Prep Table Recommendations?

[father0fnine]

So, I would like to get a little more organized in my meat bird processing. This year, I didn't need many birds from the hatchery but because of minimum orders, I have a lot more cornish X than before. So instead of doing the odd cull or extra roo, I'm going to have to have a chicken-butcher-day. One of the things I've seen in random videos is a stainless steel table with a whole in the middle (or one side) for dropping feathers and "stuff" through. The makeup of the table makes it great to handle a wet (scalded) bird and easy to wash down with the hose between steps in the process. Problem is, I don't know what to even search for in Google to find tables like this. I can find stainless steel tables but no hole. I can find counter tops with holes but they're way to nice for use in the yard.

So, that's the problem but as I sat down to type out my question, I realized that my fellow chicken wranglers might have other ideas as good or better so: does anyone know how to find or where to get a table like I described, and what do you use when it comes time to process the chickens?

D

 

[Parront]

Wooh. I just imagined the fit my wife would have if I plucked even one bird in the kitchen. I will not being going back to that place in my mind lol.

I used a turkey fryer propane burner for a long time before I built my electric scalder. I still keep it in our butchery building because it always worked very well and I'm not willing to give it up as a back up in case electricity fails for some reason during one of our butchering days. Really, I only put up with the electric because it's cheaper. I would still be using propane if it weren't for high gas costs in my area and how difficult it is for me to get a tank filled.

HA! I am the wife. Husband will not even look at a picture of processing! We have a guest house that has a great old fashioned kitchen that I can use. It is fine, but I have to mop up every feather before the weekend Air BnB guests get here! (Don't tell them what goes on in there before they arrive)!

 

[iwltfum]

Stainless steel is expensive. Especially with a sink attached to the table top. Unless your planning on selling your birds or are very attached to stainless steel over plastic, then I would go for a cheap fish cleaning table. They have sink, counter, hose hook ups and are made out of food grade plastic (most of the time). You have the space for one bird at a time, probably not more.

You could also contact restaurants that have closed down recently to see if they will sell you stainless.

I bought my whole butchering set up (minus the plucker) from a closing down diner. We have been doing 250/year with it, and we are moving to 600 birds per year this season. We bought two 8' stainless tables, stainless handwashing sink, and a 3 bay drink cooler for air chilling. For like 300 bucks I think, it was cheap, but we got lucky and stumbled across the restaurant right when they closed and they were eager to clear it out so they could stop paying rent.

 

[iwltfum]

I have been considering the sinks I see all the time at Habitat for Humanity. Some old ones come with a drainboard & sink combined. I want to put it outside for washing chicken dishes & waterers, and for plucking. I use the kitchen stove to scald and pluck over a small trash can right now. In summer it would be nice to have one of those big propane burners out on the carport in the shade. Less little feathers to clean up in the kitchen.

Wooh. I just imagined the fit my wife would have if I plucked even one bird in the kitchen. I will not being going back to that place in my mind lol.

I used a turkey fryer propane burner for a long time before I built my electric scalder. I still keep it in our butchery building because it always worked very well and I'm not willing to give it up as a back up in case electricity fails for some reason during one of our butchering days. Really, I only put up with the electric because it's cheaper. I would still be using propane if it weren't for high gas costs in my area and how difficult it is for me to get a tank filled.

 

[Parront]

Is there a discount for being willing to help pluck or part out?

You are hired! Free night for doing the Duck Plucking!
https://airbnb.com/h/aspen-creek-bunkhouse

 

[father0fnine]

Oh hey I just found this one. Sounds similar to what you're after (though it's plastic): https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...adjustable-multi-use-fish-and-game-table.html

That'd be perfect if only there was a farm and fleet nearby. They want almost 30 shipping. Once Mosey2003 suggested fish gutting tables, I started looking around and I found one at bass pro shops that looks good.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-deluxe-fish-table

I just have to wait for them to come back into stock.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We use a plastic one. Gets the job done and still can be cleaned easily with a hose afyerwards

 

[iwltfum]

I would want to look at that one in person first. From the angle of the picture it doesn't look like there's a lot of actual table room - fine for fish, but I might like a bit more for full sized chickens. I just put a bucket next to my table like NatJ usually.

Wow yeah that sink and "refuse hole" take up alot of space. I would definitely go for counter space over sink size. I also just use a bucket for offal. I have 16 feet of stainless counter space (8 feet per person in the evisceration area) and still don't feel like I have room for a sink in that lol. We do have a hand washing sink though, which is really nice to have, but I wouldn't sacrifice counter space for it.

My dogs really like the fact that I have a bucket on the ground to put tasty treats into on butcher days.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wooh. I just imagined the fit my wife would have if I plucked even one bird in the kitchen. I will not being going back to that place in my mind lol.

I totally understand. Good thing it is morning and I have time to get that image out of my mind before bedtime. I hate nightmares.

what do you use when it comes time to process the chickens?

I only do a half-dozen dual purpose birds at a time so not what you are looking for. I use two sawhorses with a couple of 2x10's on them for a work table with buckets and such for the meat and offal. It's all set up outside in the shade. I'm not even sure how I'd use a sink if I had one. I either throw stuff in a bucket to the left or a sink to the right.

But to me one very important thing is water. I use a lot of water, a hose with sprayer attachment, for things like rinsing the bird off before I start skinning it, keeping my work area and knives clear of blood, feathers, and such, rinsing my hands often, and rinsing the bird after I finish before I put it in the ice chest. I could not use water like this if I were inside.

I'm going to have to have a chicken-butcher-day.

I'm not sure if you are planning on being by yourself or if you will have an army to help, but I'd put counter space and water ahead of any hole in the table top to drop things through.

My set-up for cleaning fish is the same.

 

[3KillerBs]

It is fine, but I have to mop up every feather before the weekend Air BnB guests get here! (Don't tell them what goes on in there before they arrive)!

Is there a discount for being willing to help pluck or part out?