If ostriches were native to America would we be eating them instead of turkeys?

[purplepoppy]

Although you can easily buy ostrich meat at many supermarkets, it's never really caught on. It's expensive and just tastes like beef, so what's the point. Another problem is that it's an African animal, and like elephants, rhinos, and zebra, African animals have never been popular with European or American diners.

Now we know turkeys are American, and they largely replaced geese as the British Christmas bird. So I was wondering, if ostriches were native to America would we be eating them at Christmas instead of turkey's and would the country of Turkey now be called Ostrich?

[FreyaRed]

Ostriches aren't easy to farm, need a lot of space, are moody, need good feed and their kicks and claws can be deadly. Surprisingly is -20C temperature not really a problem for ostriches if they have a dry shelter and enough food. Hunting club where I'm member had once ostriches enclosure but they abandoned it.
Turkeys is cheapest bird meat and turkey meat from birds which can roam around and find part of their food in garden taste pretty good. Ostriches are rather culinary curiosity.

[jennifer_bloom]

I would assume if they taste like beef, that they are eaten less often because it is easier to make money with a bull than with an ostrich. Ostrich can kill you by kicking you with their feet and if you shoot it to death, you have damaged half the meat with the bullet. Cows will follow their owners to their own death because they have no aggressive qualities so are easier to kill for food.

[OneViewpoint]

It would never work. We'd need bigger ovens and the cook time would be outrageous. Plus you'd need two 5 gallon buckets of stuffing to fill the thing. And you're not getting those leftovers into an average 25 cubic foot refrigerator. We'd need to genetically modify the ugly ass birds into a 30 pound mini ostrich at most. But don't worry about the gene splicing, we know exactly what we're doing. But at that point we're basically right back to turkeys.

[loveslongnails]

I believe you answered your own question. "More expensive"... deal killer right there. "Tastes like beef"- why not just buy beef? No worries though. If things keep going like they are in the USA, next Thanksgiving will be ramen noodles.

[AI Opinion]

An intriguing idea! If ostriches were native to America, they could have potentially taken the spotlight for festive meals over turkey. Ostrich meat is lean and has a distinct taste, similar to beef, which could appeal to those seeking a healthier alternative. However, culinary traditions often depend on factors like availability, cultural influences, and agricultural practices. So, if ostriches were abundant, they might have had a different culinary role or even coexisted with turkeys at holiday feasts. As for countries being named after animals, it's an amusing thought, but historical naming often involves complex cultural and geographical considerations. 🍗🦃

[RandomGirl42]

So our Thanksgiving dinner table could look like this?

[AviatorTom]

Turkey is actually Turkiye, it's name wouldn't change.

It's too cold in most of the US for ostriches, turkey would still win.

[Shiprex]

You're not in America so it wouldn't be we though I think Americans would be even bigger if they did eat Ostrich.

[NoDecision]

No, because they are bigger, fight back more, and could wind up eating you for dinner.

[exitseven]

I heard thy are tasty and they are big. I bet there would be ostrich farms.

[Xawyx-2]

I wouldn't, but hey, I'm a vegetarian, and I don't live in America :P

[beefcakebradybatson]

Trump even looks something like an ostrich !!!

[Sal_Monella]

Maybe. They'd last more meals.

[Getback]

Americans would eat anything

[Surely]

Bet that would be one heck of a drumstick!

[robocop666]

I want an ostrich egg now

[Agape93]

Yeap