Twenty-five years ago, Featherman offered the cheapest chicken plucker available—$750. Since then, our costs and prices have risen threefold. But wait—there are $300 poultry pluckers available today! What gives? First, let me say: I love that the entry-level doors have been blown open by cheap pluckers! It’s truly a blessing to many homesteaders and small […]
As promised, we’re back with more myths to bust. In Part 1, we tackled three common beliefs: Poultry Processing is Difficult, It’s Easier to Skin a Chicken, and I Can’t Afford Processing Equipment. Now, we’ll dive into some finer-point myths that matter just as much when it comes to processing. Myth #4.1: The Chopping Block […]
It all started in 1994 with a reluctant “yes.” My beef and lamb customers had been asking for chickens for years. I knew the pastured poultry model, but no one in our area wanted to raise them. Finally, I ordered 100 chicks, built a small pen, and scrounged for used equipment. At the close-out sale […]
It’s gratifying to see so many people embracing poultry as a home enterprise—whether for nutrition, food security, kid-friendly chores, or simply the joy of keeping chickens. My personal favorite reasons? Building soil and the peaceful rhythm of morning and evening chores that bookend my day. But with that rising popularity comes an explosion of misinformation […]