Wizbang Chicken Plucker

[Jkioneil]

i am building one a well from our old washer. really excited. think it s just about the coolest invention ever! i hate plucking. but if you decide against it then at least use wax. also i was wondering where i can buy cones for chicken and turkey processing. i can't find them anwhere. do people just make their own or can i buy them in a store where and what kind. feed stores dont have em. ??? thanks

 

[Bucky182]

Jaku has some listed on his post he sales.

 

[Dogfish]

Traffic cones work well.

 

[jamesrm]

Well, guess we now know what happened to the chicken that crossed the road. But why still remains the mystery.

 

[dancingbear]

We bought the Whizbang Plucker book from Herrick Kimball, I didn't care that it took a little while to get here, because we won't be able to start buying parts right away anyhow.

He listed a link to a site that sells the sheets of HDPE for cutting boards, I called them and found I can have them cut a round piece the exact size I want for $76. We'd still have to drill it, but it would save a few bucks. I'm thinking the 16" pulley wheel, flanged shaft, and the idler wheel from Kimball, and scrounge/hunt for the rest. I know where I can get barrels, and most of the idler hardware we already have, or can get cheap enough. I looked at the motors at Harbor freight, a 3/4 HP capacitor start motor is $99.95. Call it $100.

In the back of the book, Kimball has updates and tips. One is to leave the bottom of the barrel intact, except for a feather discharge slot on one side, and of course the hole for the shaft. You could have the water and feathers pouring out the side opposite the motor, (which I would shield from moisture anyway) and maybe put a basket/strainer thingy to catch feathers. Then you could periodically dump the feathers in a basket or bucket or something, to haul over to the compost pile (if you have one, I do) or other disposal option. Nicer than having wet icky feathers all over the place. If you put a drain/gutter or some such to channel water away from your work area, that would be nice, too. I'm thinking if I slaughter chickens during dry times, somehow channeling that waste water (full of good plant nutrients) to my garden would be good.

 

[Maniac Dad]

I'm just finishing off my WBCP. I bought a 16" welded steel pulley for $34 and a weld in center hub for $14 for a total pulley price of $48.00 from Kaman Bearings. Another tid bit use rubbing alcohol as a lubricant for installing the plucker fingers in the feather plate and the tub. It will definitly make your task easier.

Just my .02

 

[Jkioneil]

Quote:
that is fantastic! i am going to get qa traffic cone for sure!

love it!

 

[Jkioneil]

Quote:
thanks for the advice. we will be putting ours together shortly and i will keep that in mind! We are winging it lol.. but we are using bungee cords and modifying our old washing machine. anyone else tried that? any tips?

 

[Dogfish]

Only used bungies on a small scale.

 

[Jkioneil]

Quote:
okay so how does that work? you hold the chicken up and turn that on? or put chicken in a bucket and uyse the drill like stirring paint? does it work? can you explain it to me?