Poultry feces removal apparatuses and methods

A poultry feces removal apparatus comprising:

• a clasping device having a back support portion and two opposing side members adjacent said back support portion, said clasping device being configured for receiving a bird between said two opposing side members and for exerting pressure on opposite sides of said bird, and said clasping device being configured for rotation between a first position, in which said bird is in a substantially vertical position, and a second position, in which said bird is in a substantially horizontal position;
• and
• a compression member that is spaced apart from said clasping device and that is configured for exerting a compressive force on an exterior surface of said bird while said opposing side members are exerting pressure on said opposite sides of said bird, and while said clasping device is in said second position.

A poultry feces removal apparatus comprising:

• a clasping device comprising a first side member and a second side member, said second side member being spaced apart from said first side member to define a space for receiving said bird, and said first and second side members being configured to squeeze said bird;
• and
• a compression assembly that is configured for exerting a compressive force on an exterior surface of said bird while said first and second side members squeeze said bird.

A method of removing feces from a bird, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) using an automated device to squeeze said bird;
• and
• (b) while squeezing said bird, exerting a first discrete compressive force on an exterior surface of said bird, said first discrete compressive force being sufficient to force feces out of said bird.

A method of removing feces from a bird that has not yet been defeathered, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an automated feces removal device, said feces removal device operable to remove feces from said bird, before said bird has been defeathered, by simultaneously applying force to three different sides of the bird;
• and
• using said automated feces removal device to remove feces from said bird.