Processed some Cornish...Daughter helped too!

[Mydnight]

So today I processed some cornish crosses and my 17 year old daughter, Jen, actually helped. She was so upset but once she realized what was actually happening to them (we've had two die in the last two days, apparently of heart attacks), she jumped right in to help. Tomorrow we have to do another couple just to get them done.
I just have a question about the plucking. I know people use a little drill thing, and some use whizbang inspired pluckers, but for those who hand pluck: How do you get the little quill pieces out without hurting the skin? We have tried but with the meat getting warm, I was afraid of doing a more thorough job of it. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for hand plucking.
Thanks in advance, Mydnight

 

[al6517]

You will have some pin feathers that will present a problem evry so often but if your water temp was right and you dunked and swished for the right time all should have gone well. I do like to pull in the direction of growth you get a cleaner exit of the quill. Plus you can always redunk.

AL

 

[Bossroo]

You can use a paring knife to get under the tip of the pinfeather and then place your thumb over the top end tip of the pin feather and pull in the direction of growth. It should come out easily.

 

[chicks4kids]

I found it to be much easier to pluck when I was wearing rubber gloves. Not thick heavy ones (like for dishwashing) but the kinds that nurses and Drs. wear. Feathers come out much easier...

as for those little pin feathers, I had some that I just had to get down and dirty and close and pull 'em out...tweezers might be quicker and more accurate than your fingers