My Plucker - Version 1 - Video of birds being plucked

[moodusnewchick]

PC is the best!

 

[PurpleChicken]

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Back at Ya

 

[PurpleChicken]

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We don't have a buffer. But I think we figured once before for abot $300 we could do a whiz bang plucker.

Gotta think about this one.

I used the buffer because I already owned it and because I could vary the speed.
It was complete overkill and I'm thinking about other options. I mentioned
the price of the buffer to illustrate the overkill of it all. A cheap electric drill,
motor, or off brand buffer should work just as well. I'll post more later. Right now
I just pulled off the road at a little park overlooking a lake to try and get rid of
this headache I have but this darn laptop and BYC started calling my name again.

 

[cheeptrick]

Ok...the Whiz Bang Plucker really throws the bird around, probably bruising and tearing the skin all up. I really like the hand drill plucker...but think the longer one PC made would be better suited. What about putting some sort of bag on it like a lawn mower grass catcher to catch the feathers?? Less clean up?
And what if you put the birds on a rotisserie of sorts so your hands do not get caught up in the action? With a lever that allows for turning and mild pressure? Very interesting post...

 

[luvzmybabz]

I have been seriously considering getting some meat birds. I have been back and forth on this for a while now. One of my issues is that there is not a great place around mt acreage that the other chickens ( my laying flock) could not see what was going on. I know this is silly and obviously PC does not have trouble with others watching, were they next in line?

 

[moodusnewchick]

the others weren't next, but they certainly enjoyed leftovers. grossed me out, but we can't put our human morals on animals.

 

[Swamp Roo]

PC, Good job! Question and some suggestions... How did you mount the drum onto the spindle?

Keep in mind I've never used or seen a plucker in person. I have however used a drum sander like that "professionally" for over 10 yrs. on things that weigh more and are much more delicate that a chicken. I suspect you've already considered some of these thoughts.

1) I'd reduce the RPMs by a third to half judging by what I saw.
2) I'd shorten your "fingers" a bit. Shortening will decrease tip speed and allow the fingers work better. Changes in 1) will affect 2) obviously. Having shorter fingers will also reduce mass, which is easier on the motor, and reduce the leverage you(the chicken in this case) have to stop the motor, again better for the motor. Less mass and resistance is also better for keeping the fingers from breaking or releasing off of the drum. The problem is there is a point where they could be too short. You will have to experiment. You still want the chicken to "float" on the fingers and not bounce off of the drum itself.
3) I'd increase the number of fingers as much as the drum can stand (structurally), lowering RPMs will keep it safer once you drill more holes.
4) You already figured out that it works better if the drum rotates away from you, remount the plucker 180*.
5) I'd go with a belt and pulley system instead of direct drive. Better motor life, and easier to change the speed with pulleys. You can even get a variable pitch pulley.
6) Use pillow blocks and a lager spindle. I realize this was not a final setup. Ply wood "bushings" will work fine for now, and you aren't worried about the longevity.
7) If you are going to do a lot of birds, I'd put a fan pointing along the long axis of the drum, as close as possible without restricting your movement. Makes life more pleasant to have all the stuff blow away from you. I have a squirrel cage fan, it puts out a very linear air flow. You will learn to set up according to the wind too.
8) SAFETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know you are a "big" boy, but... You have no idea how much I cringed. At the very least safety spectacles, preferably a full face mask. If one of those fingers lets loose or breaks... Even a feather could pierce an eye at those speeds. I have to wear a respirator to keep from inhaling dust. I think that would be over kill, but I would at least wear a bandanna to cover your nose and mouth. A feather shooting at high velocity into either would probably ruin your day. Not to mention yuck! If you have a full face mask this would not be an issue. HINT HINT!

Also loose clothing not so good. Can I recommend a one piece overall? I know they are hot, and make one heck of a fashion statement, but it beats speaking in a higher pitched voice (think about the average comfortable working height and where that correlates to you). I had an untucked T-shirt get grabbed when I first started, I got lucky. Squeak! I now wear a cotton one piece. Again I'd lower the RPM if only for the safety. Along those lines, a switch that you can get to easily probably wouldn't hurt. Gloves, I don't know what to tell you there, I would want thicker gloves than you had on, but you also want the gloves to give way if they get caught. I have to wear leather gloves, or my hands get friction burned. I go through lots of gloves. The down side is that the leather will not give way. Honestly I've never found a good answer to this one. I had a glove get caught in the belt that dive the drum once, entered in the bottom came out he top. Took a year for my fingers to stop hurting from being twisted around, going to make for some interesting arthritis one day. Having said all that I'm not some total safety nut, "do as I say, not as I do" type thing. I just hate it when people make the same painful mistakes I've made. Do think about eyes and loose clothes please.


I've got to say you did a heck of a job for a proof of concept. Good job. I'm very impressed. Once you get this nailed down, I'm gonna steal ideas like a raccoon!

Swamp

 

[PurpleChicken]

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From the videos I've watched on the Wizbang it probably doesn't bruise the chicken
because the bottom tray doesn't spin that fast.

I'm pondering some type of tray or wall that would catch the feathers and help
with cleapup.

A rotisserie won't work because you really have to get the chicken at many angles
to pluck it good. Then there is still a minute of hand cleaning after the plucker is done.

My next design will be a bit smaller to accomodate a drill. The first is great for a buffer
but as Miss Prissy pointed out not everyone has a buffer but everyon has a drill.

 

[PurpleChicken]

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Yeah, as Moodusnewchick said, those chickens just didn't understand. At home my
laying flock goes nuts when I cull and cleans up the mess. I know it's gross but they
are scavengers. :|

 

[PurpleChicken]

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Wow, you really put some thought into this.

Safety-You are absolutely correct. At minimum I should have been wearing safety
glasses. I work for an ISO company and would have lost my job for an infraction
like that.

Length of finger (Bungee) - I had to start somewhere. I've considered shortening
them or using various forms of rubber hose or just ordering the fingers. I needed
a baseline reference to begin with.

RPM - This is a big one. I set the buffer to 1000rpm. Anything faster was too much to
handle.

Pulleys - My main goal was to make a cheap plucker for occasional use that can be
powered by a common household drill and built for little money.

Let's face it, for $300 you can get a really nice tabletop plucker, build a Wizbang, or
spend a little more on a pro model.

Great thoughts. I wish we could all get together in a wood/machine shop with a
couple hundred meat birds and test out our ideas.


Final note. The main shaft on my version 1 is 5/8" because that is the shaft size of
my buffer. My next version will be 3/8 to accomodate a drill. I just have to check
on drill rpms.