Featherman plucker... Hallelujah, AMEN!!!

[AK-Bird-brain]

Sorry no photos of video this time around. We processsed In the garage because it was only mid 20's outside. This spring when we move the operation outdoors where it belongs we'll get some.

I decided not to finish building a wizbang because I didn't want the liability if someone got hurt or electrocuted using a plucker I was making out of an old washing machine.

 

[Mrs MIA]

There's that, too...

All I can add is that I am extremely happy to be in the automated plucker group... I was really impressed at how clean the chickens were. I'm super picky about getting every...last...feather. We'll be sure to get some video/photos later.

PC, you have a definite point, there... so carry on.

 

[PurpleChicken]

My wife and I just watched the videos on the Featherman site.
They were super informative and my wife had never seen a real
plucker in action. She was like "holy ...". I think I could get her
to go for one.

The rental aspect is great too. How much do you see yourselves
charging for a weekend rental?

 

[Mrs MIA]

It's pretty awesome, huh?!?

I think we need a sliding scale of sorts. We talked to one of our customers about it (she was excited) and we were thinking $1/bird if they bring their birds here, say up to so many birds. But then hubby had a point that if they bring 10 birds, $10 isn't worth us setting up. So, we'll come up with a sliding scale... the more birds, the less expensive, and if we bring it to you, a flat hourly rate... I dunno... maybe the BYCers would be able to chime in and say what they'd be willing to pay for a rental like that. I mean, heck, we used to take all day to do 20-25 birds. Now we can do that many in a matter of a few hours. Maybe $1 per bird, X bird minimum, not to exceed $X for the day. ???

 

[Mrs MIA]

Here's the link to the videos , just in case...

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

While we were processing an egg customer came by to pick her weekly allotment. She offered to pay 1-2bucks a bird if we would assist her with the process.
We haven't decided on a price yet, I think it will depend on how far I have to transport the plucker and how much of my fishing/drinking time it cutts into. It will also depend on how many people are helping out. With 4 people I can easily see us processing 100 birds in an afternoon.

 

[PurpleChicken]

I think if I owned one I'd be more apt to just charge a daily rate
like $50 and let them take the plucker with them, with a rental
agreement of course. I'd put flyers up in the local feed stores.
Having people come to my home to process birds would bring up
insurance issues for me, plus, even at $2 a bird, that would cut way
to deep into my fishing/hiking/drinking time.

 

[Mrs MIA]

That's certainly a consideration. I just don't know if I'm ready to let it out of my sight quite yet.

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I've done this in the past, and it has worked really well. I make them bring their own propane tanks and bags. We let them use the facility, water, ice, and equipment.

The best thing that worked for us was to charge a flat rate of $75.00 / 50 birds. Either you had 1 or 50 the rate was the same, the amount of effort of being there and setting up equipment for them was worth that.

Anything after 50 birds was $1.50 / bird. ( plus the initial $75.00 using fee)

We started letting them use it for the whole day, than we changed to a four hour limit as I didn't really want to sit around watching them all day while they used my equipment for $75.00.

If they wanted to buy another 4 hours it was another $75.00. Don't be afraid to charge too much as this is your time, your facility, your equipment, and your buisness. Don't cut yourself short as everytime that plucker is used it depriciates in value....

Good luck.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Thanks Jeff! We sure appreciate the input from someone that has been there, done that! Did you ever have any problems?