Plucking chickens as historically be a wet, nasty, feather filled experience. Hot slimy birds slipping in your hands and little feathers appearing in places the most certainly shouldn’t. Don’t even get me started about trying to pluck 10 or 20 at a time. It is simply put, an afternoon of misery. However, a chicken plucker machine can turn that hours long experience into a few short seconds of fun. Now go plucking pluck some chickens! (Yes, I really wrote that)
Based on our own experience and research, plus what other folks have told us, the YARDBIRD 21833 Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker is the one to get. It fast, easy to clean and extremely reliable.
Best Chicken Plucker – YARDBIRD 21833 Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker
- POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT PROCESSING: With a heavy duty 1.5 HP motor and 300 RPMs of spinning force, Yardbird can de-feather chickens, ducks, geese, hens, waterfowl and other birds in just 15-30 seconds...
- NATURAL AND SAFE DEFEATHERING: 110 individual rubber fingers naturally and gently remove feathers dirt and grime from the skin of the bird. A drum-sensing safety switch and GFCI ensure that the...
The YARDBIRD 21833 Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker is simply put, the king of chicken pluckers. With a robust 1.5 HP motor and a maximum 300 RPMs, it can pluck a chicken clean in under 15 seconds. Try doing that with your hands. The 20” drum is roomy enough for chickens, ducks, geese and more. When you throw in the irrigated feather clean out, heavy duty steel frame and maneuverable wheels, this thing has it all. Not only that, but it has basically a cult following due to its stunning performance and name brand history. With a 1 year no nonsense warranty, it’s easy to see why it’s the best chicken plucker around.
Chicken Plucker Buyers Guide
Chicken pluckers are a great way to save time and effort when defeathering multiple chickens. What used to take hours can now be done in a fraction of the time. However, not all chicken plucking machines are made equal. With varying HP, drum sizes and features, you’ll want to do a bit of reading before diving into a purchase. After all, having a tool last a lifetime is much more cost effective than one that needs replacing every year.
How does a chicken plucker work?
An automatic chicken plucker works by rotating a scalded chicken inside a metal drum filled with small rubber fingers. As the chicken spins and turns, the fingers tear off the feathers they come into contact with. At over 300 revolutions per minute, this process happens extremely fast. Once the feathers are off, typically wash water will send them out the bottom of the machine. Viola! A perfectly defeathered chicken in no time. No mess, no fuss and you’ll be done in a flash.
Check out the video below for a different take on our favorite unit and a demonstration of how to use it.
How do I clean a chicken plucker?
Cleaning a chicken plucker is an easy, straightforward process. Simply take the drum off the unit and hose it down. The feathers will come right off. If you really want to get fancy, you can squirt a bit of dish soap in there to get rid of any grease the feathers might have contained. That’s it!
If you’ve also got a feather cleanout you can hose that out too for a squeaky clean chicken plucker. You can let it air dry as the stainless steel construction won’t rust if a bit of water is left on it. We do recommend you store it indoors or under cover after you’re done with it to keep the motor in tip top shape.
Do I need to worry about greasy feathers?
Greasy feathers are the bane of any automatic poultry plucker. The grease prevents the fingers from getting hold of the feather and as such, they aren’t torn off. To eliminate any extra grease, simply squirt some dish soap into the rotating machine once the birds are in there. This will remove it extremely quickly and you’ll have bald chickens in no time.
What HP motor do I need?
Honestly, you plucking chickens, not racing in the Indy 500. As such, anything over 1 HP will do the trick. If you plan on plucking multiple chickens or large poultry like geese or turkeys a 1.5 or 2 HP unit would be better. This just makes sure the motor isn’t overworked and will keep spinning for years to come.
Do RPMs matter?
There are two trains of thought on this. Fewer revolutions per minute means the fingers have a higher chance of making contact with a feather and actually plucking it off. However it will make contact less often. On the flip side, more RPMs mean it’ll often bounce off a feather or slide past one and not tear it off. Although, due to its speed, it’ll have a lot more chances at each feather. Our #1 choice has a motor rated at 300 RPMs which is damn near perfect for most applications. But, if you’ve opted for one with 1500+ RPMs, it’ll work just fine too.
