Poultry Field Service Technician:
Inspects farms for compliance with contract and cooperative agreement standards and
advises farmers regarding development programs to aid in producing quality poultry
products: Tours farms to inspect facilities and equipment for adequacy, sanitation and
efficiency of operations. Examines chickens for evidence of disease and growth rate
(according to weight and age) to determine effectiveness of medication and feeding
programs. Recommends changes in facilities, equipment, and medication to improve
production, based on knowledge of poultry farming, hatchery operations and
processing. Informs farmers of new procedures and techniques, government regulations
and company and association production standards to enable them to upgrade farms
and meet requirements. Recommends laboratory testing of diseased chickens, feeds,
and supplements or gathers samples and takes them to plant laboratory for analysis.
Reports findings of farm conditions, laboratory tests, recommendations and farmers
reactions to keep superior apprised of farmers efforts to furnish quality products.
Poultry Hatchery Supervisor:
Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in receiving and preparing
eggs for incubation, incubating eggs, grading, preparing, and shipping chicks in poultry
hatchery: Confers with hatchery manager to discuss equipment and supply needs,
production and research requirements, and work schedules. Assigns workers to duties,
for example egg candling, sorting and traying, incubating eggs, and grading and
debeaking chicks. Monitors thermometers, gauges, and chart recorders to detect
equipment malfunctions and to verify compliance with incubator temperature and
ventilation standards. Adjusts controls to maintain specified incubating conditions.
Periodically inspects eggs in incubator trays to ascertain hatching progress, and orders
removal of chicks. Observes packing of chicks to verify adherence to customers orders
and shipping instructions. Prepares production reports, and requisitions equipment,
materials, and supplies. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR
(industry) Master Title. May also be designated according to type of hatchery as
Supervisor, Chicken Hatchery (agricultural services industry), Supervisor, Turkey
Hatchery (agricultural services industry).
Poultry Farm Supervisor:
Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in raising poultry, collecting
eggs, crating fryers, and maintaining equipment and facilities on poultry farm: Confers
with farm manager to ascertain production requirements and to discuss condition of
equipment and status of supplies. Assigns workers to duties, for example collecting and
candling eggs, feeding and vaccinating poultry, crating and shipping fryers, and cleaning
and fumigating chicken houses. Directs maintenance and repair of facilities and
equipment, for example chicken houses, automatic feeders, and layer nests. Trains new
workers. Participates in work activities to expedite work load. Prepares worker
attendance, egg production, feed consumption, and poultry mortality reports. Performs
other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (industry) Master Title. May also be
designated according to type of farm as Supervisor, Brooder Farm (agricultural services
industry), Supervisor, Egg-Producing Farm (agricultural services industry), Supervisor,
Fryer Farm (agricultural services industry), Supervisor, Pullet Farm (agricultural services
industry), Supervisor, Turkey Farm (agricultural services industry).
Poultry Farmer:
Raises poultry to produce eggs and meat: Selects and purchases poultry stock. Feeds
and waters poultry. Cleans and disinfects poultry houses, cages, and nests. Places
vaccines in drinking water, injects vaccines into poultry, or dusts air with vaccine powder
to vaccinate poultry against diseases. Inspects and disposes of or segregates infected
poultry. Collects, inspects, and packs eggs and selects and crates pullets and fryers for
shipment. Maintains growth, feed, and production records. Arranges with wholesalers
for sale of poultry and eggs. May also hire and supervise workers. May also incubate
fertile eggs. May also be designated according to kind of poultry raised as Duck Farmer
(agricultural services industry), Poultry Farmer, Egg (agricultural services industry),
Poultry Farmer, Meat (agricultural services industry), Turkey Farmer (agricultural
services industry).
Poultry Breeder:
Chicken fancier Breeds and raises poultry and fowl to improve strain and develop show
stock: Selects and pairs birds for breeding or breeds birds by artificial insemination.
Incubates eggs to induce hatching. Feeds and waters poultry. Cleans and disinfects
poultry houses, cages, and nests. Places vaccines in drinking water, injects vaccines
into poultry, or dusts air with vaccine powder to vaccinate poultry against diseases.
Maintains growth, feed, and production records. Arranges with buyers for sale of
pedigreed eggs, chicks, and birds. May also hire and supervise workers.
