When it comes to poultry production, sometimes it is difficult to remember there are a lot of factors that play into why the industry is so successful. Because the major focus of commercial poultry operations has always been on the meat and eggs, we tend to forget about the little things happening behind the scenes that make the difference between a success and a failure. Genetic selection, nutrition, stocking density, well-being, social interactions between birds and many other factors play a role in the production processes; however, the forgotten hero in the mix is feathers and their importance in the production process.
Birds come into the harvesting plant with their feathers intact. Depending on the plant design, a multi-stage process is needed for feathers to be removed. After birds have gone through the exsanguination process, feather removal begins. This includes scalding, which is a hot water bath that loosens the feathers, followed by a rotation through the picker, which rapidly removes the feathers from the skin.