here!

[sunnygirl1412]

Can I ask where in Scotland, broodymom - in a general sense, of course. I stay outside of Glasgow, along the Clyde estuary - the Greenock side.

If your butchers is near enough, that bird in a bird sounds delicious!

[HangingbaublesofBethlehem]

we had one last year and tbh it was hard to cook - in order for it to be cooked all the way through the outer layer was a bit dry and also all of the layers kind of blend into one huge mass of protein! no-one had any idea what they were eating either . It was something I always always wanted and treated ourselves last year but it wasn't as fab as I'd hoped - I think I'd actually stick to a couple of different birds together rather than 5+ and at least that way you know what you're eating. we had the small 5 bird roast from Heal farm - it didn't quite match the description! even the stuffing was a kind of uniform beige protein colour and not the bejwelled wonder it promised to be

[broodymom]

Snap!! im in Argyll so just accross the water! I can get his number and post it on here for you prob wont be till 2mrw tho.

[sunnygirl1412]

Thanks!

(waves out of the window to broodymom)

[HangingbaublesofBethlehem]

how about this

[broodymom]

(waves) I will get his number when in town 2mrw and post it for you.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Ah, thanks, Hanging baubles. We do have a v good local butcher. Also, Borough Market isn't far away - and likely to be better quality, maybe?

Sheesh at the 25kg of bird. I think 5kg is probably a better plan.

I do plan to roast it overnight, whatever I get - I generally cook birds for as long as possible, covered, and use a meat thermometer to check the inside temperature. Often, I'm cooking them at 140C or 100C or whatever. So if a chicken cooks for 5-6 hours, a bigger thing is going to need 12 hours, at least!

[DesperateHousewifeToo]

We have had various ones over the years, all from sister's local butcher (from 3-5 birds).

Agree that it is difficult to work out what you were eating but that is all part of the fun and after a few drinks we didn't care anyway!