While working as a shop intern, we built a Whizbang chicken plucker using designs online. The frame of the plucker was constructed out of scrap 2"x4"s, with a 50 gallon drum bolted to them. The drum was fitted with rubber fingers, and the chickens were plucked by being jostled by a rotating steel plate, also outfitted with rubber fingers.

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The steel plate was driven by a sewing machine motor, with the transmission consisting of a flat belt made of faux leather. We had initially hoped that the flat belt would run with only the crowned pulleys to support it, but after some failed trial runs, we added flanges to the pulleys. 

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For safety mechanisms, we included a bucket over the motor, preventing electrical shortages from water runoff, as well as a wooden handle that could be easily hit in case of emergency, disengaging the motor's clutch more easily than pushing the on/off switch.

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The chicken plucker was easily able to pluck two roosters at once.