Effect of Selected Factors on Feather Removal in Chickens

MANY factors affect the processing efficiency of poultry. One such factor is the removal of feathers. If the force required for feather removal were lowered, this could have a decisive effect on the cost of processing. Some processors have suggested that the varying lengths of time which birds are held without feed and water before processing, as well as other management factors may affect the force required for feather removal. Before these factors could be accurately evaluated, a method of measuring the force required for feather removal had to be determined. A technique of precisely measuring the force required for feather removal was developed for use in this study and selected factors thought to affect feather removal were evaluated. Scald water temperature has been the subject of considerable research. Stadelman and Ziegler (1955) observed that feathers as well as pin feathers were more completely removed from the birds by mechanical …