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How to Clean a Dove, Quail or Squab

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By Paul Edmondson


Cleaning Doves, Quail and Squabs

With small birds like doves, quail, and squabs (baby pigeons) it usually not worth plucking the entire bird like it is with a chicken, duck or turkey. The reason is the amount of meat on wings and legs is very small. We don't like to be wasteful, but on small birds the breast meat is the significant portion of meat. So the process we use to clean quail or doves is called breasting, which leaves you with the breast meat. Cleaning quail this way is fast and easy!


You will need a few tools to get started.

  1. Small sharp knife
  2. Kitchen shears
  3. A paper bag for waste
  4. Running water to wash off birds
  5. Plastic Freezer bags if you're going to freeze the birds once cleaned


Getting Started

  1. Take the kitchen shears and cut the wings off the bird. Put the wings in the paper bag. (Note: It's good to clean up as you go, otherwise feathers can get everywhere and make quite a mess that takes much longer to clean up at the end)
  2. Remove the head by either pulling it off with your hands which involves putting the head between your index and forefinger and while holding the body of the bird in your other hand, twist and pull. Alternatively, you can use the kitchen shears and cut the head off at the base of the neck.
  3. Flip the bird over so that the breast or underside of the bird is facing you. With your thumb and index finger pluck the feathers from the breast. Make sure your hands are dry, otherwise the feathers will stick to your hands.
  4. Now where the breast bone meets the back it forms a point. Put both of your thumbs on the point and press to break the skin.
  5. Insert your thumbs about one inch and pull the body in half.
  6. This will separate the breast from the back
  7. Clean out the guts, pellets (if it was shot) and wash with cold water.
  8. Place the cleaned bird in the pot and do the next one.

This process of cleaning birds called breasting is much quicker than plucking the entire bird.

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Iðunn profile image

Iưunn  says:
2 years ago

no advice for Frozen Sparrows, Paul :(

Jadyn Miller  says:
17 months ago

Iðunn, i dont think people normally eat sparrows-lol- i hope you were kidding- thanks for this how to tho- not muc on cleaning dove or nutrition facts on the web- helpfull- thanks

Teeny Tots profile image

Teeny Tots  says:
16 months ago

Thanks for your sharing but I think not too much people eat that birds.

don  says:
16 months ago

you mean you never eat chicken?

ripplemaker profile image

ripplemaker  says:
14 months ago

I'm not cleaning any doves right now LOL but I just found out this is the first hub ever created...cool! :-)

Too Much Information  says:
13 months ago

Sparrows were a delicacy to the Romans. Then again, so was fermented stuffed door mouse.

Haunty profile image

Haunty  says:
6 months ago

Hi Paul! Which was the first hub ever? Is this it? :)

Paul Edmondson profile image

Paul Edmondson  says:
6 months ago

I think this is the first one that is still published.

william wilkerson  says:
5 months ago

this is the only hub thattells u how to clean a dove 0.o. i didnt really expect that from the internet

Kim  says:
4 months ago

Well, I totally appreciate this advice. My brother raises serama chickens (very tiny) and he's picky about the stock he keeps. So, I would like to reap the benefits and consume his little cast offs. That's the plan. Oh do you blanch them before freezing? Thanks for the info.

joy  says:
3 months ago

I just cooked up a batch of doves, and I was looking for nutritional info on them.. Any knowledge on that end?

Trent  says:
5 weeks ago

Lolz i just twist the wings and stick my finger up the butthole and pull it apart

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