I've just ran over a pheasant :(

[lexiepix]

On a narrow country lane, doing 50, they usually move out of the way but this one stayed right in the middle.

It made such a thud, a huge cloud of feathers afterwards and I've just been picking the feather out of my grill.

I had no idea what way it was going to go so didn't swerve, also I didn't break much as expected it to move as they do 1000s of times before.

I'm feeling really shit about it. Am I a total cunt for not slowing or swerving?

Thanks Gallic I really want to find this photo now so that I can prove that it happened...because it did!

It surprises me that the birds are the size of large hens or medium turkeys, yet make such a tiny meal. It must be pheasants' revenge on being bred to be shot

Yeah I know...I don't bother faffing around with them. I just skin them and use the breasts. I think they are just all feather!

The red junglefowl (the wild bird from which domestic chickens descend) weighs roughly the same as a pheasant (about 1kg). Domestic chickens kept for meat are more like 3kg-3.5kg. They are big and fat (and crap at flying) because we've selectively bred them to be that way.

Sayra I thought you liked them grilled?

Gallic those are some big fat pheasants. Most of the ones I see around here squashed on the road are much smaller.

My DH loves pheasant especially ones that have been hanging a loooooong time (yuk ) . He cooks them on the stovetop on a bed of caramelised onions with loads of brandy - the onions taste delicious but I'm not so keen on the pheasant as it's too gamey.

Haha ARoom

SayraT did you find the photo?

OHs dad has the phone and is away this weekend. He is back tomorrow and I will post it then once he emails it to me

Yay.....A big phat feasant on the grill.....

I saw this bird on the front of a Car 'N its Ival....

www.office.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Office-Carnival.jpg

I know a lot about pheasants and cars......uff

Car 'N its Ival?

Get it?

Haha

I have invented a new word....."Pheaxting"

Definition - Driving along a country lane too fast by reasonable standards whilst trying to say it is below 60 mph so "still legal", completely ignoring what the Highway Code says and sticking two fingers up to the rest of the world with their children on ponies, people on bicycles and other drivers, with no notion that life is real and not about you or your "internet/video game/virtual/got to get to coffee" lifestyle, whilst nonchalantly shooting down a pheasant from the steering wheel whilst trying to text a friend that you are running late and that "its not your fault" - of course it isn't - even though it always is, and completely ignoring the legal notion that there is a Duty Of Care for all that is around you, but what the heck. the insurers will pick it up anyway.

"Pheaxting" - I looove it.

Took a while to get the photo but here it is.

It's just sleeping.

Did you eat it?

Pheasants are not stupid. When an animal is raised in the country, never sees a car , then comes across them, they panic. Many go into shock. They have no idea of danger. You, as a driver DO. On country lanes, I drive slowly, if passing woods especially, I watch more carefully, I beep my car horn and if I see one in the road, I stop snd beep and they they move on. Cars kill. Take care when driving on country lanes or through wooded areas...and avoid all wildlife.

Sicko

I did this on a dual carriageway. It's just one of those things.

Harsh... wildlife also goes onto roads where it is not safe to drive slowly or stop suddenly.