Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-06
CARING FOR THE.HOME FLOCK
BY H. w. RICkEY,
Poultry Specialist. Maryland State College.

1t is most important to remember
that successful dry picking depends
upon the rapidity with which the
feathers are plucked after sticking.
1t has been pointed out in a former
article that the sticking" or the
piercing of the brain causes the
feathers to loosen. making it possible
to pull them out without the neces-
sity for scalding. but this condition is
only temporary. lasting but a few
minutes. The picker must therefore
begin to pick Immediately after stick
Ding and then complete the job as
quickly as possible.
The inexperienced man is at the
outset usually nervous or disturbed.
because of the fear that he will blum
der and injure the carcass. and he
usually does. especially if there are
spectators about. He follows direc-
tionS closely: he grasps a handful of
feathers and pulls. In this haste to
get them out quickly the feathers
somehow in some way get twisted In
his hand; he doesn't make the pull
quite right with Just the proper twist
of the wrist; the feathers come. but
20 does the skin. The directions We're
right. but not for a novice; to be able
TO follow them closely requires prac-
tice. then more practice. / would say
TO the beginner. move carefully and
with precision. practice on adult
fowls until you have acquired con-
fidence: take few feathers in the hand
at zine and pluck with short, snap
Ply pulls. At the same time twisting
.-v,r ~t.Nl,
While doing this the fowl may be held
on the lap or table or it may be hung
down at convenient height, from a
cord tied to the legs.
With the carcass held in the lap or
against a hard surface there is some
danger of bruising the flesh if not
carefully handled. but with a fowl
hanging out in the open this danger
is eliminated, which is one reason
why this mode of picking is the most
popular. However. ! have found il
Of some advantage TO have the bird
against wall for support in order to
use both hands for picking.
It will be noticed. as the picker be-
comes more familiar with his work
that certain portions of the body tear
more easily than others, namely. the
breast. neck and thighs. OF these
the breast is most easily torn, and as
a torn breast so greatly mars the
beauty of an otherwise nicely dressed
Carcass the utmost care should be
exercised to prevent the slightest mu.
tilation. After the main tail and
wing feathers are plucked in rapid
succession the feathers are Their
taken from the tender parts. begin
ming with the breast. There is a mar
row fatty tender strip of flesh neal
the center and running lengthwiSe OF
each side of the breast. in which the
feathers are deeply imbedded. anc
the plucking requires the Creates
care.
When plucking the large feather.
of the wings both the primaries anC
secondaries are graspc6 in one hand
the wing arm being he'd firmly in tn,
other, and with quick pull straight
down from the body to the tip of III,
wing all may be pulled out at once
and in this a novice may become pro
fcient with little practice. All tn.
main tail feathers may be pluck et
with one sharp, tw lsting, upward
pull After this the breast is usual.
attacked. but il Will aid the begin
ner somewhat if he first pulls TIL
feathers OF the back and sides. a
they can be removed very rapidly il
handtuls with little danger of tear
ing. With these feathers out of tn
way. those on the tender portions o
the breast can he more easily located
and picked I; is right here that tn
greatest cav must De III
order 10 avoid trouble. If the thumb
and foretnger of the left hand ar
pressed down close against the breas,
ON each SID, of the tender strir
while the feathers imbedded in tn
stlip are pulled out between tn
TagegS with short. snappy strokes.
certain degree Of control can be OBJ
tainet. and the possible damage I
Tie skin reduced TO minimum.
When removing the neck feathers
g the skin is drawn tight around tn
l..ckbync with one hand the worl
VIII bc made easier. Unless thes
recautionary measures are observe
mo skin may not only be torn bu
badly mutilated. possibly making tn
IoHl unstable.
with experience the picker grad
uJ}ly acquires such d keen sense o
touch that he is able to hold IN
fathers Just tightly enough TO pre-
>rut tearing, and to permit them I
tiiu tarouHh mis- fingers just at tn
point whore tearing begins. He know
il.Stuctively when the skin is abou
10 break. and by easing up in hi
J.-il and his grasp on the feathers h
is ADJ" to keep il intact. Do no
d Discouraged /: y@g- first attempt
are failures. they usually are. 1t
100 much TO expect 10 become an ex