Farm Associate I

About the role

This role plays a critical part in overall success of the farm operations within the Aviagen suite of Poultry farms. The Farm Associate I has primary responsibility for the animal care and welfare of the birds within the facility.

Responsibilities

• May work up to 6 days a week, including weekends and holidays
• Gather eggs in a manner that prevents excessive breakage
• Grade eggs according to category, size and condition
• Transfer egg flats with eggs from the barn to the egg cooler room and record the number of eggs collected; assist in washing eggs and maintain sanitary conditions in the egg wash room/cooler room
• Maintain and record eggs and gather proper data as instructed
• Maintain poultry house living conditions by monitoring and troubleshooting issues with feed lines, drinkers, fans and barn appearance
• Monitor and document the health of the flock and mortality
• Clean out houses and rebuild bird pens as needed
• Transfer up to 50 lbs of feed and maintain feed in all feeders according to trial requirements; ensure all birds can access the feed
• Collect birds for moving or weighing
• Work with day‑old baby chicks within the hatchery facility; additional duties may include setting eggs, collecting eggs, transferring eggs and disinfecting the facility
• Ability to work in a poultry processing plant – live hang poultry, use cutting instruments to de‑bone and/or cut poultry as trained for proper data collection
• Ability to work with chemicals such as detergents, disinfectants, etc.
• Must perform essential duties in a safe and efficient manner as trained
• Must be able to perform manual tasks in extreme hot or cold temperatures
• Must follow Animal Care Standards, Animal Welfare Guidelines and Bio‑Security policies and procedures
• Must be able to work in dry, dusty, damp and/or wet environment
• Must be able to work with live animals and the associated environment
• Must be able, on a routine basis, to handle and interact with live poultry
• Must be able to be around farm‑related smells or foul odors and loud/noisy environment
• Must be able to work in an environment with substantial dust