A Brief History of the Featherman Plucker

Featherman Plucker - David Schafer

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 […]

Funding the Future of Small Farms: Featherman’s Financing & Grant Partners

Small Family Farm Financing

Equipping your farm shouldn’t come with guesswork or overwhelm. That’s why we’ve built trusted partnerships to help you secure small farm financing and agriculture grants — especially for small, growing, and veteran-led farms. Whether you’re buying your first scalder or investing in a full setup, these financing and grant programs can make it possible. Small […]

Myth Busting Poultry Processing: Part 1

processing poultry at home david schafer family kids featherman equipment

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 […]

A Dozen Ducks in a Row: Your Tactical Poultry Processing Prep Sheet for Summer

Poultry Processing Joel Salatin

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or prepping for your very first DDay (Dispatch Day), your ducks need to be in a row—tight, tidy, and executed with military precision. This is your PPS Guide Sheet: a tactical checklist to help you plan, prep, and process like a pro. Duck #1 – Bird Collection Collection must be […]

Mobile Poultry Coops for Homesteaders: Solving 3 Key Problems

Wide shot hundreds of chickens four prairie schooner mobile coops

If you’re a new homesteader raising pastured poultry without access to electricity—or struggling with brooder space and mobility—you’re not alone. When I started, I faced those same issues. That’s why the Prairie Schooner, a mobile poultry structure, changed everything. In this post, I’ll share how it solved three major challenges for my flock and helped […]