dressing and such

[AceODST]

Any auto pluckers out there worth getting for small scale (100 birds) operation? mostly concerned with $ i suppose, I only really know they exist from my poultry raising book.

 

[thriftyfarmer]

How many birds per year are you thinking about butchering?

 

[Mister B]

Never have tried butchering my own chicken, but I will one day. I' have read this guy's blog several times and think it is kind of cool.

http://whizbangplucker.blogspot.com/

 

[AceODST]

up to 150 for the season, but only the remainder of what I don't sell first.

 

[PotterWatch]

I think they are worth it. We used to do anywhere from 400-4000 a year and certainly couldn't have done it without one. We sold ours before we moved but I would like to get another at some point even if we only do 50-100 every year.

 

[AceODST]

do they make cheaper ones? I cannot justify any of the pluckers I have found on my budget but doing it by hand I only have like 1 or 2 a day in me.

 

[thriftyfarmer]

Check out this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/637173/home-made-chicken-plucker-how-to-make#post_8584316

 

[AceODST]

neat

 

[V-NH]

My wife and I do about 100 per year and I just don't see the point. After lots of practice, we have it down to a science. I kill while she plucks, then I move on to evisceration and try to keep pace with her. It takes my wife about one minute to pluck a bird by hand. I know for a fact it could be done faster, but we don't bother rushing. In my mind, there is no sense investing hundreds in a machine to save a few more seconds unless it is going to lead to savings due to high volumes (thousands) of birds being processed.

 

[V-NH]

I also find doing it by hand to be a little bit therapeutic. It is very back to basics.