In a world where antibiotics are used on meat and where raising birds in small cages for their whole life has become industry standard, raising your own birds where you control these aspects can be a much better experience.

When it comes to harvesting your own birds, the process of plucking chickens can be the most time consuming and tedious part of the process we find. That's where chicken pluckers come in handy, we highly recommend using one of these machines for automating the feather removal process.

Chicken Harvest Day - Here's What We Do

We get together yearly with all of our neighbors to raise our own birds and then go through this process together. It is important to us to raise our own meat when we can, and so all of the photos in our article here is from one of our neighborhood harvesting days.

Why do we do this?

Personally, I feel that it is important to connect with the food we make and prepare. We are meat eaters, and so I want to ethically raise our chickens and appreciate the food we get from them.

I also hope to raise my kids on food that is not pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones when I can, and I want them to know and appreciate where their food comes from as well.

Here is my husband and dad with one of our neighbors working together on harvest day.

So, in this guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about chicken pluckers, from the most important features to consider when shopping, to other things to consider when raising birds for meat.

Why Raise Your Own Meat Birds?

Raising birds to harvest can offer a range of benefits. Firstly, it provides a direct source of high-quality, fresh meat that can be more cost-effective and more environmentally sustainable compared to commercially produced chickens.

By raising your own birds, you have control over their living conditions and diet, ensuring a healthier and more humane approach to animal farming.

Poultry bird farming can foster a deeper connection to food sources and a greater appreciation for sustainable living as well. When we raised our own birds for harvest, it was a very educational project for our two young children.

We really feel that it is good for kids (and adults) to truly understand where their food comes from, I find. Especially if you are a meat-eating family.

It really helps you appreciate the time and effort that goes into raising these birds in an ethical, non-commercial setting.

Overall, raising a bird for food can be a rewarding and educational experience while promoting ethical and sustainable practices in your family's food production.

Professional Processing chicken-plucker-machine

What Other Birds Are Good for Meat?

On top of chickens, other similar sized birds and poultry are great to raise for harvesting, and these ones can also fit into a chicken plucker:

1. Guinea Fowl: Guinea's are relatively easy to raise for meat, as they are a hardy bird breed with good foraging abilities. They mature quickly, reaching harvesting size at around 12 to 16 weeks. At harvest, they typically weigh between 3 to 4 pounds.
   
   
2. Ducks: Ducks are generally easy to raise for meat. They mature faster than chickens, typically reaching harvesting size at 7 to 10 weeks. Ducks can weigh anywhere from 4 to 7 pounds at harvest, depending on the breed.
   To pluck ducks, they can be processed in chicken plucking machines, it's essential to ensure the equipment is adjusted for their larger size and waterproof feathers. Ducks are also fantastic foragers, helping as well with pest control, especially if you have a garden.
   
   
3. Turkeys: Raising a turkey for meat can be slightly more demanding than other poultry, but they offer larger yields. These bird breeds typically take 14 to 20 weeks to mature for harvesting. At this point, their weight can range from 14 to 30 pounds, depending on the breed. They may not fit into standard chicken plucking machines due to their size, but there are specialized turkey pluckers available, otherwise you can raise a small turkeys and harvest sooner.
   
   
4. Quail: Quail are known for their rapid growth, making them relatively easy to raise for meat production. Depending on the breed, quail can reach harvesting size in just 6 to 8 weeks.
   At harvest, they typically weigh between 7 to 12 ounces. Due to their smaller size, quail can fit into chicken plucking machines, simplifying the processing stage.
   
   
5. Wild Game: Wild birds can be great for harvesting, including pheasant, grouse, ptarmigan, and geese. These birds obviously vary in size from small to large.

Understanding How Chicken Pluckers Work

To buy a good plucker, it is so important to understand first how they work.

A chicken plucker is a specialized machine, designed to efficiently remove feathers from a chicken in an efficient and clean way, making the processing of growing your very own birds for meat much more manageable.

These devices typically consist of rotating rubber plucking fingers that gently but effectively strip feathers from the bird's carcass without damaging the meat.

How chicken plucker fingers remove feathers

A chicken plucker operates on a simple, yet effective principle. The rotating rubber fingers grab onto the feathers and pull them out as the carcass moves through the machine.

The rotating motion ensures thorough plucking without damaging the skin or muscle tissue (at least if you buy a good quality machine, it shouldn't cause damage!). We are here to help you decide on a great machine for your own needs.

Important Features to Consider When Shopping for a Chicken Plucker

Investing in a chicken plucker requires careful consideration of different features to make sure you get the best value for your money. It is an investment that will save you hours upon hours of work, and can even be a profitable investment if you end up renting it out!

Here are the key aspects to consider for your poultry processing:

1. Plucking Capacity

Consider the plucking capacity of your machine, which refers to the number of birds it can process at once. Choose a chicken plucker that aligns with the scale of your chicken-raising operation. You can also consider how fast it can pluck a single chicken if it only fits one at a time.

2. Feather Removal Efficiency

Efficiency is crucial. Look for a plucker with rotating fingers that effectively remove feathers without causing damage to the muscles or skin. This ensures a clean and professional finish.

3. Durability and Build Quality

A durable machine made by heavy duty construction is a long-term investment, and you will be happy on your processing day, I will say that! Opt for a chicken plucker made from sturdy materials that can withstand regular use.

4. Easy to Clean and Maintain

Cleaning and maintaining the plucker should be a straightforward process. Choose a model with accessible parts and a design that minimizes the risk of bacterial buildup. Bonus if it can hook right up to your garden hose outside.

5. Size and Portability

Consider the available space in your processing area and the portability of the plucker. Some models are compact and easy to move, while others may require a more permanent setup.