Whizbang plucker issues

[snugglepup]

Hi,

We tried our homemade whizbang plucker out for the first time today. It was pretty efficient at getting nearly all the feathers off. Up to this point we have been either skinning or plucking by hand. Still had to go back and clean up a bit, but then today we were doing extra roos, not broilers... so lot more feathers.

The main problem we discovered was that the legs on our chickens kept getting broken/dislocated at the hock and/or knee joint. Not a real big deal with these guys, since they were destined for dumpings anyway. But I could see it making for a less attractive roasting bird. Has anyone else had this happen?

Thanks!
Hannah

 

[FutureChickenMan]

I saw that happen on a youtube video. You gotta admit the machine is pretty violent tossing the bird around and such. Perhaps binding the two legs together would make it less likely to break them, but you'd have to pluck that section manually. Another thing that comes to mind is slowing down the RPM of the motor a bit. Hard to say, I don't have one but I've got the book on order. Not sure if I'll build mine just like his, I'll have to think about it once I get the book.