Green breast

[waterman]

Anyone ever heard of it? Evidently when the birds are very active and flap their wings a lot it will cut off blood supply to the breast"tenders"and it will muscle will die and turn a green and wood like fiber. Buddy killed one yesterday. First I've ever heard of it

 

[Popcorn]

Never heard of that.
I would suggest injury from fighting or having been shot.

 

[tntrkkllr]

That looks like he possibly been shot before kinda nasty

 

[timberjack86]

I'd toss that

 

[TX300mag]

Yes, in chickens. Disgusting looking, but not harmful.

 

[double browtine]

Reminds me of what is inside an oyster!

 

[Huntaholic]

Injury is my guess. Would NOT eat. I have trimmed the green away in the past if it isnt too bad.

 

[woodsman04]

Anyone ever heard of it? Evidently when the birds are very active and flap their wings a lot it will cut off blood supply to the breast"tenders"and it will muscle will die and turn a green and wood like fiber. Buddy killed one yesterday. First I've ever heard of it

I can't tell too much about the picture. But it looks to be not very deep in the breast which to me would be an injury. But injury is usually purple, blue, or reddish and not green.

In hot weather, they will sort of internally "cook." The area between the tender and breast, or underneath it close to the keel bone is somewhat common to find if you don't breast it or clean your bird in a timely manner. This will cause this discoloration and also the woody type appearance and texture.

Woody breast in poultry is from the muscles growing too fast. Normally… but like you said stress, heat, and activity can also cause it to be woody. Never seen woody breast in a wild turkey. But it does happen in the poultry industry. It chews like wood and actually looks like wood.

 

[woodsman04]

No idea if it's edible. I personally wouldn't try it. I'd cut the bad spot out and throw it away or give it to the mongrels.

 

[AT Hiker]

Reminds me of what is inside an oyster!

Reminds me of the old Pike APSU days…."Green breast", back when Franklin St was closed down for St Pattys Day and all the scantily dressed sorority girls put on a show, after a few too many green beers.

 

[ROVERBOY]

I would trim it out if it's not foul smelling. If so, probably be ok. I killed one years ago, that had a half inch diameter stick in one breast. The bird seemed fine when it was coming in. No indication of an injury. But, breast smelled awful. I pitched it.

 

[Gravey]

Probably have to toss that.

 

[poorhunter]

Called one in for a friend several years ago, and his had that but worse. Looked to me like a wound, smelled awful and threw it away.

 

[thirdwilliam]

New to me.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

When in doubt, toss it out. Or at least cut away the green and a surrounding buffer of 1/4 to 1/2 inch.