A poultry bird defeathering machine was designed and fabricated. The machine consist of a feather plate on which rubber pluckers were arranged, a defeathering chamber on which rubber pluckers were set in an array and was powered with a 1.5kW electric motor. A single-phase (defeathering chamber) of the machine was tested at three operating speeds of 200, 280 and 360 rpm, the variation in speed was achieved with a variable resistor system and also by varying the pulley diameters. In order to evaluate the effect of rotor speed and scalding temperature on feather retention, plucking efficiency, and the defeathering time. Isa brown chickens which were old layers (spent hens) were tested in the machine at five scalding temperatures (room temperature, 30, 50, 70 and 100°C). Results showed that feather retention rate and defeathering time decreased with increased operating speed, while plucking efficiency increased with speed. The ANOVA test on the data collated shows the effect of defeathering speeds were insignificant. The scalding temperature had significant effect on the evaluation parameters while feather retention and defeathering time was seen to decrease with increase in scalding temperature. The plucking efficiency increases with increase in scalding temperature up to 700C and reduces afterwards. The highest plucking efficiency of 98.5% was obtained at 360 rpm rotor speed and 100°C scalding temperature. Based on physical evaluation and the results obtained, speeds of 280 rpm or higher were recommended to operate the machine and the scalding temperature of 70°C is recommended.
Poultry bird, Feather retention, Rotor speed, Defeathering, Scalding temperature, Plucking efficiency
IRE Journals:
Adenigba Ademola Adebukola , Adedeji Adedotun Ayodele , Akpofure Aboloje
"Design, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of a Three-Phase Poultry Bird De-Feathering Machine" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 5 Issue 10 2022 Page 268-277
IEEE:
Adenigba Ademola Adebukola , Adedeji Adedotun Ayodele , Akpofure Aboloje
"Design, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation of a Three-Phase Poultry Bird De-Feathering Machine" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 5(10)