Sustaining Natural Resources

Stages of a Broiler’s Life

Rey Angelo Espinosa
BSA 3B

I. PRODUCTION
Chicken production is typically carried out at so-called complexes. Each complex
contains a feed mill, a hatchery, a processing plant, and chicken farms where the chicks
are raised, usually in a 30-40 mi (48.3-64.4 km) radius from the processing plant.
Contract farmers receive chicks from the hatchery and house them in climate-controlled
chicken houses. The houses are typically 400 x 50 ft (122 x 15.24 m), and hold up to
20,000 chickens. The interior is open, with no cages or partitions. When the chickens
are old enough for slaughter, they are collected and shipped to the processing plant.
Chicken processing begins at the hatchery where hens lay eggs. The eggs are
collected and incubated until they begin to hatch in about 20 days. The chicks live in
large, growout houses where they are fed a diet of chicken feed. After growout, the
birds are conveyored through a stun cabinet. The mild electrical current in the water
stuns or paralyses the birds. Next, the birds are conveyed to an automatic neck cutter.
The carcasses hang until all the blood has drained and then they are defeathered. Next,
they are washed, cleaned, and immersed in cooled, chlorinated water for 40-50
minutes.

II. SALES
There are essentially three ways chicken products are marketed, ranging from
raw commodity at the lowest end to fully cooked, value-added products on the high end.
Of the three major proteins, chicken has provided the most opportunities for adding
value.

III. DISPOSAL
The three, primary disposal methods of chicken feathers are through landfill
disposal, incineration, or recycling, all of which needs better waste management
practices in today’s standards.
The first problem: costly. These traditional methods are expensive. Many
resources need to be spent in order to dispose of the chicken feathers waste.
Resources like fuel for transportation and burning, or any other resources used in
recycling it like water are used chicken feathers waste management.
Second, these methods also produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases, as we know, continues to pose a significant threat to the
environment. In particular, it will contribute heavily to the global warming phenomenon
we are experiencing now.
In conclusion to this, these methods are not environmentally friendly, costly, and
dangerous to all living organisms.

IV. SUSTAINABILTY PROPOSAL

Production of Biofuel from Chicken Feathers

Increased urbanization and increase in population have led to an increased
demand for fuels. The result is the prices of fuels are reaching new heights every day.
The diesel engines led to the emission of hazardous gases like sox, co, etc. which can
further lead to problems like acid rains. This thing can also affect human health and
increase global warming. Today with the advances in knowledge and developing
technologies there is a way to control pollution, use of biofuel can be an alternative to
current fuels. Biofuels like biodiesel are produced from a variety of resources like
Soyabean, rapeseed, peanut, etc. In the present text, it can be found that chicken
feathers can also prove a better source for the production of biofuel.
Energy demand in India is increasing 6% annually compared to 2% in other
countries. Currently imported crude petroleum supplies about 70% of the energy
requirement. Vegetable oils, fats, and their derivatives can be used as alternate eco-
friendly energy sources. Biodiesel is a non-petroleum-based alternative-diesel fuel that
consists of alkyl esters derived from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils or animal
fats. The fuel is made by converting the oils and fats into what are known as fatty acid
alkyl esters. The conventional processes require the oils or fats to be heated and mixed
with a combination of methanol and sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. The conversion
process is called transesterification. “Biodiesel provides an effective, sustainable-use
fuel with many desirable properties,” Schulte said. “In addition to being a renewable,
biodegradable, and carbon-neutral fuel source, it can be formed in a matter of months
from feedstocks produced locally, which promotes a more sustainable energy
infrastructure. It also decreases dependence on foreign oil and creates new labor and
market opportunities for domestic crops.” Operating a plant in Cottonwood Falls,
Kansas, R3 Energy began selling chicken fat biodiesels to rural consumers currently.
The plant has been operational for three months using local feed stock. At full
production, the plant is expected to make1.4 million gallons of biofuels a year.
In conclusion, the said process can be implemented to produce crude fuel from
wasted chicken feathers. Feathers can prove a better alternative for the production of
Biofuel as compared to other sources.

References:
https://www.farmwithtyson.com/chicken-production-process/
https://poultrymanual.com/2016/11/19/marketing-chicken-philippines/
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-5/Chicken.html
https://waster.com.au/chicken-feathers-waste-management/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309763967_Production_of_Biofuel_fro
m_Chicken_Feathers