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Post by plantsnobin on Apr 29, 2009 6:41:41 GMT -5
I always thought that this was maybe something that wasn't needed, but after going to that chicken processing workshop and seeing one in action, I think it would be a worthwhile investment. Those suckers will clean a chicken a fifteen seconds, just as pretty as you please. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. Came home and told Mike about it and he thinks maybe we should get one and rent it out to help pay for it. They are amazing.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 29, 2009 7:43:04 GMT -5
::deep breath:: I realize there is a day in my future that I will desire to commence such an activity but I sure don't look forward to it. I experienced 4 executed chickens and the plucking process which caused me to puke... The only time in my life I was allowed out of a chore! After smelling those birds cooking I wasn't able to eat chicken for several years.
Anyway, that was then and this is now and within a year or two we will be raising and eating our own birds. I sure would like a mechanical way to pluck the poor things. Where did you get yours? Is there a website I can peruse?
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Post by plantsnobin on Apr 29, 2009 20:53:52 GMT -5
I don't have one, yet. This was at a demonstration and the guy had made it himself. Took a plastic 55 gal drum cut about 3/4, a 0ne horse motor, gear differential pulley thingey, rubber fingers that you can buy online. He said he had about $500 in that one, but that was with buying a motor for about $280. He said that there were clips on youtube, I haven't checked that out yet but I will when my husband can watch. It really is the neatest thing!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Apr 30, 2009 1:33:37 GMT -5
I've seen a couple books with plans for them... MacMurray carries one, I think. We don't have any meat birds, so I haven't paid too much attention, but I know that if I were going to process my hens, I would for sure want one of these things.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 30, 2009 7:25:01 GMT -5
How do you get past the horrific smell?
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Post by plantsnobin on Apr 30, 2009 18:16:19 GMT -5
Smell?? There really shouldn't be any smell unless something has gone very wrong, like you cut into the innards that should have remained intact.
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Post by grungy on Apr 30, 2009 19:18:45 GMT -5
I believe they are referring to the smell of wet chicken feathers. Hint breath through you mouth and keep thinking of how great fried chicken smells. Our family use to have a get together and run through 150 - 200 fryer in a weekend, every fall and believe me there is a distinct smell.
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Post by canadamike on Apr 30, 2009 20:58:35 GMT -5
I agree with the wet feather smell. And once, I cut the ''innards'' ( new word for me ) of a bird and endedup smelling bad too after puking....
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 3, 2009 13:18:56 GMT -5
OH MIKE! How horrible! Poor you! ::shudders:: My experience was what, 40+ years ago? I don't remember anything beyond the fact that it was something I NEVER wanted to smell again! I'm pretty good with "strong" odors.
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Post by cff on May 3, 2009 19:33:16 GMT -5
We normally skin ours - it takes about a minuet an a half from the time it quits kicking till its ready to fry  |
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Post by michaeljohnson on May 4, 2009 1:14:54 GMT -5
I once new a very funny joke about ( a feather plucker's daughter)-much too naughty for this forum, |
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 4, 2009 9:08:36 GMT -5
YIKES CFF! Talk about wasting no time! Sounds like you would be the one to learn from. If it took only a minute or two to get cooking, I might be able to handle the smell that long.
I dunno M-J... seems we are all "Closet Naughties" if the "Fword" thread was any indication... ;o)
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Post by ceara on May 4, 2009 9:24:35 GMT -5
I love dirty jokes!  When the hunters around here get a hold of a ruffed grouse/partridge, they just pop out the breast and leave the rest. They don't even bother with the legs. |
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Post by canadamike on May 5, 2009 0:29:31 GMT -5
In my time I've done that with a couple of chicks too ;D
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Post by johno on May 5, 2009 6:49:50 GMT -5
We normally skin ours - it takes about a minuet an a half from the time it quits kicking till its ready to fry We usually just have chickens round for the eggs, but when we do eat one, we just skin it, too. Much less work. They can go straight to the freezer that way, too. |
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