Invest Once, Process for a Lifetime: Why Cheap Pluckers Fail

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 farmers.

We saw the low-cost imports coming long before they arrived and seriously considered them. But they didn’t match up with our philosophy.

Because I had suffered with homemade poultry processing equipment, I didn’t want others to suffer. I wanted the hardest day of poultry raising to be a no-stress breeze.

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Why This Decision Matters

For many, the plucker is the single biggest upgrade in processing. Buy the wrong one, and it can mean wasted money, frustration, and even ruined processing days. A plucker should make processing easier—not harder.

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The Pros and Cons of Cheap Pluckers

Here’s what you get—and don’t get—with any non–USA-made chicken plucker:

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If you look at reviews, you’ll see all ones and fives. They’re great—until they quit working.

But here’s the deal: by the time they quit working, you’ve done 50 or 100, maybe several hundred birds if you’re lucky. By then, you already know whether poultry processing is for you or not.

And since it’s so much easier with a plucker, nearly everybody sticks with it.

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Why Renting Beats Buying Cheap

For that reason, I love the cheap pluckers. But do I actually recommend buying one? Yes—but only if you can’t rent reliable equipment nearby.

Renting US-made poultry processing equipment from someone with experience has so many benefits over buying cheap:

• Try before you buy → Know if poultry processing is really for you.
  
• Learn from others → Rent from farmers who’ve already been there.
  
• Protect your money → No wasted dollars on gear that won’t last.
  
• Earn income later → When you upgrade to USA-made, renting out your gear adds a new revenue stream.

We love the magic that happens through our rental program.

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Real Customer Experience

“We tried the $300 plucker, but it gave out after 80 birds—switched to a Featherman and haven’t looked back.”

“Invest once. Process for a lifetime.”

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If you can’t find a nearby rental and you’ve purchased a cheap plucker, you know the clock is ticking on it.

If your team is “all in” on poultry, it’s an easy decision to make your next purchase a lifetime purchase—and even join our rental program for an added income stream.

Good pluck!

— David Schafer, Founder of Featherman Equipment