Cleaning birds

[Zarkohl]

Looking for a fast and efficent way to clean ducks & geese. I usually just cut the breast out on smaller ducks, such as teal and woodies. For mallards and geese, I plucked them by hand, which seems to take forever. I know that some people use wax, but I am not sure to do this. I am also curious if these pluckers work? (i.e. the spinning rubber fingers types). Do they rip or burn the ducks skin? Can you attached these to a hand held drill? Do they work? any info would be appriciated. Thanks.

[Guest]

I like to roast my ducks, which means plucking and waxing. The worst part has to be the plucking portion! Two years ago I was at Game Fair, and saw a bunch of the "Plucker" heads that you attach onto an electric drill, so I picked one up.
Took a little bit of practice and experimentation (freaking feathers flying everywhere, wife telling me "not in the garage...") but it sure works slick! You will still have to pluck a few areas such as around the wings and legs, but the plucker makes the job go much quicker. No problem with burning or tearing the skin. I use my cordless drill - which means I can bring the plucker along in the truck to do much of the cleaning immediately after the hunt.
Waxing removes the down and whatever else the plucker missed. I would say the plucker has cut the average time per mallard by about half.
For waxing I have a galvanized bucket I picked up at the hardware store. Fill it about 2/3 full of water, dump in your wax and boil until the wax melts. Hold the plucked, beheaded and de-winged duck by a foot, immerse in the pot, and pull out slowly. The wax will cling to the duck. I then place the duck on a piece of cardboard on the floor/ground to cool and harden the wax. You want a fairly good coat of wax. After it hardens, just peel it off and your all set to gut 'em.

[This message has been edited by Pete Zebich (edited 10-01-2002).]

[Zarkohl]

Thanks for your reply Pete. I have always field dressed them, so I was curious on how you keep the wax off the inside of the body cavity. I guess you don't gut them after you dip them.
My follow up question is how long can you safely wait before gutting the duck or goose? Thanks

[Guest]

How long you can safely wait depends on the weather. Duck doesn't spoil nearly as quickly as partridge, turkey and pheasant. During our annual MEA camping trip, often the ducks from Thursday aren't cleaned until Monday night, and we haven't had any problems.
For the vast majority of trips, I try to clean the ducks within a day or two of getting 'em.
Had some roasted ringbill for supper on Sunday night, with wild rice. Oh man, mouth is watering just thinking of it!

[jigglestick]

if any body is interested, if you hunt in the winnie-bowstring area my wife cleans ducks for private parties and some of the duck camps in the area. i think she charges 2.50 a bird. plucked, gutted, cleaned, bagged, labeled,and frozen. ready for transport. she does a very nice job. 218 246-8321. later----jigglestick----

[Zarkohl]

Does anyone know of a place in the Red Lake and/or Bemidji area that will clean and pluck ducks for a fee?