Yes Martin, I know it is too long. I intend to make another one using thin-walled 6" pvc, which is much simpler. I am searching for another motor for a more straight-forward video. I used this one the other day, and it can be seen in use in a new video.

Glad to hear it! Good job.

That is so nice to hear, Gina! I sold that plucker, and dug up an old motor, so can build a simpler one, and do a simpler, more stream-lined video.

Thanks Tom. Much appreciated!

Thank you. No need for a big plucker if you don't have a big scalder, or a big flock.

Thanks, Adam.

just switch out the engine.. hit and miss engines or the side wheel of the old tractors usually powered the old time ones..

Thanks!

Sounds like the perfect motor. Good job.

Thanks. Actually works better, too.

Quail and dove? Just blow on the feathers!

Wow! Thanks Ahmed. That's a world away from northern Minnesota.

Thanks for watching. It's no small feat making it to the end. I hope to make a simpler one this summer-stay tuned.

😆👍

Thanks Thomas. I hope to streamline the build, and do a more concise video this spring.

What's the name of those black things he called fingers??

@@dionhall3876 I'm no expert so looked at a few diagrams on google. It would appear that 'fingers' is also the technical term.

@@michaellavery4899 ok kool

@@dionhall3876 Fingers.

Thanks Dean. Good luck with your project!

I sold this one, and hope to build another one this spring. Hopefully simpler, and a more concise video.

Thank you!

Thanks, Scott!

Thanks Allan. Ducks and geese are tough, because the oil in the feathers prevents a good feather-loosening scald. They are usually dry plucked, which is partly why they are so expensive to buy. It just might tale some feathers off, though.

Thank you. Once it warms up here a bit, I hope to make a more concise video of a simpler, re-designed plucker.

@@backwoodbasics9383 I look forward to it. I would like to build one over the summer.

Thank you! I will be sure to check-out your channel.

BackWood Basics thank you!

I ordered them from Amazon. 50 fingers for $19.98 and free shipping, from Ezplucker by CCOnly. They are very sturdy and I think a good bargain. Thanks for the interest.

Many thanks. Some day, when I have the time, I hope to make another one, and a more concise video. We will be using ours in a couple of weeks....

Hah. That's about right.

The motor pulley is about 2". The top pulley diameter is 10". The motor rpm is 1725. Someone smarter than me could likely tell you the rpm of the 6" drum. I can only say that it is about the same as the commercially-made pluck we have, and I guess it is about 350 rpms. I can put my hand on top of the rotating fingers without much discomfort, so it just feels about right to me.

BackWood Basics thanks much!!

If you did not make it to the end, I understand. But I use it to pluck a chicken at the end of the video. If I can find another motor, I will make another plucker, and a more concise video on how to make it.

i think the motor is 3/4 horse power

Thanks Steven. It's a 1/4hp motor, 1725rpms.

@@backwoodbasics9383 Thanks for the quick answer, do you feel it have enough power?

@@stevenroseberry3188 Oh gosh, Plenty of power.

Ьттиил. !ьььььтттттииииииии

It has been so long since I ordered them that I can't find the order. If you go on Amazon and search chicken plucker fingers, there are many inexpensive choices.

I bought it used about 20 years ago. I believe it was made in NIcollet, MN. I doubt they are still in business. It burned in a fire last winter, so I don't recall the name.

@@backwoodbasics9383 thanks for replying

The chicken stays on the outside. If you skip to the end, I believe I show it in action.

Messy, but outdoors. We only process 20-25 chickens a season, and can only scald one at a time, so the single bird plucker works well for us. If we did 100 at a time, I might spring for the added cost and complexity of a drum plucker. when spring arrives, I hope to have a simpler version of this plucker available, with less talking, of course.

Thanks!

That's the way to go if you want to do it right. For me, they were too expensive, and overkill for a machine that runs for about 30 minutes a year.

I kept an old washer drum in the pole barn for years, thinking I would build one. But the cost and complexity made me go with this simple drum plucker. Unless I had a scalder that would do 4 birds at a time, I have no reason to have a plucker for 4 birds. Whatever works for you. But for us, with 25 or fewer birds, this is our preffered method.

Yes. Life is a learning process. I am trying to be more informative, and concise in future videos. Thanks for the feedback.

You obviously know much more than I do. It has an H2 food grade rating, and is approved by the USDA for use in federally inspected meat and poultry plants, where it will not be in direct contact with food. I figured the bearings are a safe enough distance from a chicken. It may have been confusing to even mention using it. Thanks for pointing it out.

I went by what it says on the back of the tube. "Lithium based with white solids". I bought that years ago, at Cabela's, in their food processing section. They sold it to lubricate sausage stuffers.

@@backwoodbasics9383 No, I don't know that much about it. I thought perhaps you had mistakenly called it Lithium Grease because a lot of White Grease is Lithium based. I apologize for my mistake. I was just concerned that someone out there might get the idea that White Lithium Grease is Food Safe. I read that USDA quit issuing those approvals in 1998. I found your project to be very interesting. I remember back in the mid 1950s, friends of my mother's had a small farm, and they had a chicken plucking machine. I couldn't remember how it was constructed, and I only remember seeing while it was running. Those fingers are hard to see when it is running, so I couldn't describe to anyone how it worked. I told a friend about it, and he didn't believe me. He had lived on a farm at one time, but he had never seen or heard of it. I was so happy to see that such a machine really does exist. I thank you for making the video!

yes you are the screw up...

Arnold Romppai 🖕

Agreed. I made a new one, and hope to get a new shorter video out. Might have to wait until spring, though. We have just moved from our acreage to a city lot in Duluth, MN. Quite a change.

You seem nice. ?

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I intend to build a better version soon, and make a more concise video.