Here's my method....
Frozen bird - goes into the fridge Sunday
Thursday - clear out the bird, rinse well, salt well inside
Inside the bag - add 1/2 cup flour, a couple carrots, a couple stalks celery, a couple small onions
Put the bird inside the bag on top of the other ingredients, pour a cup of wine (whatever kind you're drinking) onto the opening of the bird
Preheat your oven
Cook the bird per the usual time schedual
Using this method, the meat will literally fall off the bones - YUM
This year they'll be less mess than usual, we're going to my in-laws for lunch.