alternatives to turkey?

[sotough]

after a particularly uninspiring turkey last christmas (and i did follow Delia) we have decided that actually it's a bit overrated and not as nice as chicken. seems to be drier and just less tasty. so we are thinking of doing a chicken with christmassy trimmings instead. i don't like goose and our oven isn't big enough anyway, so that's not an option, but i did see an article about "roasting cockerel" and wondered what that's like. unfortunately the piece didn't say what it tastes like - just said it feeds 8, which is ideal.
anyone tried it?

Try doing a search for 'roast capon' and you will find plenty to choose from. A capon is a castrated cockerel.

Am interested in this - thinking of getting a cockerel instead of a chicken (too small) or turkey (too big & one of our party doesn't like it). Am worried though as haven't done it before and don't want to spoil Christmas lunch by having a dodgy bird.

I thought capons were difficult to get now because of ethical reasons?

Ooh, perhaps I should namechange to ADodgyBird, just for Christmas!

We always do capon. Much nicer than turkey.

Although, to be fair, nearly everything is much nicer than turkey.

Tethers, where do you buy yours? My local butcher's is just selling cockerels, not capons. Just did a quick google which threw up a couple of possibilities but wondered if you could recommend anywhere?

Are you in London?

I always get mine from the Ginger Pig butcher which is round the corner, but I think they have a branch in Borough market too.

Since we've nobody coming to us for xmas this year (praise be), I'm only doing a chicken. No idea if capons are in short supply.

Could always do a couple of nice chickens if one isn't enough! Or one chicken and a ham?

Too much meat leftover at xmas anyway, if there's not many of you!

It depends on your budget too. Chicken is a lot cheaper than Capon or turkey.

There's only two of us so we're having rabbit.
We had pheasant last year and I've done duck before.
I have partridges to do at some point too.