Good Skinning Videos?

[Maeschak]

Can anyone point me to some good chicken skinning videos? I have been Googling and watching but wanted to see if anyone had any educational treasures hidden in their bookmarks. I need to start culling my laying hens soon and most are molting right now. Not a good time to pluck! I tried skinning once and it took me much longer than plucking, so I thought I would try to up my game a bit this go-around. Honestly, I would rather just pluck as I am familiar with doing it and love to save the skin to render but there are just too many pin feathers on these girls.

Thanks in advance~

 

[Mosey2003]

I watched this one:

The key is to pull it up over the 'head' and down over the butt, and not start on the back. The back is the worst part. And cut the wings off, they're a total pain.

You can jump to 3:15 for the main skinning part. Also, swish the bird in cold water really thoroughly first, makes it cleaner if the feathers aren't dry and flying.

 

[Maeschak]

I watched this one:

The key is to pull it up over the 'head' and down over the butt, and not start on the back. The back is the worst part. And cut the wings off, they're a total pain.

You can jump to 3:15 for the main skinning part. Also, swish the bird in cold water really thoroughly first, makes it cleaner if the feathers aren't dry and flying.

This is exactly what I was looking for- thanks so much!

 

[Mosey2003]

Yeah, I just kind of "winged it" the first time I tried to skin, and thought, "I'll just start on the back and take it off like a suit." That was the very worst thing possible! I knew there had to be a right way then because everyone said it was easier and I was like, "You lie!" Hahaha. Starting from the breast is indeed much easier. I can do a bird full process in 10 minutes that way now.

 

[Mosey2003]

Also, it wasn't an issue on my cockerels, but I find on the laying hens that you need to be a little careful when you start nearing the tail, the skin liked to rip away there, so have a filet knife ready and kind of "help" it when you get about thigh level on the back.

 

[Maeschak]

Great, thanks so much! The one time I skinned I did start via the chest but got very hung up on the wings and legs... actually, I got stuck on the wings and legs and really just mangled them. I also did not wet them before starting, so I was fighting with flying and sticking feathers the whole time. Im sure this will help.

Thanks again~

 

[BantyChooks]

Yeah, I just kind of "winged it" the first time I tried to skin, and thought, "I'll just start on the back and take it off like a suit." That was the very worst thing possible! I knew there had to be a right way then because everyone said it was easier and I was like, "You lie!" Hahaha. Starting from the breast is indeed much easier. I can do a bird full process in 10 minutes that way now.

X2! Sometimes I use a knife to help along the skin near the wings or tail.

 

[Mosey2003]

The wings just suck, period. Cutting the last two joints off helps a lot, but they're still a fight because you don't have anything to hold onto that isn't slippery, lol. The legs are a bit of a fight, but not nearly as bad as the wings.

 

[BantyChooks]

The wings just suck, period. Cutting the last two joints off helps a lot, but they're still a fight because you don't have anything to hold onto that isn't slippery, lol. The legs are a bit of a fight, but not nearly as bad as the wings.

I haven't yet figured out how to hit the joint without making a royal mess of things. Last time I ended up snapping the last wing bone in half instead of parting it at the joint. Sigh.

 

[Mosey2003]

I haven't yet figured out how to hit the joint without making a royal mess of things. Last time I ended up snapping the last wing bone in half instead of parting it at the joint. Sigh.

I pull the wing open so that the skin is stretched and I cut the skin to the joint, then I use the notch in my poultry shears to muscle right through the joint.