What size chicken plucker is best?
Most chicken pluckers are standardized with a 20” diameter drum. This size is great for pretty much any size bird. At the same time, it’s not too big such that it’s unwieldy. You’ll find some are a tad taller than others, but really that doesn’t affect performance as diameter is the main dimension to be worried about. If you grab one with a 20” drum you’ll be a be a plucking master before you know it.
Best Chicken Plucker Detailed Reviews
As we now know, even the best chicken plucker in the market works just the same as all the competitors. What changes is the motor power, drum diameter, overall build quality and customer support. As such, we’ve rated the below poultry plucking machines in order based on their individual statistics. While any of them will work amazingly well, some are simply better than other in slight ways. In the end, it’s your choice and we are just here to help you make a great decision and enjoy roasted chickens for years to come..
#1 YARDBIRD 21833 Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker – Best Chicken Plucker
- POWERFUL AND EFFICIENT PROCESSING: With a heavy duty 1.5 HP motor and 300 RPMs of spinning force, Yardbird can de-feather chickens, ducks, geese, hens, waterfowl and other birds in just 15-30 seconds...
- NATURAL AND SAFE DEFEATHERING: 110 individual rubber fingers naturally and gently remove feathers dirt and grime from the skin of the bird. A drum-sensing safety switch and GFCI ensure that the...
The Yardbird Stainless Steel chicken Plucker is the undisputed King of chicken pluckers. From it’s polished stainless steel drum, to the ultra reliable 1.5 HP motor, it is designed from the ground up for performance, ease of use and longevity.
While this might not be the cheapest poultry plucker on the market, it is worth every penny. The incredible customer service and 1 year warranty are just the cherry on top. With a built-in feather irrigation system, replaceable fingers and optional add-ons, this is one of the most well known chicken pluckers in the industry, and for good reason. Just go ahead and buy this one now. It’ll save you time and money in the long run.
Once your new Yardbird chicken plucker arrives you’ll need to spend about 15 minutes getting it all set up. That includes attaching the drum to the base unit and getting the wheels on. It’s super easy and only needs to be done once. The instructions are very well written and clearly created by a native speaker and not translated from a different language.
Once assembled, you’ll be ready to pluck in no time. This unit comes standard with a reliable 1.5 HP motor that spins at 300 RPMs for a quick, clean defeathering process. You’ll be able to fit two 8 pound chickens in this with ease. It’s also perfect for ducks and cornish game hens as well. If you’re planning to throw a turkey in, we’d recommend you keep it under 20 pounds as that’s about the most the Yardbird will handle.
Once you turn the machine on, get the water running and have the birds in it’ll take all of 15 seconds to get them totally feather free. You do need to scald them in hot water first to loosen up the feathers. The 110 rubber fingers on the sides and bottom of the drum do a great job taking off the feathers. They are easy to clean and easy to replace if necessary. You can grab some extra rubber fingers if necessary too. Although, users have found they can process hundreds of birds without needing to replace the fingers.
The 1.5 HP motor, power switch and drive train are completely sealed. This prevents water and wet feathers from causing any issues. If a wet feather does somehow get into the motor casing, it’ll trip the motor to stop any accidents from happening. Just unplug it, pull the feather out and plug it back in. The motor is coupled to a no-slip belt for efficient power transfer and no wasted energy. It uses a standard 110V wall outlet for power and is super easy to clean too.
While the machine is running, water constantly flowing into the drum flushes feathers out the bottom of the unit. Simply place a slotted 5 gallon bucket underneath to catch all the feather and avoid any mess.
Related Link: Nothing beats sitting around a concrete fire pit after a delicious dinner of roast chicken.
After you’ve plucked chickens to your heart’s content, you’ll need to clean the plucking machine. Simply release the latches on the tub and it’ll slip right off. A quick rinse with a hose is all that’s needed to keep it in tip top shape. If you’ve been working with wild game and ducks a squirt of soap will help remove any residual grease from the feathers as well. For added safety, there is a small switch that, when the drum is off, will not allow the machine to operate.
