I don't have "meat birds," but I had a surplus of Black Sex Link cockerels (about 5 months old). They definitely aren't made for meat, but their feathers sure are pretty! We didn't bother plucking them - we just skinned them. We don't care for the skin, and don't want to bother with hot water and all that jazz. So after processing 5 birds today, I have a 5-gallon bucket full of skins with the feathers attached. I'm curious what's the best way to get the feathers off of the skin? I figure either just putting hot water into the bucket, or cutting each feather off. I want to use the soft ones for pillows, the hackles and saddles for crafts, and the wing and tail feathers for hats. I might be able to sell all but the down at our local farmer's market. I'm sure SOMEONE has run into this. I can't be the only one that skins the birds but then wants the feathers...
This post on www.primitivearcher.com might help: Removing feathers with the quill intact. I would be tempted to get a good pair of poultry shears and just cut them off. Something like these: Victorinox Kitchen Utility Shears