Features of plucking machines for plucking broilers, turkeys, ducks and geese

Feathering machines for plucking poultry have found wide application both in large poultry complexes and in farmsteads. The devices allow you to quickly and efficiently pluck the carcasses of broiler chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks.

Units for removing the feather were invented relatively recently - in the second half of the last century, and the production of domestic samples did not even begin until the early 2000s. Structurally, the feathering machine is a cylindrical unit consisting of a body and a drum located in it., inside which there are rubber or silicone biting fingers. They look like thorns with a pimpled or ribbed surface. It is these thorns that are the main working body of the machine. The fingers are endowed with a unique property: thanks to the rubber surface and increased frictional force, down and feathers adhere well to them and are held throughout the entire processing cycle.

The material for the manufacture of the unit body is food-grade stainless steel, and for the manufacture of drums, light-colored polypropylene is used. This requirement is a recommendation of sanitary inspection and is due to the fact that light-colored materials are easier to control for contamination. In addition, polypropylene has antibacterial properties and is able to inhibit the growth and development of various kinds of bacteria - salmonella, E.coli, staphylococci and pneumobacteria. And also the material has high mechanical strength and withstands shock loads well. The inner surface of the drum is absolutely smooth, washable and does not tend to absorb dirt.

The device is controlled by a remote control with a power indicator located on it, on / off switch and emergency switch. In addition, most units are equipped with a manual sprinkler system to improve the picking process, as well as rollers for transporting the machine and vibration dampers. The units are equipped with single-phase electric motors with a power of 0.7-2.5 kW and can be powered from a 220 or 380 V. The weight of the pickers varies from 50 to 120 kg, and the drum rotation speed is about 1500 rpm.

The essence of the work of feathering devices is as follows: a pre-scalded carcass of a duck, chicken, goose or turkey is placed in a drum and the apparatus is turned on. After starting the engine, the drum begins to rotate according to the principle of a centrifuge, while the discs grab the carcass and begin to spin it. In the process of rotation, the bird hits the spines, and due to friction it loses a significant part of its plumage. On models equipped with sprayers, if necessary, turn on the hot water supply. This allows very thick and deep-set feathers to be removed, which greatly improves the efficiency of the process.

Strong consumer demand and high accolades for electric pickers due to a number of important advantages of this equipment.

1. Due to the high thermal stability of materials, many machines can be used at temperatures from -40 to +70 degrees.
2. The drums and spikes of the devices are made from environmentally friendly raw materials and do not contain poisonous additives and toxic impurities.
3. The excellent picking efficiency is due to the high torque and powerful pull of the gearboxes.
4. The presence of the remote control makes it much easier to control the process of removing the pen, making the use of the device understandable and convenient.
5. The devices are quite mobile and do not cause difficulties during transportation.
6. The units are equipped with a special nozzle for removing feathers and water, which greatly facilitates their operation and maintenance.
7. Most of the models are highly efficient. Even the smallest device is capable of plucking about 300 chickens, 100 turkeys, 150 ducks and 70 geese in an hour. For more powerful samples, these values ​​look as follows: ducks - 400, turkeys - 200, chickens - 800, geese - 180 pieces per hour. For comparison, working by hand, you can pluck no more than three carcasses per hour.

Despite the large number of obvious advantages, there are also drawbacks to feather pickers. The disadvantages include the complete volatility of devices, which entails the impossibility of using them in the field. The high cost of some models is also noted, sometimes reaching 250 thousand rubles, while a feather attachment for a drill or screwdriver costs only 1.3 thousand rubles.

In order to pluck a bird with a machine, it must be properly prepared. To do this, immediately after slaughter, the carcass is allowed to rest for several hours, after which a couple of containers are prepared. Water at room temperature is poured into one, and boiling water into the second. Then they take the carcass, chop off the head, drain the blood and dip it first in cool water, and then put it in boiling water for 3 minutes. While the carcass is in hot water, the feathering machine is started and heated, after which the bird is placed in it and the plucking process begins.

At the same time, the remains of the fluff are burned, then gently scraping off the remnants of the burning from the skin. Having finished with feathers and down, the bird is washed again under hot water and sent for cutting. If there is a need to collect goose down, plucking is done manually - it is not recommended to use the machine in such cases. The feather is removed as carefully as possible, trying not to damage the feather itself and the skin of the bird.

Below are the most popular models of feathering machines of Russian and foreign production.

• Italian model Piro designed for plucking medium-sized carcasses. Can handle up to three pieces at a time. The productivity of the device is 140 units / h, the engine power is 0.7 kW, the power source is 220 V. The unit is manufactured in dimensions 63x63x91 cm, weighs 50 kg and costs about 126 thousand rubles.
• Rotary 950 developed by Italian specialists based on German technology and manufactured in China. The device belongs to the category of professional equipment, so the time for complete processing of a carcass does not exceed 10 seconds. The mass of the device is 114 kg, the power of the electric motor reaches 1.5 kW, and it is powered by a voltage of 220 V. The model is equipped with 342 fingers of different stiffness, is produced in dimensions 95x95x54 cm and is capable of processing up to 400 carcasses per hour. The unit is additionally equipped with protection against voltage surges, has a European certificate and complies with all international safety standards. The cost of the Rotary 950 is 273 thousand rubles.

• Ukrainian model "Farmer's Dream 800 N" is a very reliable and durable device. The percentage of plucking of the carcass is 98, the processing time is about 40 seconds. The device is equipped with an electric motor with a power of 1.5 kW, powered by a 220 V network and weighs 60 kg. The device complies with all safety standards and can operate in both automatic and semi-automatic modes. Such a device costs 35 thousand rubles.
• Russian car "Sprut" refers to professional models and is equipped with a capacious drum with a diameter of 100 cm. The engine power is 1.5 kW, the power supply voltage is 380 V, the dimensions are 96x100x107 cm. The weight of the product is 71 kg, and its cost reaches 87 thousand rubles. The device is equipped with a remote control and a manual irrigation system. 25 chickens or 12 ducks can be loaded into the drum at a time. In an hour, the device is capable of plucking up to a thousand small chickens, 210 turkeys, 180 geese and 450 ducks. The payback period for the device is 1 month.

For an overview of the plucking machine for plucking poultry, see the video below.