This turkey plucker machine processes 1-2 heritage-breed turkeys in 45-60 seconds, eliminating hours of hand-plucking for small-scale turkey growers. Stumphouse Farms ships this wet turkey plucker to homesteaders and heritage turkey breeders across all 48 states from our Anderson, South Carolina, location.
Heritage breed turkeys like Bourbon Red, Narragansett, and Royal Palm typically dress out at 12-18 pounds. This standard plucker handles these birds perfectly. Hand plucking a single heritage turkey takes 45-60 minutes of brutal work. This wet plucker machine does the same job in under a minute after scalding.
The 21-inch drum contains 78 natural rubber plucking fingers that spiral strategically to remove every feather from wing to tail without tearing the delicate skin of heritage breeds. Simply scald your turkeys at 140-150°F, place them in the spinning drum, and spray with a hose. Feathers wash out through the integrated feather chute. The rust-proof ABS plastic construction means no metal corrosion from constant water exposure.
Perfect for heritage turkey breeders doing seasonal processing, homesteaders raising 5-10 turkeys for Thanksgiving, or anyone processing smaller turkeys who wants quality equipment at an affordable price. If you process broad-breasted commercial turkeys over 18 pounds, consider the X-Large turkey plucker.
Capacity
Max Bird Size: 17.5 lb
*Weight is the gross weight of all birds combined. Birds must tumble freely inside the plucker drum. The bird can not be larger than the drum opening.
Processing heritage turkeys by hand is exhausting work. A 15-pound Bourbon Red has thousands of feathers plus tough pin feathers. Hand plucking takes 45-60 minutes per bird. This wet plucker machine does the same job in 45-60 seconds after scalding.
Heritage Breed Focus: This standard plucker is sized for heritage turkeys that dress out at 12-18 pounds. Breeds like Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Royal Palm, Beltsville Small White, and Standard Bronze are ideal for this plucker. The 17.5 lb maximum capacity (the combined weight of birds in the drum) means you can process 1-2 heritage turkeys per batch.
How Wet Plucking Works: Scald heritage turkeys at 140-150°F for 60-90 seconds to loosen feathers. Heritage breeds need cooler scald temperatures than broad-breasted commercial turkeys. After scalding, place turkeys in the spinning 21-inch drum and spray with a garden hose. The 78 rubber-plucking fingers remove feathers as birds tumble. Feathers wash out the feather chute. Total plucking time: 45-60 seconds per batch.
When to Choose Standard vs X-Large: Choose this standard model if you process heritage breed turkeys under 18 pounds or only process 5-10 turkeys seasonally. The X-large model ($1,399) handles broad-breasted commercial turkeys up to 25 pounds and processes 2-4 turkeys simultaneously. Most heritage turkey growers don't need that capacity. This standard model ($789) does the job at nearly half the price.
Rust-Proof Design: The ABS plastic drum and frame will never rust. Metal pluckers corrode quickly from constant water exposure and turkey blood. This plastic construction stays sanitary season after season.
Low Maintenance: The 400-watt direct-drive motor eliminates belts, gears, and pulleys. No lubrication required. No parts to maintain. The simple design uses 50% less electricity than comparable units while providing plenty of power for heritage breed feathers.
When you order this turkey plucker from Stumphouse Farms, you're investing in equipment that makes Thanksgiving processing manageable for heritage turkey growers who value their birds and their time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Turkey Plucker Machines
This standard plucker handles turkeys up to 17.5 lbs maximum combined weight in the drum. This means 1-2 heritage breed turkeys (12-18 lbs each) per batch. Birds must tumble freely in the 21-inch drum. If you process broad-breasted commercial turkeys over 18 pounds, you need the X-large model.
Heritage breeds include Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Royal Palm, Beltsville Small White, Standard Bronze, and other traditional varieties. These turkeys grow slower and dress out lighter (12-18 lbs) than broad-breasted commercial turkeys (20-30 lbs). Heritage breeds have different proportions and require gentler handling during plucking.
After scalding, this plucker processes 1-2 heritage turkeys in 45-60 seconds. Hand plucking the same birds would take 45-60 minutes per turkey. The time savings during Thanksgiving processing are significant.
Yes. The turkey-plucking fingers work well for chickens, though a chicken-specific plucker may yield slightly better results. If you raise both heritage turkeys and chickens, this plucker handles both adequately.
With efficient workflow (scalding while the previous batch plucks), you can process 15-20 heritage turkeys per day. Most small-scale heritage turkey growers process 5-15 birds around Thanksgiving, which this plucker handles easily.
No. This plucker runs on standard 110V household power and draws only 2.5 amps. Plug into any outdoor electrical outlet.
Heritage breeds have different skin and feather structures than commercial broad-breasted turkeys. Hotter water can damage the skin of heritage breeds. The 140-150°F range loosens feathers without skin damage.
