Milford chronicle., 1917-10-19
Hints On Preparing Fowls For Market
By J. H. MeFAUL, Jr.
(AH Rights ReSs'7'ed1

Der that everything must be learned and practice
: will overcome all Of your difficulties Il takes
practice to acquire the art, but you had bettei
lose a little time while learning than never learr
and continue TO lose money.
I The best way to learn to dry pick IS by using
the older or tougher fowls. rather than the young
tender ones. Don't expect to do II perfectly al
the start. but steadily perHevere and you viii soon
be able to pick the young fowls without tearing
The feathers taken from the dry picked birds
can be more readily saved than those from the
wet method. Wet ones must be dried. and even
then, are not as desirable as those taken off dry.
In picking fowls by the dry method you should
provide separate receptacles for the coarse and
fine feathers, as well as a bucket TO catch the
blood. Do not sever the head from the body Of the
fowl. Il should be killed by bleeding. Hang the
bird by the feet on the killing frame. securing
both feet TO prevent kicking. With the head in
the left hand, stretch the neck full length and in
sert the knife into the mouth sever the blood ves-
sells on either side Of the neck. and then thrust
the blade into the brain to relieve the pain.
Bleeding will start within few seconds and the
blood can be directed into the bucket with the
hand that is holding the head, thus preventing it
getting upon the feathers.
Watch the fowl for the drawing of its wings and
the tremor Of its body. This is the time TO start
picking, and this should be done as quickly as
possible. the feathers being lOOser then than at
any other time Remove the large wing feathers
first, then the tail feathers.
After these have been taken out, start TO re-
move those from the tender parts of the body such
as the breast, abdomen. WINGS thighs and back.
lue iaaL Things 10 De removed are Lue pin leatn-
ers, The feathers should be pulled from the ten
der parts by the handfuls. but should always be
drawn in the direction of the least resistance that
is with the growth of the feathers and not against
it. as the latter tends to tear the flesh.
Many persons refuse to dry pick because they
claim that the method of killing, or that of bleed
ing is rather nhuman, but this is untrue. There
is less pain attached to the bleeding of fowls than
through any other method of killing. Other ways
leave the brain OF the bird intact to record the
pain and misery suffered by the fowl. BY the
bleeding process the brain is deadened by the
thrust Of the knife blade and the fowl cannot suf
fer the pain of dying.
The fowls may or may not be singed this in the
option Of the picker but, in the event that it is
done. care should be exercised not to char or heat
the skin. Singeing can best be done by placing a
little alcohol in dish. lighting il. and passing the
fowls through the flame quickly.
Once the fowls are prepared, place them in
reasonably cool place. but never use water for
purposes Of cooling. Keep the birds dry the
water method serves to soak the skin, adds weight
to them and hastens decay, Simply place the
birds in cool place and they will look nicer and
keep better than when water is applied 70 them
in any way.
If you have never dry picked your birds, then do
20 at once, If the above given method is practiced
and the experience acquired, you will like the
operation better and be more than repaid in the
natter Of returns for your product than if the old
method of wet picking or scalding is adhered to.