best method for plucking goose?

Ding Dong

Firstly, great to see the forum up and running. Growing a few geese for xmas. Have plucked ducks before, but I believe geese are a different ball game. Any tips? And I suppose main question, for a good presentation in re: to removing all the fluffy down, whats the best technique?

darrcow

never plucked a goose. but last year done a load of turkeys and found dipping them into boiling water for a few seconds loosens the flash so the feathers came out easier. as for the finer feathers run a blow torch over them

mh27

totally agree with darrcow on this, boil up aload of hot water enough to submerge the goose, leave her in there for a few minutes and start plucking, if you dont have a blow torch a dish of methylated spirits set alight will do the same job, probably best if you do it outside for safety sake, and keep the quills for dusting

Ding Dong

thanks guys. tried burning the down off w a candle last year but it left scorch marks. will the blowtorch not do the same on the skin?

mh27

to be honest i never saw a blow torch in action but i imagine speed is of the essense delay too long on one area and it will burn, my parents would have 20 or so geese for christmas and they use the methylated spirits method, the flame from the candle would be too intense in the sense that it targets a small area, where as a large source of flame would be less intense and get more area covered in a quicker time, the quicker the better with these things I think.

Rovi

I can remember my mother using the methylated spirits method with turkeys.
She'd pour some meths into a metal jam jar lid and light it, and then move the turkey swiftly through the flame to singe off the downy fluffy stuff.

It made a most distinctive smell, which instantly brings me back to those days whenever I get it now (burning hair/skin).

abusingelves

I'll vouch for the blow torch method. Best to hang the goose up and swiftly move around it with the torch. Using meths sounds interesting. I once tried to flambé the down off a duck using brandy:pac:. EPIC FAIL. Don't think I've laughed as much since.

Tora Bora

This is what you need for quick painless plucking. Very hand on Saturday evening, for washing the kid as well. Get right in behind the ears :cool::D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMGZMoENjcU

sh1tstirrer

I remember plucking geese when i was young. Some dose we used to singe them to get the small feathers off.