Patent ID: 7281384

Claim:
A chiller for reducing the temperature and reducing bacteria of harvested birds, comprising: an elongated tank configured for holding tank water and for receiving birds in the tank water, bird moving means in said tank for moving birds in a first direction along the length of the tank in a predetermined path through the tank water, a water circulation system in communication with said tank for chilling the tank water and recirculating tank water through said tank in a counter flow direction with respect to the birds as the birds move in the first direction, at least one nozzle positioned for directing a stream of water into the tank water and toward the predetermined path to impinge against the birds in the predetermined path and disperse at least some of the birds from the predetermined path, and an anti-bacterial mixing means for adding predetermined amounts of anti-bacterial substance to the stream of water that moves through said nozzle and toward the birds in the tank, such that the stream of water tends to wash the birds with the antibacterial substance.