Farm Associate

Aviagen • Elkmont, AL

1d

About The Position

The Farm Associate I supports the success of farm operations within Aviagen’s poultry farms, with primary responsibility for the care and welfare of birds. The role involves collecting, grading, recording, and handling eggs; maintaining poultry house conditions and equipment; monitoring flock health and mortality; cleaning houses and rebuilding bird pens; managing feed; and collecting birds for moving or weighing. Duties may also include working with day-old chicks and performing hatchery tasks such as setting, collecting, and transferring eggs and disinfecting facilities. The role may involve work in a poultry processing plant, including hanging live poultry and using cutting instruments for processing as trained. Employees must follow animal-care, welfare, safety, and bio-security procedures.

The work may be performed in extreme hot or cold temperatures and in dry, dusty, damp, or wet environments, with live animals, farm odors, and loud noise. The position requires repetitive manual work, prolonged standing, and regular bending and stooping. The schedule may be up to six days per week, including weekends and holidays, and requires flexibility.

Requirements

• Understand oral and written instructions and perform simple tasks.
• Basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.
• Ability to perform repetitive work.
• Ability to stand for long periods, including eight hours or more, and maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Ability to grip, grasp, or twist using hands and wrists.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds or more.
• Ability to bend and stoop repetitively throughout the shift.
• Ability to perform manual tasks in extreme hot or cold temperatures and work in dry, dusty, damp, or wet environments, around live animals, farm odors, and loud or noisy conditions.
• Must be 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; record egg counts; and assist with egg washing and maintaining sanitary conditions in the egg wash and cooler rooms.
• Maintain and record eggs and gather required data as instructed.
• Monitor and troubleshoot poultry house conditions and equipment, including 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 feeders according to trial requirements to ensure birds can access feed.
• Collect birds for moving or weighing.
• Work with day-old chicks in the hatchery; duties may include setting, collecting, and transferring eggs and disinfecting the facility.
• Perform poultry processing duties as trained, including live hanging and using cutting instruments to debone or cut poultry for data collection.
• Work with chemicals such as detergents and disinfectants.
• Perform essential duties safely and efficiently as trained.
• Follow Animal Care Standards, Animal Welfare Guidelines, and bio-security policies and procedures.
• Handle and interact with live poultry on a routine basis.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life and AD&D coverage.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Teladoc.
• Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability coverage, subject to plan terms and conditions.
• Company-observed paid holidays.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) at 14 days per year, prorated based on hire date.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed