How to Build a Chicken Plucker

Plucking chickens doesn't have to be time consuming.

More people are growing their own food these days, and many are raising their own chickens, both for eggs and for meat. Plucking has always been a major deterrent to raising meat chickens, but you can build a simple chicken plucker to help. By dipping the carcass in boiling water for a few seconds and then using the plucker, you can have a bird almost ready for the freezer in only a couple minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Electric fan motor (1550 rpm)
• Wooden board, 2 inches by 8 inches by 18 inches
• Wooden board, 3/4 inches by 3/4 inches by 4 inches
• 1/4-inch plywood, 6 inches by 6 inches
• 1/4-inch plywood, 6 inches by 7 inches
• Section of carpet, 7 1/2 inches by 12 inches
• 2-inch diameter PVC cap
• 15 rubber plucking fingers
• Light switch
• Electric switch box
• Light switch cover
• 4-foot electric cord with male plug attached
• 2 wire nuts
• 1/2-inch threaded rod, 2 inches long
• 2 nuts, 1/2 inch
• 14 deck screws, 1 inch
• 12 staples, 1/2 inch
• Welding torch
• Drill
• Protective eye wear
• Protective gloves

Instructions

Getting Started

1. Put on your protective gear. Lay down the 2-by-8 board. Align the carpet on the end of the board you want to hold the fan motor and attach it with the 1/2-inch staples.

2. Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the 6-by-6 piece of plywood. Drill the four mounting bolt holes in preparation of mounting the motor. Attach the plywood to the side of the 2-by-8 piece of wood. Mount the motor.

3. Cut the 6-by-7-inch piece of plywood at a 45-degree angle. This will be a gusset. Attach to the 2-by-8 piece of wood. Attach the two plywood pieces together using the 3/4-by-3/4-inch piece of wood.

4. Mount the electrical box to the top of the 2-by-8 wood on the opposite side from the motor. Wire the motor, cord and switch together.

Prepare and Attach the Plucking Fingers

1. Drill 15 23/64-inch holes around the outside of the 2 inch PVC cap. The holes will be very close together since this cap is small. Space them in a pattern so two are next to each other in one row, then one is in the center for the next row. Repeat all the way around the cap. Insert the small rubber fingers through the holes from the inside out.

2. Drill a 1/2-inch hole in the end of the PVC cap. Make sure it is centered so it will spin well.

3. Weld the threaded rod to one end of the fan motor mounting collar.

4. Mount the collar on the motor. Fasten the PVC cap to the end of the rod with two 1/2-inch nuts.

Tips & Warnings

• You may be able to find many of the materials for this project as scrap materials. Plucking fingers can be purchased online on eBay or from poultry supply houses.

• Always use protective gear when working with power tools. It is a good idea to wear them when you pluck your chickens to avoid injury from flying feathers.

References

• Countryside: Build Your Own Small Chicken Plucker
• Homesteading Today: How to make a $6.00 Chicken Plucker
• Backyard Poultry: Affordable Homemade Poultry Plucker