Development of semi-automatic poultry de-feathering machine/ Al-Jerryco D. Andrade, Gabriel Renald P. Reyes, Mc Kinket Calicdan and Kim S. Masilang.--

Bachelor's thesis

College of Industrial Technology.-- Bachelor of Technology Major in Tool and Die Engineering Technology: Technological University of the Philippines, Manila. 2020

Includes bibliographic references and index.

Poultry processing is an important aspect of the poultry industry, and de-feathering is a

crucial step in the process. However, manual de-feathering is a labor-intensive and time-
consuming process, while fully automated machines are often expensive and not feasible

for small-scale poultry processors. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate the
performance of a semi-automatic poultry de-feathering machine that would be affordable
and efficient for small-scale processors. The machine's design was based on the principles
of rotating drum de-feathering, with a semi-automated process that involved manual
feeding and automated de-feathering. The machine was fabricated using locally available
materials and tested using broiler chickens. The study evaluated the machine's performance
based on the percentage of feather removal, processing time, and labor requirement. The
results showed that the machine achieved a de-feathering rate of up to 95%, which was
comparable to fully automated machines. The processing time was reduced by 40%, and
labor requirements were decreased by 50% compared to the manual de-feathering process.
Additionally, the machine's design was simple, easy to operate, and easy to maintain. The
study also conducted a cost analysis, which showed that the machine's fabrication cost was

lower than that of fully automated machines, making it a more affordable option for small-
scale processors. Overall, the study demonstrated that the semi-automatic de-feathering

machine is an efficient and affordable alternative to manual de-feathering and fully
automated machines, with the potential to improve the efficiency of poultry processing
while reducing labor costs. The evaluation that the researchers conducted shows that thirty
respondents, most of whom agreed that the research was more successful than the manual
method, received an overall rating of 4.50, with a highly acceptable descriptive rating.