Squab and some other specialty poultry are available from Squab Producers (which is a co-op located in Ceres, CA - so you are supporting local farmers).
For quail, I go to my local meat store and they order commercially processed bobwhite (head and feet on) for me. I think they were in the $6/pound range. Actually, I've gotten them to order the squab in the past too.
Stewing Hens/Roosters - Commercially that's tougher. In the Bay Area, your best source would be the "Live Bird Markets" in China Town, as most of these will at least New York dress the birds for you. The "New Stockton Poultry Market" in Stockton is another source. For the places that sell them off the farms (mostly in Southern CA), I think mature hens (20-60 weeks old) are selling for $5-7/bird live at the moment.
If you are willing to process your own, I can usually lay my hands on spent fowl with a few months notice. How many thousands would you like?
If you want Muscovy Duck (Native to Latin America and Southern Texas) or Guinea Fowl (Native to Africa, not sure when they were introduced to Europe), try: http://www.grimaudfarms.com/
Chuckar Partridges (Eurasian - Not sure if any of the Western European species are grown commercially)) and Ringneck Pheasants (Originally Russian/Caucasian, probably introduced into Western Europe sometime during the Roman Empire). These are raised through out CA for the restaurant and hunting trade. A good meat store should be able to help you find them. I suspect Squab Producers does some custom processing and may have the ability to get some with notice.
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Re: Just in case the cooks don't know what sorts of things they could "demand" :)
Date: 2011-02-20 02:42 pm (UTC)http://www.squab.com/
For quail, I go to my local meat store and they order commercially processed bobwhite (head and feet on) for me. I think they were in the $6/pound range. Actually, I've gotten them to order the squab in the past too.
Stewing Hens/Roosters - Commercially that's tougher. In the Bay Area, your best source would be the "Live Bird Markets" in China Town, as most of these will at least New York dress the birds for you. The "New Stockton Poultry Market" in Stockton is another source. For the places that sell them off the farms (mostly in Southern CA), I think mature hens (20-60 weeks old) are selling for $5-7/bird live at the moment.
If you are willing to process your own, I can usually lay my hands on spent fowl with a few months notice. How many thousands would you like?
If you want Muscovy Duck (Native to Latin America and Southern Texas) or Guinea Fowl (Native to Africa, not sure when they were introduced to Europe), try:
http://www.grimaudfarms.com/
Chuckar Partridges (Eurasian - Not sure if any of the Western European species are grown commercially)) and Ringneck Pheasants (Originally Russian/Caucasian, probably introduced into Western Europe sometime during the Roman Empire). These are raised through out CA for the restaurant and hunting trade. A good meat store should be able to help you find them. I suspect Squab Producers does some custom processing and may have the ability to get some with notice.