Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Momg.... That was my first exposure to chicken butchering too (and about the same age). He usually hung them on a tree branch to bleed out, but now and then one would get away and run down the driveway!

Night All!

 

[Daethen]

Do I need to dunk ducks to pluck them? I have 3 male Pekins that are going to go this week. I am not sure if I can pluck them without the dunking. Advice please!!!!!

 

[jvls1942]

Do I need to dunk ducks to pluck them? I have 3 male Pekins that are going to go this week. I am not sure if I can pluck them without the dunking. Advice please!!!!!

I always dunk ducks , geese and turkeys as well as chickens and guinea fowl ..

some people recommend adding a little dish detergent into the scalding water to help cut through the natural oil in the feathers..
I do not do that..
however if you know someone who has duck wax, borrow it if you can,, It is recyclable ..
regular canning wax or candle wax does not work..
it is too brittle..

pluck the ducks first, then dunk them into the wax water.. let the wax cool.
we just put the waxed ducks into a tub of cold water for a few minutes..
then peel the wax like as if you were peeling an orange,,

to clean the wax after you are finished.. just heat it up and strain what ever feathers you can out of it.. You will lose a small percentage of the wax, but you will reclaim the majority of it..

.......jiminwisc........

 

[jvls1942]

I am taking a break.. I do this whenever things are going crazy bad,, or if I accomplish something..
Well, I accomplished something today,, I have the feather plate all finished and tested,, It runs true without any wobble .. 211 RPM's ...

next I have to work on the drum,, I should be ready to pluck chickens by nightfall..

.......jiminwisc...........

 

[Daethen]

Jim, can I singe the ducks instead of waxing them?

 

[jvls1942]

Jim, can I singe the ducks instead

I remember my folks singing the chickens after plucking them,, it got rid of the "hairs" ..

singing might get rid of the pin feathers, but the follicles will still be in the skin,,

If that doesn't bother you, go ahead and try it ..

I can't know if it will work ..

.........jiminwisc........

 

[jvls1942]

well, I didn't get er all done,, I did get the final 68 holes drilled.
. (after breaking five 1/4 inch drill bits)..
once I figured how to feed them in, things went real smoothly..

I got the discharge hole cut in and the center hole in the bottom for the shaft to fit through..

I am taking pictures, but I still cannot get them to post ..

..........jiminwisc.........

 

[mophead]

Duck wax! Ho ho ha ha HEEEEE! This calls for another glass of wine . . .

 

[Cindlady]

Just checking in and leaving my "bookmark".

Night All.

 

[Sclark73]