Every plucker and scalder gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Products are grouped by kind: chicken pluckers, quail pluckers and scalders. The weights are the same for every group, and the reference points are set for each.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per bird of batch capacity (pluckers) or per gallon (scalders), against others of the same kind | 25% |
| Batch capacity | birds per batch (pluckers) or gallons of water (scalders), against others of the same kind | 25% |
| Power | motor power (pluckers) or heater power per gallon of water (scalders) | 20% |
| Features | pluckers: stainless drum, spray ring, safety cutout, wheels and removable drum; scalders: temperature control, 180 F reach, dunker, drain and lid | 20% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 10% |
Where the numbers come from
Batch size, drum size, motor and heater power, temperature range, features and warranty come from the maker’s product page or manual, or the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where the maker’s figures conflict (for example a title that gives one drum size and a bullet that gives another), the figure the maker’s own page gives is used and the conflict is noted on the product page. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the batch capacity, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. For chicken pluckers it is the price per bird a batch: $500 per bird scores zero and $100 full marks. For quail pluckers it is the price per quail a batch: $150 scores zero and $40 full marks. For scalders it is the price per gallon of water: $60 scores zero and $15 full marks.
Batch capacity is the most birds the maker says the plucker takes at once, the top of any range it gives, or the water a scalder holds. Chicken pluckers: 1 bird scores zero and 6 full marks. Quail pluckers: 2 quail scores zero and 8 full marks. Scalders: 4 gallons scores zero and 40 full marks.
Power is the plucker’s rated motor power, or the scalder’s heater power per gallon of water. Chicken pluckers: 200 W scores zero and 1,500 W full marks. Quail pluckers: 100 W scores zero and 750 W full marks. Scalders: 75 W per gallon scores zero and 250 W per gallon full marks. A motor rated only in horsepower is counted at 746 W per hp, and a propane burner’s BTU rating at 3,412 BTU/h per kW.
Features for pluckers is 30% for a stainless steel drum, 25% for a built-in spray ring or water line, 20% for a GFCI plug, tub safety switch or overload cutout, 15% for wheels and 10% for a drum that comes out for cleaning. For scalders it is 30% for temperature control, 20% for reaching 180 F (for shrink bags), 20% for an included dunker, basket or skimmer, 15% for a drain valve and 15% for a lid.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: none scores zero and 3 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Rubber finger count, drum speed, inside drum diameter, voltage, weight, tank material and release date are listed but not scored. Finger count and speed vary with finger size and drum design, so a higher number is not a better plucker.
Missing data
Batch capacity separates these machines more than anything else, so a product whose maker publishes no batch size or tank capacity scores zero for it, and zero for value, which is priced per unit of that capacity. The product page marks both as estimated. Warranty works the same way: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero and is marked estimated. If motor or heater power isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and is marked estimated. Features score neutral only when none of them is published; a feature the maker doesn’t mention otherwise counts as absent.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.