[Sylvia]

 My nephew and I have been killing and plucking ducks all day. (both with arthritic hands )) I have looked on the internet for plucking machines and can't believe the price of them I would have to live until I am two hundred to get the benefit of one.
 I have also looked at D.I.Y. pluckers. If someone could make me one that doesn't cost the earth I would be so grateful.
 I have looked at u-tube home-maders but know I couldn't even begin to make one.
Anyone interested?

[Dan]

I was impressed by the Whizbang DIY plucker and might have a go at building one next year.

Looks very similar to this one:

Chicken Washer Tub Plucker

We've got 10 hubbards to hand pluck at the weekend so I'll be even more enthusiastic by Sunday lunchtime. 

[suziequeue]

Yes - I had a look at that whizz bang thing on the net.

Doesn't the chicken carcass end up being pretty bruised at the end?

What does he make the rubbeer "fingers" out of?

I wonder if you could get a barrel going round with finger inside - like a big tombola

[Dan]

According to the FAQ:

No. There must be blood in the bird for bruising to occur. If you kill and bleed out the bird prior to plucking, there can be no bruising.

You can buy the rubber fingers at Amazon or from Wells Poultry.

[nails]

You can buy the rubber fingers on ebay

[Mel]

Wow,that is amazing,and no tears/rips or damage...

[robert waddell]

no damage as long as you dont leave them in to long

[Hermit]

We have been there done that with all the DIY ideas  and have given in and just spent nearly six hundred on a good plucker and sinupul from Ascot.  No more problems but we do have a lot to do and geese.

[Mel]

no damage as long as you dont leave them in to long

I'm sure,a new type of chicken product for the market! Free range spun dried chickens

[Sylvia]

We have been there done that with all the DIY ideas  and have given in and just spent nearly six hundred on a good plucker and sinupul from Ascot.  No more problems but we do have a lot to do and geese.

I am very tempted to rear a lot more poultry and buy a machine but will it stop there? Will I next have to buy a cold store, set up a proper processing place etc. ?

[darkbrowneggs]

Was talking to someone the other day who does a lot of poultry and they have to pay £2000 per year to Environmental Health people for the privilege of having it inspected

[Sylvia]

So, I won't be stepping up my poultry production then

[DJ_Chook]

I bought one of these pluckers off that well known auction site a couple of years ago. I got the one in the second picture it was £14.99. Seller is unregistered now but the pics I saved give a good idea about how to go about making a diy one. I did have a go, I made one with rubber fingers like in the first pic but I made it with double the amount of fingers, 12 and at almost £5 a finger it wasn't cheap and turned out to be a waste of money. My drill just wasn't powerful enough to do the job. I then went onto buy the one in the second pic & it's fabulous but it does make a heck of a mess.