The "Buck-It Pluck-It"

After wanting to build a Whizbang plucker for sometime and not being able to justify the price I built the "Buck-It Pluck-It" to keep the expenses down. It gives me a faster way to butcher 15-20 birds 3-4 times per year. I am not sure how to post pictures yet, but I am including the link to my youtube video. It is easy to build and makes getting the feathers off faster.


I also have been working on building waterers that are outside the pen and poop free. I will have to learn how to post pictures and will put them into the correct forum. Hope y'all enjoy.

Hello and

It's only because I'm fairly confident in my security programs that I clicked on a YouTube link from a first post from a new member, lol... But, having taken the risk I can say it is legit! Haha.

That's an interesting contraption you've made, are there instructions for building it? Looks quite effective except for wings and tail, but does it bruise the meat to any objectionable degree? Good job either way.

Best wishes.

Thanks for taking the chance and clicking the link. I didn't know any other way to get the video to/from me to the forum. I am also hoping that I have it placed in the correct location?

Thanks for the welcome. I guess I skipped that part and jumped right in, but I have been lurking and learning for sometime now.

I haven't noticed any bruising or broken bones yet, but our total bird count currently stands at 11. I am not sure if bruising is possible with a dead and bled bird. At that point I would assume any damage would be tenderizing. Seriously there is not enough battery to even break/tear the skin.

Build List
(36) Kent C-25 plucker fingers (purchased mine from the whizbang plucker guys son)
(1) five gallon bucket or similar cylinder
(1) speed square
(1) sharpie or comparable marking device
(1) tape measure (any will work but the tape flexible tailor's tape makes it a lot easier)
(1) 3/4" hole saw and device to power (hand drill, power drill, cordless drill)

Use the tailor's tape to divide the bottom of bucket into 6 equal divisions
Take the speed square and mark the 8 divisions perpendicular to the bottom of the bucket
On a division measure 2 inches from the bottom of the bucket mark and mark 5 points 1.5 inches apart.
On the next line start 2.75 inches from the bottom and mark 4 points 1.5" apart
Alternate layout until you have 4 rows with 5 fingers and 4 rows with 4 fingers
Drill 3/4" holes at each mark
Insert fingers into holes (I used a large channel lock pliers and some grunting)
Hang bird attaching to top and bottom and pluck away.

Since this is my 1st attempt I am not sure if using different type fingers, different finger placement, or different diameter cylinders would make the design more or less effective/efficient. I chose to use the bucket due to availability and cost. The bucket and fingers cost me less than $40. I would love to build the whizbang plucker but don't have enough birds to butcher to justify the build effort or cost (even though it is the cheapest way I have found to go). I am butchering 15-20 birds 3-4 times per year.

That's great! I've also been looking for an alternative to the wizbang thanks for posting! .

Neat idea. Would it not make more sense to offset the plucking fingers instead of keeping them in perfect vertical rows?

My thought was that you needed pressure from all directions to keep contact with the bird. I didn't want the bird to turn or screw through the bucket. I will play with some different finger arrangements and see if it becomes more effective.

Hubby likes this idea. Now I need to scrouge up the parts!

Great idea and very affordable. Also easy to make if you don't know electronics.

Thanks so much for posting this. What a wonderfully brilliant idea! Love it, human powered...perfect for folks like us who butcher even less than you do, perhaps 25-30 a year.

Looks great as it is, but do let us know if you decide to make improvements. Thanks again!