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shadiya

Poultry pluckers....

We've got a batch of Sasso table birds that will be ready for the chop in a month and we are thinking of doing them here, rather than taking them to the local (ish) slaughter house. There are 180 birds so I definitely want some kind of machine but what sort? Wet, dry or wax? I've dry plucked by hand, took forever, wet plucked sped things up but a few accidents with temperature caused skin problems. Wax I've done with a friend's ducks and it was very simple and I'm tempted to go for that as it's potentially low tech and we are off grid. However, we do have a generator, so an electric one could be used. What I'm not sure of, is what produces the best result? What do other people do?
Shan

We have a Solway dry plucker. Works very well. The only bugger is the flight feathers. We tend to slaughter, pluck the flight feathers whilst the carcass is still warm. We then hang and there after pluck.
Rob R

Re: Poultry pluckers....

shadiya wrote:
What I'm not sure of, is what produces the best result? What do other people do?


Without a doubt, hand plucking. However, not a lot of use to you, but my dad bought an old dry plucking machine a few years ago and reconditioned it. The spring loaded 'clips' are mounted on a drum and they grab the feathers as it revolves. With a little hand finishing it makes a very good job. If you can find the modern version of that I would recommend it.
Shan

Ours is like a giant epilator. The fairer sex will understand this.

It sucks the feathers toward the rotating disks, grabs them and yanks them out.
fishfish

ive got 4 kids so they do them! (but i would like a dry plucker!)
digit

Have a look at this diy plucker on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZfRcd7DD8
fishfish

that wizbang plucker is very ggod,i see that theyre home built does anyone have the details??
Bebo

We picked up a second hand wet plucker recently. Haven't tested it out yet, but I will have some birds ready in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it gets on.
Stacey

fishfish wrote:
that wizbang plucker is very ggod,i see that theyre home built does anyone have the details??


The book is on amazon


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anyone-Tub-Style-Mechanical-Chicken-Plucker/dp/0972656448/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1252227343&sr=8-3

Or straight from the author

http://whizbangbooks.blogspot.com/2007/12/wb21.html


or on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Plucker-Book-poultry-chicken-turkey-goose_W0QQitemZ230358702916QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item35a272db44&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14


Very Happy
RichardW

Bebo wrote:
We picked up a second hand wet plucker recently. Haven't tested it out yet, but I will have some birds ready in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it gets on.


The secret is in the water temp & the time of dip.

To long or to hot & you cook the skin, to cold or to fast & the feathers dont come out.
shadiya

How many birds do you do Shan? I have looked at dry pluckers and they are rather pricey. Anybody got any ideas on where one might lay hands on a second hand one? I've tried ebay without any luck so far. Given the rather sunstantial difference in price between wet and dry pluckers, approx a thousand pounds, does it make that much of a difference to the finish quality?
RichardW

shadiya wrote:
does it make that much of a difference to the finish quality?



Yes

Plus if you are selling them under the "under 10,000" exemption then you are only allowed to dry pluck.
shadiya

Ah, now that I hadn't picked up on. Thanks for that Richard, you are a mine of useful information, lucky for you I don't have your home number! Very Happy
fishfish

recieved the book on how to make a wiz bang yesterday,looks very simple,i will post a build along.
Tavascarow

Just spotted this ending soon on e-bay.
LINK
RichardW

£200 you can get them NEW for that much.
shadiya

fishfish wrote:
recieved the book on how to make a wiz bang yesterday,looks very simple,i will post a build along.


Have you had a go yet? What's the book like? I ask as have just been quoted £2.50 a bird to kill them locally and I don't want to spend £2000 on a plucker that gets used twice a year ish. Was thinking of buying the book and having a go....
RichardW

This one looks interesting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC051HphyvY&feature=related
markjadams

Dry plucking only???

RichardW,

Why do you say that you are only allowed to dry pluck under the 10K limit?

This is not at all true, you are allowed to pluck in any way you want!!

The restrictions are that you can't kill more that 10K per year and you are not allowed to kill any one elses birds.

Mark.
RichardW

Re: Dry plucking only???

markjadams wrote:
RichardW,

Why do you say that you are only allowed to dry pluck under the 10K limit?

This is not at all true, you are allowed to pluck in any way you want!!

The restrictions are that you can't kill more that 10K per year and you are not allowed to kill any one elses birds.

Mark.


Well the last time I read the regulations it specificaly says DRY pluck only.

Quote:
Direct supply to the final consumer, or local retail establishment, of small
quantities of poultry and rabbits slaughtered on farm.
(Article 1(3)(d) of Regulation 853/2004)
2. We clarified during the negotiation of the legislation that the intention would be to
continue to apply the approach given effect to in the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game
Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as
amended). Thus “small quantities” would be interpreted as under 10,000 birds
or rabbits per year reared and slaughtered on farm, as at present. In addition
we would interpret “small quantities” as including the output of those producers
who are both members of an apropriate assurance scheme and who either dry
pluck by hand or slaughter for up to 40 days per annum. The current provisions
in respect of seasonal markets would also be considered to apply.
from here

Also HERE

They do seem to have added the phrase "or 40 days" when they updated it in 2005. Which seems to imply you might be ok as long as you are opperational for less than 40days.

I would think they mean 40 days in one go but as they have not said that it would be up to a court to decide.

There are also some other restriction like distance sold & how often & no mail order / internet sales / itinerant.

