Quail Plucker

[citypickle]

OK I am the only one Locally in 3 County area that has Quail & have been asked by local Restaurants about Quail ready to cook, being they are locally grown. The problem is getting the Feathers off with the skin in tact? What is the best way to pluck these guys?
 I have searched the Net and found cordless drill plucker's and things that look like my Whirlpool in the Laundry Room for $1200.00 , don't think that is cost effective.
  I thought of making a coffee can that would fit on an old bench grinder or Squirrel Cage blower motor with Surgical tubing sticking out of it for a test run. Can make alto of Experiments with $1200.  I hope this is the wright thread to post this in

[wildergamebirds]

  There is a pretty nice one for $300-$400 a little less, if you have a motor.  Cheaper, and a lot less shipping.  Search on ebay, but look around, once you have the name.  I have one of the drill type.  Solid, and well built for the money.  It would be good for plucking a dozen, or so in an hour, if you had the drill mounted solid, or on a drill press.  A horizontal chuck, like on a lathe would be better.

[slider]

That one on ebay works real good and better if you scald them first...takes about 20 seconds to do one...

[wildergamebirds]

  Thanks, that's what I've heard.  And that they are tough.  The instructions on my drill type suggest dry plucking, scalding, then plucking again.  This may be for birds with more of a pin feather problem.  I usually just skin them, and use bacon as an artificial skin to prevent scorching, and drying.  I guess skin on makes a better presentation.

  Plucking, skinning, or skinning a Bison all work much better with fresh, warm carcasses (or carcassii).  Wonder if scalding a fresh killed bird would be doubly easy?

[SouthernQuail]

I used to raise them for restaurants and meat markets. You may not be interested but I have everything you need for processing quail. If anyone is interested, it is pick up only.

Processing Equipment
The Picker, Scalder, Killing Rack and Table are from Ashley Machine Co.

SP 23 Picker  Picks 24 Quail at one time  220V

SS 30 LP gas Scalder  I would scald 24 at a time but it can do alot more than that at one time

Killing Rack plus 24 Killing cones

4 Man Cleaning table with water hookup

These are from Vac Air
VA 1 Suction gun with 40 Gallon collection tank
The motor for the suction gun is 3 Phase but I have a converter for it and that is included.  With the converter it turns your regular power into 3 Phase. Air compressor is also needed to operate the Suction gun.

BAK-S Air Scissor runs off a air compressor

Tumbler is from Nu-Vu Food Service Systems
VT-4 Vacuum Tumbler  Floor model 60lbs Capacity

Vacuum Sealer is from Process Plus
KVP-420 Floor model
Have extra Bags and Trays

Have all the manuals and some extra parts for the Equipment.

$9,500 For all the Processing equipment

I live in Bay Minette, Alabama
SouthernQuailEnt@aol.com

Thank you,
Ty

[slider]

There you go...all of you guys always talking about wanting to process quail for the consumer and at a GREAT price!!!

[wildergamebirds]

  Slider, you bes so funny !

  But it does give a good indication of how likely it is to make money at it, the first few years.

[slider]

Wilder that is to much work for me in my Golden Years!!!!

[citypickle]

More than I want to Chew at One Sitting.  Great looking set up, but I don't want get in to it on that Scale.Just a few here and there

[SouthernQuail]

I was in business for 5 1/2 years and hurricane Ivan hit and killed over 15,000 Quail. I was roofing part time with my father in law, before the storm hit. After the storm hit I went from part time to 80 hour weeks. Some of the stores and restaurants closed from the damage.

I have pictures of the equipment but don't know how to put them on here. I sent citypickle, some and maybe he can put them on here. If not somebody that knows how can email me and I will send you the pictures, to put on here. SouthernQuailEnt@aol.com

Thank you,
Ty

[STARBOY250]

SOUTHERN QUAIL WOULD U SELL THE PICKER, SCALDER AND THE TABLE SEPERATELY. IF SO EMAIL ME AT RICKSQUAILS@YAHOO.COM