When it’s time to put the Yardbird Chicken Plucker away you’ll find the two included wheels make it easy to roll the 83 pound frame around. At least on concrete that is. If you’re rolling it over grass it takes a little more effort, but it’s not too bad.
With excellent customer service, a 1 year warranty and amazing performance, the Yardbird Chicken Plucker is bar none, the best chicken plucker out there. While it’s not as cheap as a DIY special, it’ll work far better and will last for many seasons to come. If you can swing the price, don’t even bother looking at the rest of the reviews in this list.
#2 KITCHENER Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker De-Feather Remover – Best Budget Chicken Plucker
- SPECS; Our Heavy Duty Chicken Plucker De-Feather Poultry and Fowl Processor utilizes a 1HP 120VAC 800W 280RPM Planetary Gear Transmission Reduction Motor; 92 soft fingers, large 20" inch dia. drum,...
- ADVANCE DESIGN; Our Plucker has a robust compact design for easy storage and transportation, including 2 wheels for optimal maneuverability; Built of premium safe and sanitary 403 Brushed Stainless...
If you don’t have the cash for our #1 choice, the Kitchener stainless steel chicken plucker is the best budget chicken plucker available. With top of the line features, solid 304 stainless steel construction and a reliable 1.2 HP motor, it’s more than up to the task. You’ll be able to fit two large chickens in with ease.
However, the one thing it’s missing in a built-in irrigation feature. While the product says it can accept a standard garden hose, this is not quite true. In reality you’ll need to use a hand sprayer while the unit is in operation to flush out the feathers. But hey, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper and if you can get past that one flaw, it is an amazing machine.
The KITCHENER Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker is a heady duty commercial unit designed for extended use and multiple birds. With a capacity for 2 or 3 chickens, it can seriously remove some feathers. You’ll find it also works for ducks, doves, guinea fowl and cornish hens. So whatever your fowl of choice is, this thing will prep them in no time.
The unit is powered by a small 1.2 HP 280 RPM electric motor. This uses a standard gear transmission setup with an added over-current protector for added safety. While it’s not quite as powerful as our #1 choice, it’ll get the job done without any issues. If you plan to run it from an RV you’ll want to grab a 110 inverter as this relies on standard home wall outlets.
Related Link: If you’ve got a lot of acreage for other animals, a flail mower might make your grass maintenance a bit easier.
Once you’ve finished dunking your chicking in hot water, it’s time to throw ‘em in the drum. A quick flip of a switch and the 92 soft natural rubber finger will go to work. In around 30 seconds they will have your birds totally defeathered. Although, you’ll need to be spraying water on them the whole time to get the feathers to head out the bottom. They will then run into a bucket for easy cleanup.
The 20” 304 stainless steel drum is perfect for outdoor use and won’t rust in the wet conditions during operation. Plus, at 0.3mm in thickness it’s robust enough to take a few hits and survive. All of the electrical components are rated with IP54 weather resistance. This means if they get a bit wet they’ll be fine. We do recommend you store this unit indoors though. Excess humidity will eventually get to it and cause some electrical issues.
Kitchener has opted to mount their 64 pound chicken plucker on a powder coated carbon steel frame. Three legs provide superior stability and keep it nice and solid during operation. You’ll also find it includes 2 wheels for easy transport. The compact design makes it easy to store as well.
Overall, this is the best budget chicken plucker available to date. It’s far cheaper than its competitors, and while lacking a few features, still works great. If you don’t want to spend as much money on your initial purchase, but still want great results and a heavy duty machine, this is exactly what you’re after.
#3 VEVOR Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker Turkey Poultry Defeather Plucking Machine
- Main PARAMETER - power: 1500W; motor speed: 275R/min; tub's diameter: 20" (500mm); capacity: 2-4 chickens a time; barrel thickness: 0.6mm; panels thickness: 0.3mm; glue stick: 106 (56 on the barrel,...
