Summer Farm Intern

Job Description Summary: This role provides an opportunity to gain firsthand exposure to poultry farm operations and the commercial production process. Employees will develop an understanding of how daily farm tasks support animal care, biosecurity, flock health, and overall farm performance.

Job Description:

Job Duties

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 and assist in washing eggs and maintain sanitary conditions in the egg wash room/cooler room

Maintain and record eggs and or gather proper data as instructed

Maintain poultry house living conditions by monitoring and troubleshooting issues with feed lines, drinkers, fans and barn appearance etc.

Monitor and document the health of the flock and or 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 and ensure all birds can access the feed

Will be required to collect birds for moving or weighing

Work with day old baby chicks within the Hatchery Facility. Additional duties may include set eggs, collect eggs, transfer eggs and disinfecting of 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 to, on a routine basis, 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 circulation

Job qualifications and physical requirements:

Ability to understand oral and written instructions and perform simple tasks. Required basic skills - reading, writing and arithmetic

Ability to perform work that is repetitive in nature

Ability to stand for long periods of time (8 hrs or more - must have a flexible work schedule)

Ability to grip, grasp or twist using hands and wrists.

Must be able to lift, carry, push or pull up to 50 lbs or more

Bend and stoop repetitively throughout the shift

Animal husbandry experience preferred but not required