Patent ID: 7891209

Claim:
A device for chilling slaughtered birds having skin and an abdominal cavity defined within the bird and having a surface, the device comprising: a. a chilling room comprising means for generating a stream of chilling air; b. a conveyor for conveying a bird in a conveyance direction and along a conveyor path that extends at least partially through the chilling room in a substantially zig-zag pattern turns where the conveyance direction substantially reverses; and c. at least one spray station comprising spray means for moistening with water at least a portion of the surface of the abdominal cavity of the bird, wherein the spray means comprises at least one nozzle configured to spray water in a substantially downward direction relative to the bird and into the abdominal cavity of the bird, wherein the spray station is located at a turn along the conveyor path, and wherein the at least one nozzle is fitted on a rotatably driven central shaft positioned at the turn so that the at least one nozzle is adapted to travel with the bird around the turn and moisten the abdominal cavity of the bird by spraying water into the bird during the making of the turn.