Worker, poultry farm

Poultry producers plan, organise and perform operations to breed and raise chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks and other poultry for the production of meat, eggs and live birds for sale or regular delivery to wholesale buyers, marketing organisations or at markets.

• monitoring market conditions and determining the types and numbers of birds to be raised accordingly, planning and coordinating production, and maintaining farm records;
• growing and purchasing feed and other supplies needed to maintain appropriate feeding regimes and conditions for the birds;
• checking and examining birds to detect diseases and injuries and to monitor their physical condition, such as rate of weight gain during fattening, and removing weak, sick and dead birds;
• mixing feed and additives and filling feed and water containers;
• vaccinating birds by adding medicines to drinking water, by injection or by airborne spraying;
• collecting and storing eggs and packing them for sale or delivery to market;
• sexing chicks to facilitate selection, artificial insemination and egg hatching;
• renting or investing in buildings, and maintaining and cleaning buildings, machinery, equipment and facilities;
• slaughtering and dressing poultry for sale or delivery to market;
• storing and carrying out primary processing of produce;
• arranging the sale, purchase and transport of products and supplies;
• training and supervising production workers, ensuring occupational health and safety, and hiring and dismissing workers and contractors.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Farmer, poultry
• Farmer, egg producer
• Farmer, hatchery poultry breeder
• Poultry breeder
• Operator, incubator