Oh & my EHO dint know either.
markjadams

RichardW,

I have spoken with my EHO on the subject and he says that the Current regs do not restrict producers to Dry plucking, The only restriction for dry/hand plucking is for seasonal producers who are allowed to produce more than 10K if only for christmas and only dry plucked.

Also the 10K restriction DOES allow internet/mail orders, and sales to customers within your current or neighbouring county.

Mark.
RichardW

Quote:
The Poultry Meat
Directive, however, permits a derogation from these requirements for farmers
slaughtering less than 10,000 birds per year and supplying direct to the final
consumer and local retailers.


Quote from the 2002 regs.

That means no mail order.

Quote:
(c) Definition of the ‘local market’ - There is no allowance in the Directive for any
(otherwise exempt) producer to sell to anywhere other than ‘the local market’.
Current domestic provisions allow for sale at markets ‘other than a local market’
during the Christmas and Easter periods. This extension has therefore been
removed in the proposed amendments.


So thats local area only except during seasonal times (easter & xmas). They were also looking at removing the seasonal allowance as well but only did so in Scotland in the end. All quotes above from here

Or
Quote:
(b) subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) below, in so far as a farmer who annually rears and slaughters on the aggregate of all his holdings under 10,000 birds or under 10,000 rabbits sells small quantities of fresh poultry meat, small quantities of fresh farmed game bird meat or small quantities of fresh rabbit meat derived from those birds or rabbits -

(i) direct to the final consumer at the holding where the birds or the rabbits were reared and slaughtered;

(ii) direct to the final consumer at the local market nearest to the holding where the birds or the rabbits were reared and slaughtered;

(iii) direct to retailers for sale direct to the final consumer, provided the retailers make such sales in the same locality as, or in a neighbouring locality to, the holding where the birds or the rabbits were reared and slaughtered; or

(iv) at a market (other than a local market) during the period of two weeks which immediately precede Christmas Day and Easter Sunday each year;


So thats local area & surounding area direct retail & trade & two weeks prior to xmas & easter.

Quote:
(4) In regulation 3, paragraph (2) shall be replaced with the following -

" (2) The exemption in paragraph (1)(b) above shall not apply to any itinerant sale or sale by mail order or, as regards a sale by a retailer, any sale by the retailer at a market."


So thats no mail order / internet sales or itinerant sales.

From here

Whilst I concede that they possibly have changed the dry/wet pluck legislation they do not seem to have change the area you can sell in or non direct sales.

Oh & the seasonal & under 10k exemption is one & the same. As soon as you do 10,001 you have to be a low through out premises.

All of the above is from the 2002 regs but they did change in 2006 but I cant find diddly about them.

After years & years of dealing with EHO's I NEVER trust what they say till I have checked it out & never ask them a question I dont already know the answer to. Ok if yours will allow you to do so then its very unlikely you will ever have any trouble, but I would get it in writing.
ces215

check this chicken plucker ...
http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/1433732226.html
he will also ship to UK .. i bought one from him june-09 cost me $720 USD ( INCL DELIVERed TO UK ) .. you can ask him .. this pluker is much much better than the DIY - Whizbang Plucker & table top ... ( i had build a whizbang last yr but it turn out cost me £350 )
RichardW

You will need a voltage adapter to use it here as well.

I have watched the "tub" type pluckers on Utube & they do seem to do a good job but also seem to bash the bejesus out of the birds too.
mal55

Do wet pluckers/whizz bangs bruise the birds? they seem to take a real pounding that could affect value. I saw a gizmo somewhere that was just 4 or 5 wet pluck fingers mounted on a disk for attachment to an electric drill. Might be worth a try if you've not too many to pluck but haven't got the best grip or dexterity!
RichardW

The wet type plucker this thread is about does not damage the bird.
mikep

Plucking

Just passing through when I saw this thread. I can clarify it all as In have got the T shirt on this one.

The 2005 legislation got rid of the low througput category and left only the seaonal category and full EC acreditation. This move meant that anyone who started a poultry business was basically limited to 10,000 birds a year before they had to spend £150,000 on an EC abbatoir plus have a full time vet and MHS attendance. Obviously this means that no one who has to earn a living can go beyond the glass ceiling.

Those 10,000 birds can be plucked any way you like but you must be under your local Environmental health as an 'unlicensed premises'. Hygeine rules apply as per 2005 regs but no attendance required at kill.

If you go over 10,000 you must become an approved abbatoir which is only viable for a huge number of birds a week. This is a complete cock up as usual to be blamed entirely on HMG not the EC as we could set the transition level at any figure we wanted up to 100,000 pa. As a consequence most EH officers dont ask too many questions as to numbers so dont volunteer information.

There are certain exceptions being that if you are a member of an appropriate assurance scheme and you either kill for less than 40 days a year or dry pluck by hand you are exempt from the limit.

As with all the small schemes the birds must be from your own farm and can be sold in your own or neibouring counties and specificlly
included are mail order or internet sales.

Hope this helps but if anyone is looking at serious poultry production get hold of the whole 2005/6 act and read it. The officials very rarely read all the regs and rely on the crib sheets they get which set out a perfect scenario but always come with the rider that 'there may be other ways to satisfy the legislation' and there always are and much cheaper.
RichardW

Re: Plucking

mikep wrote:

As with all the small schemes the birds must be from your own farm and can be sold in your own or neibouring counties and specificlly
included are mail order or internet sales.




Can you confirm you meant include & not exclude? Do you have a link to the doc?

All the docs still seem to say exclude.
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