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Poultry
Overview
This industry includes poultry production for eggs and meat.
Poultry production involves the breeding, tending and/or raising of poultry to produce eggs, chicken and turkey meat. Poultry production is carried out in hatcheries, farms and on rural properties throughout Australia.
Do you want to work in an innovative, progressive industry in a rural environment? Do you want to work in an increasingly high technology industry involving animal production? The Australian poultry production industry may be for you!
Many skilled people are needed in poultry production. These include workers, supervisors and managers to run hatcheries, farms and rural properties.
The type of work carried out in poultry production has been divided into 6 levels. These levels also relate to training and qualifications
The titles for those who work at these levels are:
| Level | Job Role | Recommended Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Poultry Hand | Certificate II in Agriculture (Poultry Production) |
| Level 3 | Senior Poultry Hand | Certificate III in Agriculture (Poultry Production) |
| Level 4 | Leading Hand | Certificate IV in Agriculture (Poultry Production) |
| Level 5 | Poultry Production/Farm Manager | Diploma of Agriculture (Poultry Production) |
Level 2 – Poultry Hand
A poultry hand is likely to be involved in a wide range of tasks, working under only limited supervision.
Work undertaken as a poultry hand includes:
- handling chickens
- identifying and sexing chickens
- monitoring and preventing poultry disease
- managing eggs hygiene by sanitation or fumigation
- incubating eggs
- collecting and storing fertile eggs for hatching
- maintaining the hatchery
There are a number of ways to get work as a poultry hand.
Many poultry farmhands begin working on a poultry farm as assistant poultry hands. Once they develop their skills and knowledge they can undertake the role of a poultry hand.
With a poultry hand traineeship, you will start training as an assistant poultry hand before moving on to work as a poultry hand.
Individuals with general agricultural experience are often able to obtain work as poultry hands – to assist with general hatchery work – on a casual basis.
The national qualification available for poultry hands that have either undertaken formal training or learnt their skills on the job is the Certificate II in Agriculture (Poultry Production).
Priority skills areas for working as a poultry hand include workplace health and safety, chicken handling, identifying and sexing chickens, hatchery maintenance, and machinery and equipment operation.
Level 3 – Senior Poultry Hand
A senior poultry hand is an experienced worker and is likely to be involved in co-ordinating a wide range of poultry production operations.
Work undertaken as a senior poultry hand includes:
- supervising hatchery unit operations
- cleaning out sheds
- co-ordinating and analysing unit performance
- operating specialised poultry plant, machinery and equipment
- fumigating poultry sheds
- setting up shedding for day old chickens
There are a number of ways to get work as a senior poultry hand.
Many senior poultry hands begin working in poultry production as poultry hands. Others may have completed a poultry hand traineeship.
Individuals with extensive poultry or general agricultural experience are often able to work as senior poultry hands.
The national qualification available for a senior poultry hand is the Certificate III in Agriculture (Poultry Production).
Priority skills areas for working as a senior poultry hand include workplace health and safety, supervising hatchery unit operations, and operating specialised poultry plant, machinery and equipment.
Level 4 – Leading Hand
A leading hand has responsibility for a number of workers and poultry farm activities.
Work undertaken by a leading hand includes:
- supervise flock health programs
- mix feeds and carry out "home mix" milling operations
- manage free range poultry operations
- maintain product quality to customer
- supervise poultry management systems
- supervise staff
- manage unit finances
There are a number of ways to get work as a leading hand. Many poultry leading hands begin working in poultry production as poultry hands. Others may have completed a poultry hand traineeship.
The promotion of a senior poultry hand to leading hand occurs when the person shows that they can take responsibility for poultry production operations and supervise the activities of other staff.
The national qualification available for leading hands who have either undertaken formal training or learnt their skills on the job is the Certificate IV in Agriculture (Poultry Production).
Priority skills areas for working as a poultry leading hand include supervision of production activities, staff supervision and training, flock health, budget and stock control and equipment and machinery management.
Level 5 – Poultry Production/Farm Manager
A poultry production manager is likely to have significant responsibilities in managing poultry production activities.
These responsibilities include:
- managing livestock production
- managing physical and natural resources
- selecting, maintaining and operating machinery
- monitoring and evaluating business performance
- business planning
- administrating the business
- product marketing
Poultry production managers achieve their position when they have shown that they can successfully manage poultry production operations as a business. Often they have worked as poultry hands and leading hands and have a good knowledge of and experience with poultry production.
To achieve a Diploma in Agriculture (Rural Business Management) you will be required to demonstrate that you possess the necessary knowledge and skills and that you can apply these to industry standards.
Priority skills areas for working as a poultry production manager include livestock health and production, managing physical and natural resources, staff management, and business planning and operations.