Bird carriers and methods of restraining birds are disclosed. Each bird carrier may include a torso support, one or more leg clamps, and a head support. The head support may further include a beak receiving passage such that at least a portion of the birds' beaks are exposed. The bird carriers may restrain one or both legs and heads of the birds while supporting their torsos. Restraining the legs and the heads of the birds while supporting their torsos may produce a calming effect such that the birds exhibit significantly reduced struggling in an attempt to free themselves from the carrier.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for locking at least one body part of a living bird in position for recording characteristic vibrational spectra, wherein the apparatus comprises a relief mask for inserting the body part to be locked in position, at least one movable supporting arm provided for locking the body part in position, and a sensor access with a light channel for directing the stimulation light irradiated by a light source onto the locked body part and for collecting the light back-scattered by the locked body part. The present invention further relates to devices and methods for determining the sex of living birds.

Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed.

Rear-facing poultry claw systems and methods are described herein. In one or more embodiments, the positioning systems and methods may be used to detect the claw of the rear-facing toe on one or both shanks of birds.

Fourth toe processing apparatus and methods for the processing the fourth toes of a bird are disclosed. The fourth toe processing apparatus includes a shield, a non-contact energy source emitting energy towards the shield, a shank restraint structure receiving a shank of a bird located proximate the second side of the shield, and a fourth toe aperture extending through the first side and the second side of the shield. Energy emitted towards the shield by the energy source passes through the fourth toe aperture so that a fourth toe of a bird having its shank positioned in the fourth toe aperture is exposed to the energy.