Sparta, TN - Farm Associate 1

Aviagen•Crossville, TN

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The Farm Associate I plays a critical role in the success of farm operations within Aviagen’s poultry farms and is primarily responsible for the care and welfare of birds at the facility. The work includes collecting, grading, transferring, and recording eggs; maintaining sanitary egg-room conditions; monitoring poultry-house conditions and flock health; cleaning houses and rebuilding pens; managing feed; and collecting birds for moving or weighing. The role may also involve working with day-old chicks and performing hatchery duties such as setting, collecting, or transferring eggs and disinfecting the facility. Employees must follow animal-care, animal-welfare, biosecurity, and safety procedures. Work may take place in hot or cold temperatures, dusty, damp, or wet conditions, and around live poultry, farm odors, and loud noises. The role may require working up to six days per week, including weekends and holidays.

Requirements

Understand oral and written instructions and perform simple tasks.
Have basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.
Be able to perform repetitive work.
Stand for long periods, including eight hours or more, and have a flexible work schedule.
Grip, grasp, or twist using hands and wrists.
Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds or more.
Bend and stoop repetitively throughout the shift.
Work with chemicals such as detergents and disinfectants.
Perform manual tasks in extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Work in dry, dusty, damp, or wet environments, around live animals and poultry, farm odors, and loud or noisy conditions.
Be currently authorized to work in the country of the specified job location at hire and maintain authorization throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Animal husbandry experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Gather eggs while preventing excessive breakage.
Grade eggs by category, size, and condition.
Transfer egg flats from the barn to the egg cooler room, record egg totals, and assist with washing eggs.
Maintain sanitary conditions in the egg wash room and cooler room.
Maintain and record eggs or gather other data as instructed.
Monitor poultry-house living conditions and troubleshoot issues with feed lines, drinkers, fans, and barn appearance.
Monitor and document flock health and mortality.
Clean out houses and rebuild bird pens as needed.
Transfer feed weighing up to 50 pounds and maintain feed in feeders according to trial requirements, ensuring all birds have access to feed.
Collect birds for moving or weighing.
Work with day-old chicks in the hatchery facility; duties may include setting, collecting, and transferring eggs and disinfecting the facility.
Work safely and efficiently as trained, following animal-care standards, animal-welfare guidelines, and biosecurity policies and procedures.