Boys dispatched today

[vicky]

First time doing this for me so I was a bit nervous!
Used the 'broomstick method'
My 2 6 months old boys are now hanging (or rather laying) in the garage.

Couple of questions

How to pluck without tearing the skin? I did in a couple of places
They're in a roasting tin covered in clingfilm in the garage - how long can I leave them and should they go in the fridge (I've already gutted so they're 'oven ready')?

They weighed in at 3lb and 3.4lb, legbars crosses

[petal]

you need to hang by the feet so the blood drains to the head, plucking is tricky!Don't worry - i am certain they will be lovely!. I always skin ours now, its much quicker!
Well done!

[Snadger]

you need to hang by the feet so the blood drains to the head, plucking is tricky!Don't worry - i am certain they will be lovely!. I always skin ours now, its much quicker!
Well done!

Skins the best part!!!

[polo]

Well done for your first time - I'm sure you can do it again now!. Can't help with plucking though.

Polo

[RichmondHens]

Plucking is up to the individual - Nicos and I prefer wet (dunk freshly killed bird in "hot as you can bear" water for up to a minute then pluck straight away), others prefer dry. I find with wet plucking the feathers come out far easier than with dry plucking so there is less risk of tearing. There is a knack to plucking that comes with practice - don't try and speed up by taking big handfuls of feathers as this is often when the skin will tear. Pluck with a steady rhythm just a few feathers at a time and most people I think do it the same way - flight feathers and tail out first then work down the body starting at the legs, then bum, groin, breast, back, neck and wings. I find it easier to hang the bird up with rope from a beam or tree branch, but some people do it by laying the bird across their lap, holding the legs of the bird with one hand and using the other to pluck. This of course only works if you dry pluck, otherwise you get sopping wet trousers!!

If they have been freshly killed then they are ok in a cool place for a couple of days or so, but preferably a fridge. Is your garage vermin proof? Make sure nothing can get in there and take a nibble.

[Scarlet]

I pluck them dry, still warm. The flight and tail feathers are always last for me!

[Hilary B]

Either pluck 'still warm' or after hanging (that is 'dry' plucking, wet was so messy I only tried once!) the commonest problem is trying to take too many feathers at once. Plucked or unplucked, they keep better before gutting (NY dressed). Once gutted keep refridgerated for not more than 3 days before cooking, or freeze!

[Nicos]

Well done vicky- not nice, but it does get easier

[Glutton4...]

Vell done Vicky - you're a few days ahead of me - mine are being done this weekend!

[vicky]

Thanks for the info, think I must have been being impatient with the plucking - trying to do too much in each handful! I tried both wet and dry and found the wet was easier...but messier! I still have down everywhere.
I will be hatching again this year so I do hope it is easier next time!

[vicky]

Is it you or OH doing yours G4?

Just realised it's the chick in my avatar!! Better change that...

[chris]

So do you remove the head, or just slit the neck to drain the blood out?

[chris]

What about washign them? With the hoohar about not washing poultry, as it'll splash bacteria everywhere?

[Glutton4...]

Mr. G and/or my Dad will despatch them, and Dad will show us how to pluck them. Then, my Mum is going to show me/us how to draw them. I better let them have one of them, hadn't I!?

[winstonwobble]

i always dry pluck as soon as they are dead feathers come out easier if the bird is still warm oh and its the whole head off for me draw them the next day then into the oven or freeze