Well, it took plucking three roosters by hand, but I finally did it: I broke down and bought a chicken plucker. Roosters seem to have approximately 473 times more feathers than pullets / hens, of which 80% are pain-in-the-butt pinfeathers.
So, the plucker, to make my job easier. It was $295 on eBay; not a bad price.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. It took me about 1 minute to do the chicken below (one of our Jersey Giant hens) with the plucker. All I had to do when it was done is get the big wing and tail feathers, and a few small ones off each wing and around the lower drumstick area.
MUCH nicer than doing it by hand.
The plucker threw almost all the feathers straight down through the bottom. I think I'll get myself an aluminum garbage can and build some sort of 2x4 rig on the top so I can set the plucker there and not have to pick up many feathers.
Two tentative thumbs up for the plucker (I'll feel better when I've used it a few times).
Sure is bright red, ain't it?
So, the plucker, to make my job easier. It was $295 on eBay; not a bad price.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. It took me about 1 minute to do the chicken below (one of our Jersey Giant hens) with the plucker. All I had to do when it was done is get the big wing and tail feathers, and a few small ones off each wing and around the lower drumstick area.
MUCH nicer than doing it by hand.
The plucker threw almost all the feathers straight down through the bottom. I think I'll get myself an aluminum garbage can and build some sort of 2x4 rig on the top so I can set the plucker there and not have to pick up many feathers.
Two tentative thumbs up for the plucker (I'll feel better when I've used it a few times).
Sure is bright red, ain't it?
