Hatchery Technician

Overview

The Hatchery Technician plays a pivotal role in daily hatchery operations, managing tasks from egg reception to chick dispatch. This position demands careful inspection, handling, and maintenance of hatchery processes to ensure optimal incubation environments and excellent chick quality while upholding rigorous biosecurity and hygiene standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and inspect hatching eggs, verifying cleanliness and structural integrity prior to incubation.
• Operate and monitor incubators, hatchers, setters, and related hatchery machinery, maintaining ideal temperature, humidity, ventilation, and turning conditions.
• Transfer eggs between incubators as scheduled and track hatch progress, identifying any delays or abnormalities.
• Handle newly hatched chicks meticulously, supporting vaccination, sorting, debeaking, counting, and dispatch processes.
• Dispose of unhatched eggs, shells, and waste following hygiene protocols.
• Ensure biosecurity measures and cleanliness by disinfecting hatchery rooms, equipment, trays, and workspaces.
• Report equipment malfunctions promptly and assist with routine maintenance and calibration.
• Maintain detailed records covering egg volumes, fertility rates, hatchability, chick condition, mortality, vaccinations, and dispatch details.
• Collaborate with breeder farms, production, quality control, maintenance, and dispatch teams to optimize hatchery outcomes.
• Comply with company SOPs, health and safety standards, and animal welfare guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Poultry Science, Animal Science, Agriculture, Veterinary Science, or related disciplines is preferred.
• Between 2 to 5 years of practical experience in commercial poultry hatchery operations.
• Expertise in incubation processes, hatchery machinery, monitoring systems, and chick management.
• Strong understanding of biosecurity protocols and sanitation in poultry environments.
• Competency in maintaining accurate operational and production records.
• Willingness to work in shifts including weekends and holidays as needed.
• Physical ability to work efficiently in hatchery conditions.
• Keen observational skills to detect irregularities in eggs, embryos, and chicks.