Abstract: The invention entails a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted to an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers. A power source such as an electric motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve within the cylinder opening. The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening and out the apertures. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall.

Abstract: The invention entails a defeathering cylinder having a plurality of fingers extending radially from its curved surface. The cylinder is mounted on a shaft positioned along the axis of the cylinder. The cylinder is rotatably mounted to an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall opposite the front wall, and sides connecting the front wall to the back wall. The front wall of the enclosure contains a cylinder opening. The back wall contains a plurality of apertures sized to substantially inhibit the passage of feathers. A power source such as an electric motor is functionally connected to the shaft on which the cylinder is mounted. Operation of the motor causes the shaft and the cylinder to revolve within the cylinder opening. The revolution of the fingers extending from the cylinder causes air to flow into the cylinder opening and out the apertures. When a bird is placed in contact with the revolving fingers, the feathers will be removed and drawn into the enclosure and toward the back wall.

Abstract: A processing line for the defeathering of birds including a scrub washer (27) positioned upstream from the scalder (28) and picking station (29) of the processing line for precleaning the birds prior to scalding and picking the feathers from the birds. The scrub washer (27) includes a series of flexible fingers (63), which engage the bodies of the birds and ruffle the feathers of the birds to wipe dirt, loose feathers and contaminating material from the bodies of the birds. At the same time the flexible fingers tend to bear against the birds so as to urge contaminating material contained within the visceral cavities of the birds out of the visceral cavities. Spray nozzles (53) apply a fluid spray (54) to the birds to wash any loose feathers, dirt and contaminating matter from the birds. Thereafter, the precleaned birds are passed through a scalder (28) and through a picking station (29) where the feathers are moved from the birds.