Broiler Service Technician
Job Description
ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Assists farms. Assists farms in the proper procedures for efficient and productive management of their
farm to ensure that they produce the highest quality, lowest cost meat for the processing plant.
Communicates frequently with farms.
Ensure maximum productivity of each bird. Instruct and teach farm managers how to achieve
production. Frequent touring of farms to identify opportunities and generate solutions. Assign and plan for
duty delegation, cost controls on every aspect of the farm. Provide technical assistance for the efficient
production of poultry, including the provision of advice on issues of flock health to management.
Accomplishes Quality performance. Accomplishes quality performance in all responsibilities being
performed in a manner which meets total quality program of continuous process improvement and
customer relations. Follows a management schedule for the weighing, drawing blood and pulling of fat
samples from the flocks. Monitors the health and safety of all flocks on a daily basis.
Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and
implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with
all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong
cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts
responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the
team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for
ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.
Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is
intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and
creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that
may be required of the person in this position.
Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in
small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or
electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various
temperatures. Move about in a broiler/breeder house environment and surrounding property. Must be able
to work in extreme weather conditions, temperature extremes, and dark environments as needed. Must
be able to be on call 24/7 as needed. Must also be able to work any hours needed and work on feet for
entire shift as necessary. Some climbing of stairs/ladders. Will travel via car to various work locations.
Industry Experience: 3-5 years experience in Poultry or similar background.
Minimum Education: Related Bachelor's degree or 4 years experience in manufacturing, poultry or
related field in lieu of degree.
Competencies:
Communicates Effectively: Adapts approach to audience; listens attentively and actively; provides
timely and helpful information; is effective with a variety of communication methods.
Decision Quality: Objectively gathers information; combines analysis, wisdom, experience and
judgment; can make a decision based on incomplete information.
Persuasion: Convinces others to act; negotiates effectively in tough situations; maintains relationships
while winning concessions.
Action Oriented: Takes a can do approach in good and bad situations; steps up to handle tough issues;
shows initiative in tough situations.
What First-Line Supervisors of Animal Husbandry
and Animal Care Workers do:
Train workers in animal care procedures, maintenance duties, and safety precautions.
Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of
animal quarters.
Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior, notifying veterinarians or
managers as warranted.
Monitor animal care, maintenance, breeding, or packing and transfer activities to ensure
work is done correctly.
Transport or arrange for transport of animals, equipment, food, animal feed, and other
supplies to and from work sites.
Perform the same animal care duties as subordinates.
Direct and assist workers in maintenance and repair of facilities.
Establish work schedules and procedures.
Confer with managers to determine production requirements, conditions of equipment and
supplies, and work schedules.
Inspect buildings, fences, fields or ranges, supplies, and equipment to determine work to be
performed.
Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.
Prepare reports concerning facility activities, employees' time records, and animal treatment.
Plan budgets and arrange for purchase of animals, feed, or supplies.
Study feed, weight, health, genetic, or milk production records to determine feed formulas
and rations and breeding schedules.
Operate euthanasia equipment to destroy animals.
Recruit, hire, and pay workers.
Inseminate livestock artificially to produce desired offspring.
Investigate complaints of animal neglect or cruelty, and follow up on complaints appearing to
require prosecution.
Monitor eggs and adjust incubator thermometers and gauges to facilitate hatching progress
and to maintain specified conditions.
Poultry Farm Supervisor:
A poultry farm supervisor ensures the safety and efficiency of poultry farm operations. In
consultation with the farm manager, a poultry farm supervisor prioritizes tasks and decides on the
necessary amount of machinery and number of workers. A poultry farm supervisor also records data
and creates reports on worker attendance, budget, supplies and animal growth. Poultry farm work is
usually year-long, and poultry farms can be found in most parts of the country.
A poultry farm supervisor assigns duties to farm workers and ensures that they are carried out in an
efficient manner; for example, duties might include feeding poultry, shipping eggs or maintaining
buildings. In larger hatcheries, a poultry farm supervisor might oversee the machinery that performs
certain tasks, such as egg collection. Other responsibilities might include training new workers,
providing care to injured or ill livestock and enforcing workplace sanitation practices to prevent the
spread of disease.
