Abstract: The apparatus according to the present invention includes a rotatable leg-holding wheel for holding the legs of the bird. Said leg-holding wheel is mounted close to both the terminal portion of the defeathering line and the initial portion of the eviscerating line and operates to cause the birds to transfer from the defeathering line onto the eviscerating line. On the frame for the leg-holding wheel are fixedly mounted an engaging guide member for guiding the bird suspended from the defeathering shackle and for causing it to engage the leg-holding notches of the leg-holding wheel, a cutter for cutting the ankles of the bird engaged by the leg-holding notches to release the bird from the defeathering shackle, and an inclining guide member and a releasing guide member which coact to release the bird held in the leg-holding notches and cause it to engage with the eviscerating shackle.