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Thinking about getting set up to wax my birds this year. We got a plucker, it just doesn't work that great at removing the pin feathers. Anyone have a good waxing system they care to share? Or some do's and donts? Is it worth the trouble?

I looked at one on the internet last year. Can't remember the name, seemed like a whole bunch of trouble though. Most the time I just breast mine out anyway. I like teal, wood ducks, and geese (about 3 a year it's a bunch of trouble) whole for the smoker but ther rest I usually just use the breast anyway.

the best waxing system i've seen to date was the one taught to daniel-son by mr miyagi.. wax on wax off

Like a plucker, it wont be worth the trouble unless your doing LOTS of birds. I saw a commercial grade plucker on an Indian res in SD that was killa...them boys could pluck honkers faster than their clients could get checked out. The wife dips my geeses in really hot water in the turkey fryer before she plucks em...she loves me. Ill pluck a few birds a year for roasting, but, I mainly breast mine out as well. Try braising off your pin feathers. The dad would do this to mallards, pintails, and cans out west as the dux where never in full plume and full of pin feathers

there is one that you can hook to your trailer hitch, not a waxing system but seems quick if you like whole ducks

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

haha or anyone tried this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgD0UooG ... re=related

RNT wrote:haha or anyone tried this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgD0UooG ... re=related

That one is just to breast them out. Would seem pretty good if you breasted a bunch of birds that had to have the wings left on them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF2L9U8Zes0
Just might want to wait till you get a couple and do them all at once

We hunted with some boys in South La. and they waxed all their birds........had some parifin wax in a big pot melted it down after the hunt.....ruffled the feathers on the birds and put about three coats on them.......it worked like a charm

I've been using the same old 5 gallon bucket for 35 years. Go to store and buy GULF canning wax--paraffin wax. I fire up my fish cooker burner, cut the wings at the first joint, rough pluck them, cut off feet and dip in and lay on a board and let cool. They peal like an orange and once you soak them for a day in salt water they look like they came from the grocery store--all white and smooth!

Here's good step by step instructions with pictures. Sounds and looks pretty easy. A lot less mess than regular plucking.

http://www.bloodydecks.com/forums/hunti ... ducks.html

Never tried the paraffin but when I want some for roasting I heat up a large pot of water to the point where you don't quite get scalded when you put your hand in it and add several drops of dishwashing soap. Grab the duck by the bill and dunk him in the water swirling him around to get him good and soaked. The hot soapy water cuts the oils and the feathers peel/rub right off. Pretty easy way to clean one. Rinse him off well and you are good to go.