I pluck, swab with alcohol ( which highlights the skin veins), and position the skin over the ribs for 'unalignment' with a final adjustment to avoid the veins, puncture rather than cut with the scalpel, and immediately insert the retractor adding pressure gently and cutting to enlarge the access only if necessary. The tearing of the skin is more of a 'natural' wound (think free bleeding razor cut). No stitches on release.
The edges of the opening are red, but they really don't bleed at all.
Again, this is on 1lb birds... 12 -14 wks seems kind of large to me.