Chicken/Duck processing differences

[jdywntr]

Hi. I started out my processing adventures with Muscovy ducks. I have not processed a chicken yet but I have some Cornish Rocks to process and I want to do some tomorrow.

Any differences I should be aware of with chickens, cornish rock in particular?

Thanks.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I heard chickens are easier to pluck then ducks are other then that I never processed a duck before but would like to in the future. I also have Cornish rocks I'll be processing in a few weeks.

 

[v.cyr]

I heard chickens are easier to pluck then ducks are other then that I never processed a duck before but would like to in the future. I also have Cornish rocks I'll be processing in a few weeks.

from what I remember(been a long time since we did ducks) waterfowl is harder to pluck because their feathers shed water, so not enough scald water makes it to the skin to be effective... IIRC, the wax plucking method is supposed to make waterfowl plucking easier

 

[Marty1876]

Chickens are much easier. I also have ducks. Their skin is a little more delicate, and there is no down, so you know thats about 3x faster.

We just dip them intoo the hot water, and pluck away. Squeeze out any pinfeathers, and your golden.

Have any tricks for speed plucking ducks? I have Khaki and White Pekings laying flocks, but we eat extra males. I have my pirst Muscovy eggs in the bator now.

 

[jdywntr]

Chickens are much easier. I also have ducks. Their skin is a little more delicate, and there is no down, so you know thats about 3x faster.

We just dip them intoo the hot water, and pluck away. Squeeze out any pinfeathers, and your golden.

Have any tricks for speed plucking ducks? I have Khaki and White Pekings laying flocks, but we eat extra males. I have my pirst Muscovy eggs in the bator now.

Thanks Marty

I actually finished processing 7 as game hens about 1 hour ago. I scalded and hand plucked. Took me a while but I was doing it alone.

For ducks, when I processed my muscovy I only plucked one, I skinned the rest. I may try dry plucking when mine are grown enough. I have a muscovy pair, the female is sitting on a nest of 14 eggs now. I also have 6 Rouen ducklings - 6 weeks old.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Chickens are easier to pluck and if you have Cornish Cross chickens they are extra easy to pluck.

Scald water doesn't have to be quite as hot and birds are in the water a shorter time.