- With a built in water pipe, on off switch and 4 mobile wheels, This plucking machine connects directly with your hose and water supply to rinse the removed feathers from the inside of the barrel and...
The Vevor Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker is another great low priced option. While not as cheap as our #2 choice, it is still very affordable. It also has a unique design with an enlarged feather chute, four roller wheels and an ultra strong 2 HP motor. When you add in the full stainless steel construction, it is truly an incredible chicken plucking machine.
The only downside is, it will more than likely be damaged during shipment. The way it’s packed leads to it often being bent in the shipping box. However a few seconds with a rubber mallet will sort that out. If you want a bit higher quality product, that won’t arrived damaged, go with our #1 choice and save yourself the extra work.
The first thing you’ll notice about the VEVOR Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker is it has a 100% 304 stainless steel body. Even the feather chute is made from it. This is almost unheard of in the industry, but lends itself to an ultra durable unit. We were also pleased to see there were two portable carrying handles to easily move the plucker when desired.
Near the bottom of the unit, you can find the enlarged feather discharge exit. This helps to prevent clogging and makes cleaning much less of a chore. Most other units have a much smaller chute which can collect debris and can often times get blocked with excess feathers.
As there is a built in water pipe for your hose, water splashing about is pretty common. Good thing this unit has a fully waterproof power switch and electrical components. This allows it to operate when wet and reduces the probability of something going wrong.
Power wise, the VEVOR Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker rocks a 2 HP motor. This makes it the most powerful unit on our list. Once operating at full speed, it spins at 275 revolutions per minute. This makes it great for pulling feathers and still extremely reliable. When you consider the 20” drum, you can easily pluck two chickens at the same time. If you want to go even bigger and more powerful, check out the larger 24” drum model with a beastly 2.6 HP motor.
Related Link: Want to pluck even more chickens at once? Go with the larger version of this model.
One thing we do want to note is that you need to have the machine spinning prior to tossing any fowl in. This ensures the motor can get up to speed and won’t stall out. The .6mm barrel wall material is certainly up to the task. Once spinning the 106 natural rubber fingers will quickly work to defeather your game. There are 56 fingers in the barrel and 50 on the chassis for a nice even distribution.
Because this plucking machine connects directly to a water hose, feathers are easily rinsed out into a slotted bucket. The built in water pipe helps to channel everything perfectly. As an example it can pluck 12 quails in a single go. How’s that for efficiency.
When you add in the 4 mobile wheels and the stunning look it’s easy to see what makes this machine great. If it didn’t often come in bent, we’d rank it much higher on our list. Even with minor cosmetic defects, it’s still a powerhouse in the chicken plucking machine world.
#4 EZPLUCKER EZ-131 Chicken Plucker Stainless Steel De-feather Machine
- chicken plucker de-feather
The EZPlucker EZ-131 Chicken Plucker has a solid blocky build with a reliable motor for excellent performance. With the ability to pluck 1-3 chickens at the same time, and avoid bruising, this is an awesome pick. What isn’t so awesome is the price tag. Being the most expensive chicken plucker on our list it is a tough sell. It’s got all the big features you’d expect, but so does our #1 choice at only ⅔ the price.
Unless you can’t get ahold of our other options, or are simply enamored by the EZPlucker brand, we’d suggest you opt for another choice.
The EZPLUCKER EZ-131 Chicken Plucker is, simply put, a tank. It’s supported by a heavy duty stainless steel frame and four rigid feet. If desired, you can swap out the feet for the four included wheels for added mobility. The blocky design also makes this system extremely easy to keep clean. Nooks and crannies can often harbor stray feathers or bits of skin. By keeping design elements to a minimum, this becomes an overall safer and more hygienic unit.
Another great thing that really sets this poultry plucker apart from the rest is its massive 21” wide drum. This lets you easily place 3 birds in there with ease. Most options only include a 20” wide drum which can’t really handle three chickens. Plus, if you’re keen to cook up a few wild turkeys, this is big enough to fit one in.
