I need some plucker suggestions

[humblehillsfarm]

Anyone have a recommendation for the best value on a barrel style plucker? I'm looking to spend less than $200 (ideally), and I want to buy something that will last!

 

[3KillerBs]

 

[TOR]

 

[TOR]

buying a quality barrel plucker for under 200. Never seen one. Making one just depends how savvy you are at building and acquiring parts. I have seen nice pluckers under 200 on internet, homemade.
The one above was just a joke

 

[humblehillsfarm]

buying a quality barrel plucker for under 200. Never seen one. Making one just depends how savvy you are at building and acquiring parts. I have seen nice pluckers under 200 on internet, homemade.
The one above was just a joke

I did say “ideally” for the event that my price range was too low. I am open to all suggestions. I’d prefer not to build.

 

[cassie]

How many chickens do you plan to process? If you get a proper scald on them the feathers come right off.

 

[father0fnine]

I have the plucker that's sold by Tractor Supply and it's lasted me 5 years, but it's $500. I ind that I don't use it as often for a number of reasons. I often do just single birds or few birds at a time, and I never had a good scalding process. I found it was just easier to skin the birds unless I was doing the yearly bulk purchase of chicks.

I was picking around the Internet, and I ran across one video that said the secret to a clean pluck was in the scalding process and that many people do it wrong. The guy proceeded to demonstrate by whole dunking the bird and stirring it with a paddle (instead of holding the feet and swishing). When the wing feathers pull out like everybody says, he then put the bird on the processing table and just ran his hand over the bird, and the feathers just fell out. Took him under 2 minutes by the video clock to defeather the bird. I tried to find the video again to link but, alas, I failed. Makes me rethink my decision not to invest in a good scalder and wonder if I hadn't done that 5 years ago instead of the plucker if I'd ever have gone to skinning.

D

P.S. The drill plucker worked well enough until I realized I was pointing the wrong way and had plastered the wall of the house with wet feathers. The wife was NOT amused.

 

[TOR]

I have the plucker that's sold by Tractor Supply and it's lasted me 5 years, but it's $500. I ind that I don't use it as often for a number of reasons. I often do just single birds or few birds at a time, and I never had a good scalding process. I found it was just easier to skin the birds unless I was doing the yearly bulk purchase of chicks.

I was picking around the Internet, and I ran across one video that said the secret to a clean pluck was in the scalding process and that many people do it wrong. The guy proceeded to demonstrate by whole dunking the bird and stirring it with a paddle (instead of holding the feet and swishing). When the wing feathers pull out like everybody says, he then put the bird on the processing table and just ran his hand over the bird, and the feathers just fell out. Took him under 2 minutes by the video clock to defeather the bird. I tried to find the video again to link but, alas, I failed. Makes me rethink my decision not to invest in a good scalder and wonder if I hadn't done that 5 years ago instead of the plucker if I'd ever have gone to skinning.

D

P.S. The drill plucker worked well enough until I realized I was pointing the wrong way and had plastered the wall of the house with wet feathers. The wife was NOT amused.

the drill plucker thats funny

 

[TOR]

400 get a cheap plucker on up to 1400 to 1500 from what I have seen. I was thinking of making a PVC plucker with fingers. I already have a electric motor and lumber and PVC.

I agree the scalding temperature and how long the bird is in the water is a key as I do birds by hand. !50 degrees or about was our magic number last year.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

How many chickens do you plan to process? If you get a proper scald on them the feathers come right off.

Last year we did 20 at once. A friend brought a plucker over. We scalded them and the plucker had 3 birds featherless in less than 30 seconds. I've had plucked two so far and even taking 15 minutes to hand pluck takes far too long when you're looking at 19 more birds to follow..... This year we will likely have 20-30 birds.

He says he is willing to bring it over, but perhaps you can relate to my feeling of not wanting to rely on other people for help. I have trust issues.

P.S. The drill plucker worked well enough until I realized I was pointing the wrong way and had plastered the wall of the house with wet feathers. The wife was NOT amused.

Bahaha I can see that happening at my house.