Plucking Muscovies

[Dfarago]

I just processed about nine of my Muscovies and let me tell you, those feathers were a pain in the butt. We did three different methods. They were dunked in boiling water before being plucked. We used latex gloves, garden gloves that were textured and paraffin wax. After all that there were still some very small feathers left over under the skin we couldn’t get to.

Is there a step that was missed or are Muscovies just very difficult to be pluck? And does anyone have any tips or tricks to help for future processing?

I don’t know if it’s relevant but the ducks were about 4-5 months old, and I’ve read you can process at three.

 

[Texag87]

I remember when I was little we would sometimes singe over a fire. It smelled bad but did the job.

 

[Claires Poultry]

I just processed about nine of my Muscovies and let me tell you, those feathers were a pain in the butt. We did three different methods. They were dunked in boiling water before being plucked. We used latex gloves, garden gloves that were textured and paraffin wax. After all that there were still some very small feathers left over under the skin we couldn’t get to.

Is there a step that was missed or are Muscovies just very difficult to be pluck? And does anyone have any tips or tricks to help for future processing?

I don’t know if it’s relevant but the ducks were about 4-5 months old, and I’ve read you can process at three.

I know eggsactly what you mean! I usually butcher 75-100 plus Muscovies a year and plucking them is an absolute pain in the butt!

I scald mine in 145*-160* Fahrenheit water for 1-2 minutes and then pluck them in an automatic plucker. The plucker gets some of the feathers off, but not nearly all of them.
I always end up having to finish plucking them by hand, and I never get quite all the feathers off. That doesn't bother me though, a few feathers aren't that big of a deal to me, I just leave 'em on.

I've heard of waxing them before, but I've never tried it. Maybe I'll try it this year, not sure.

I usually butcher my Muscovies at 15 weeks old.

 

[CindyinSD]

I’ve read that a squirt of dish soap as a wetting agent (don’t know the brand/amount) in the scalding water will help in getting the water all the way to the skin. I put a tiny bit of Dawn in when I was butchering chickens. My first time so I don’t know whether it made it easier or not, but the chickens don’t taste like soap at all, and when you consider the other stuff meat chickens tend to have on their undersides, soap seems very benign. Plus it *is* the *outside* of the bird so it’s basically like giving it a bath.

I’ve seen this particularly recommended for waterfowl... maybe worth a try.

 

[Claires Poultry]

I’ve read that a squirt of dish soap as a wetting agent (don’t know the brand/amount) in the scalding water will help in getting the water all the way to the skin. I put a tiny bit of Dawn in when I was butchering chickens. My first time so I don’t know whether it made it easier or not, but the chickens don’t taste like soap at all, and when you consider the other stuff meat chickens tend to have on their undersides, soap seems very benign. Plus it *is* the *outside* of the bird so it’s basically like giving it a bath.

I’ve seen this particularly recommended for waterfowl... maybe worth a try.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely take that into consideration!

 

[Dfarago]

I remember when I was little we would sometimes singe over a fire. It smelled bad but did the job.

We did try applying flame to some of them. It still seemed like it left a lot of feathers. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Jpat]

i got so frustrated with mine i just skinned them. Now i only raise chickens for meat

If you want a bad day, kill all the birds first, THEN realize they are a nightmare to clean

 

[CindyinSD]

If you want a bad day, kill all the birds first, THEN realize they are a nightmare to clean

Oops!

I’m wondering if a butane or propane torch might be easier than some less intense flame source?

 

[Jpat]

i wouldnt know forsure, Thats what i use for chickens

i use a tiger torch but its realy easy to damage the skin. ive made some ugly carcasses. But it all looks the same in soup!

 

[Gray Farms]

Melt paraffin wax in hot but not boiling water "wax will stay on top". Dry pluck the hard feathers "wing, tail, outer body feathers" leaving only the short down feathers. Dip the whole bird in the water with wax on top. Then straight into very cold/ice water. The wax will harden into a "shell" on the duck. Then crack the wax and peel. All the down will come off with the wax. Works awesome!! Only way to process waterfowl.