Pithing - WHAT am I doing WRONG??!?!?!??!??

[GerbilsOnToast]

Yeah, I'm very interested to try it also. Kassaundra said she had a wretched time and wouldn't do it again. But she put the knife in the little groove in the upper mouth and shoved straight up. You go a little up and mostly back. And then do a quarter turn of the slim knife. If you try it first let us know how you did. I won't have anything ready for about 3 mo.

I tried with a (large!) capon the other night. It was not a disaster, but that's mostly because I had no confidence in my success and had the scalder ready. I used an ice pick, and I'm pretty sure I went slightly behind the brain. I massage them on/behind the ears until they relax before slitting, and... the 'relaxed' state ended abruptly on the pithing attempt; while I got him to calm down afterward, I cannot say he was fully relaxed. The bleed from slitting was minimal, although the clot inside the neck skin was huge (Ice pick did not penetrate skin, but everything else... yeah), but he 'crossed over' too soon and was not as well bled out as I'd like.
I intend to continue trying, but out of respect for my customers I will wait 2-3 weeks and practice on $9 fryers instead of $60 capons!

 

[LindaB220]

I tried with a (large!) capon the other night. It was not a disaster, but that's mostly because I had no confidence in my success and had the scalder ready. I used an ice pick, and I'm pretty sure I went slightly behind the brain. I massage them on/behind the ears until they relax before slitting, and... the 'relaxed' state ended abruptly on the pithing attempt; while I got him to calm down afterward, I cannot say he was fully relaxed. The bleed from slitting was minimal, although the clot inside the neck skin was huge (Ice pick did not penetrate skin, but everything else... yeah), but he 'crossed over' too soon and was not as well bled out as I'd like.
I intend to continue trying, but out of respect for my customers I will wait 2-3 weeks and practice on $9 fryers instead of $60 capons!

Wow, good idea. Yeah, I heard not to use an ice pick. You do know that you have to cut their throat also, right? The old timers did the pithing first then cut either inside or outside below the jaw. Other say to do the cut first. Good job for a first try.

 

[Sabz]

Why an ice pick? Couldn't we use the same knife we'll use to cut the jugular?

This post in very interesting. For people saying the pithing works and loosen feathers, have you tried pithing one bird and "not pithing" another one? As I wonder if the easy plucking can't be related to the chicken breed or other manipulations that are done.

I have done only one bird up to now, a duck, and was easy to pluck. I mean, it took me a log time because at first I was afraid the skin could rip, but after a few minutes I was taking hands full of feathers. I just used the hot water technique. Dumped the bird in it a few times. I wonder if the water made it easy, or it was just a young duck so it made it easier.. I don't really know.

I think I'll try two chicks - one without and one with pithing. Although I am a little afraid of that method, I feel it's more cruel to poke the knife in it's mouth (I know, it's not really different from slicing the jugular but..). If I am able to do it, I'll update this post on saturday

 

[Sabz]

Wow, good idea. Yeah, I heard not to use an ice pick. You do know that you have to cut their throat also, right? The old timers did the pithing first then cut either inside or outside below the jaw. Other say to do the cut first. Good job for a first try.

For real? I read that we had to cut the jugular but not the windpipe. What does it change, in regards to the slaughtering?

Oh, I see. Some people say that cutting the trachea lets the blood from the jugular get into the windpipe and drowns the chicken. Some say that even without the head (if completely cut off) they can show signs of distress when blood gets in the trachea. Weird.

 

[LindaB220]

For real? I read that we had to cut the jugular but not the windpipe. What does it change, in regards to the slaughtering?

Oh, I see. Some people say that cutting the trachea lets the blood from the jugular get into the windpipe and drowns the chicken. Some say that even without the head (if completely cut off) they can show signs of distress when blood gets in the trachea. Weird.

No, not the windpipe. The jugular can be cut inside or outside. Either way. Start right under the jaw. The idea of the blood getting into the windpipe and drowns the chicken is incorrect. They are upside down. To drown the blood needs to get to the lungs. The knife needs to be a slim one that can fit inside well and when you pierce the brain you give it a quarter turn. Aim for straight back from the eyes. That's when the feathers are supposed to come out easily. Now, have I confused you enough?

 

[Sabz]

No, not confused

But.. if I put my head upside down, I can still breath in.. and if I had my head underwater (or if it would rain or whatever) the force of my lungs would be big enough to sip the water in.. so I assumed even with the head upside down, the chicken could still breath the blood in.

Maybe I am putting too much human thought into that process

 

[cmchickens]

No, not confused

But.. if I put my head upside down, I can still breath in.. and if I had my head underwater (or if it would rain or whatever) the force of my lungs would be big enough to sip the water in.. so I assumed even with the head upside down, the chicken could still breath the blood in.

Maybe I am putting too much human thought into that process

Makes sense to me.

 

[SJ]

I haven't tried this yet but if this can magically or not magically make plucking a snap I'm doing it. My fist try will be with a small fillet knife. It seems like a good tool to start with. I'll let you know how it goes. So if I have this right...???

1.Hang your bird upside down
2.Wait until your bird relaxes
3.Place knife in the groove in the roof of the beak
4.Stab directly towards the back of skull. Some where between the back of the eyes and ear holes
5.Immediately turn the blade 90 degrees
6.Slice jugular at the base of the jaw

Sounds complex... I have always used a fillet knife to slice through the jugular, carotid, and wind pipe in one quick slice. No issues with finding blood in lungs to date.

 

[Ibicella]

I haven't tried this yet but if this can magically or not magically make plucking a snap I'm doing it. My fist try will be with a small fillet knife. It seems like a good tool to start with. I'll let you know how it goes. So if I have this right...???

1.Hang your bird upside down
2.Wait until your bird relaxes
3.Place knife in the groove in the roof of the beak
4.Stab directly towards the back of skull. Some where between the back of the eyes and ear holes
5.Immediately turn the blade 90 degrees
6.Slice jugular at the base of the jaw

Sounds complex... I have always used a fillet knife to slice through the jugular, carotid, and wind pipe in one quick slice. No issues with finding blood in lungs to date.

It's really not. It just takes practice, like all methods. A fillet knife works very well for this.

 

[GerbilsOnToast]

I haven't tried this yet but if this can magically or not magically make plucking a snap I'm doing it. My fist try will be with a small fillet knife. It seems like a good tool to start with. I'll let you know how it goes. So if I have this right...???

1.Hang your bird upside down
2.Wait until your bird relaxes
3.Place knife in the groove in the roof of the beak
4.Stab directly towards the back of skull. Some where between the back of the eyes and ear holes
5.Immediately turn the blade 90 degrees
6.Slice jugular at the base of the jaw

Sounds complex... I have always used a fillet knife to slice through the jugular, carotid, and wind pipe in one quick slice. No issues with finding blood in lungs to date.

2a - Have pot of 150 degree water ready 'just in case'. Have tried 3x so far - had to scald them all.