The 117 rubber fingers are also very effective and perfectly positioned. Users noted that they rarely, if ever, bruise the meat. If you are having this issue, try adding or reducing the number of birds you’re de-feathering at the same time. Too many at once is often the root cause of this issue.
As with most of our top choices, this has a built-in water hose adapter. This allows the unit to automatically discharge feathers out the enlarged feather chute. Lower cost options often rely on you to have a spray hose in hand to rinse everything down. The large chute is great for eliminating blockages and making cleaning a breeze.
Related Link: Try using a spit roaster for your next chicken cook out for added flavor!
When it’s time to put the EZ-131 Chicken Plucker in storage the wheels make that job quite easy. At 115 pounds, this unit isn’t exactly lightweight and it’s best to have two people around to make the job easier.
In terms of reliability, this thing is a beast. With dual drive belts and a dual track system, you’ll lose no motor power and have less overall maintenance. Even if you pluck hundreds of chickens per year, the EZ-131 is up to the task.
Overall, this is a great chicken plucking machine at a rather high price point. It’s got the features, build quality and performance you’d expect from a high end machine. If you’ve decided this is the one to get, it’ll most certainly last your for many, many seasons to come.
#5 Chicken Pluckers 110v 60hz Chicken Plucker Machine
- 110v 60hz, Stainless Steel 20.5" Tub Commercial Grade, defeathers in seconds.
- Also defeather pheasants, turkeys, quails and more!
The Chicken Pluckers 110v 60hz Chicken Plucker Machine is the second largest diameter unit on this list. It’s got excellent stainless steel construction, a strong electric motor and an easy to clean design. However the lack of an on / off switch and no wheels put is last on our list.
You’ll also find that it is quite pricey for what you get. Oh, it’s got all the features you’d expect and works wonderfully, but some of the components could have been designed slightly better with safety in mind.
Let’s start with what makes this chicken plucking machine unique, the extra large 20.5” tub. The manufacturers claim it can defeather up to 4 small chickens at the same time. However, in actuality you’ll only be able to fit about 3 in there with great results.
Users were also a fan of the reduced weight of this unit. At only 95 pounds it is quite easy to move around. Although, a lack of wheels means you’ve got to shift it from side to side or just manhandle it up into position.
The design is also excellent when it comes to cleanup. With very few holes or areas for feathers to get stuck in, it cleans up quickly. A bit of hose water is all you’ll need to get it ready for storage. We do want to note one potentially dangerous design element. Near the bottom of the machine the steel is only bent and not riveted into place. This creates an extremely sharp edge you can potentiall cut yourself on. If you’re going in for a deep clean, be sure to wear gloves.
One of the amazing things about chicken pluckers is just how much time they save. During testing it was found that this machine can turn a 10-15 minute job into a 1 minute job. Now imagine that multiplied by each and every chicken you need to pluck. It can seriously add up.
Another rather unfortunate downside to this machine is the lack of an on/off switch. While it does make the unit less prone to failure, it is super inconveniente. Instead of simply flipping a switch, you’ll need to unplug the power cord each time you’re done with a chicken. We’re not sure why it was designed this way, but it was the reason we put it on the bottom of our list.
Overall, this unit works, there is no doubt about that. But without wheels or a power switch, there are better options in our #1 and #2 spots. If you’ve only got one choice and you don’t care about such features, then this is an excellent choice, that will sate even the most intense chicken craving. Plus it’ll really help you save time in the long run.
Summary
A chicken plucker machine can save you countless hours of wasted time, misery and suffering. If you’ve never sat down and hand plucked 50+ chickens, I can assure you, it’s not fun. If you want a simple, cost effective solution, grab the YARDBIRD 21833 Stainless Steel Chicken Plucker and end your suffering before it begins. You won’t regret it. It’s easy to clean, works wonderfully and is built to last. With great customer service and a 1 year warranty, it is the best chicken plucker available.
Now that you’ve got a ton of chickens ready for roasting, you might want to consider grabbing a spit roaster to cook them all up. If you’re really looking to go the distance a BBQ island will elevate your patio to the next level and let you cook your poultry in style.
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