Design and fabrication of a de-feathering machine with scalding tank.

Manual de-feathering of poultry birds has been an age long practice which is time consuming and labor intensive for small scale poultry processors. This study designed and fabricated a de-feathering machine with scalding tank. The machine was evaluated in terms of machine plucking time, machine capacity and machine efficiency. The machine testing was carried out by using nine poultry birds made up of three birds each of broiler, layer and cockerel at 55oC scalding temperature and at 7.54 m s-1 machine speed. The average machine efficiency for broiler, layer and cockerel were 93%, 92% and 89% respectively. The average machine capacity for broiler, layer and cockerel were 167, 155 and 139 birds hr-1 respectively. The machine capacity and machine efficiency decrease accordingly from broiler, to layer and to cockerel. The average machine plucking time for broiler, layer and cockerel were 22, 22 and 28 s respectively. The de-feathered birds appeared undamaged thereby preserving its market value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]