Pluck feathers and down

Start plucking immediately after scalding while the carcass is still warm. Pull large wing and tail feathers first, then work through body feathers by pulling against the grain in short, firm strokes. For remaining down and pinfeathers, dip the rough-plucked bird in melted paraffin wax, let it harden, then peel the wax away — it strips fine feathers cleanly.

Why It Works

Goose down is dense and clings tightly to the skin. Working from large feathers to small prevents skin tears. The paraffin wax method encases pinfeathers and fine down that are nearly impossible to hand-pluck, producing a clean carcass comparable to commercial processing.

Tips

• Wear rubber gloves for grip and to protect hands from hot skin
• Save the down feathers separately — clean goose down is valuable for pillows and insulation
• A mechanical drum plucker reduces plucking time from 30+ minutes to under 5 minutes per bird