Poultry Hatchery Manager

Position Overview

Hatchery managers working within the poultry industry direct all operations related to the hatchery, such as product, staff, and equipment. They are responsible for planning and implementing best practices and procedures that will create a profitable business. Depending on the size of the company, the hatchery manager will either acquire eggs from their own flocks, or obtain the eggs from other farmers in the area. They would then arrange and coordinate different hatchery activities. This may include egg hatching, vaccinating, sorting, and the sale and shipment of new chicks to distributors, commercial growers, or farmers. They may also handle maintenance needed for equipment in the hatchery facility. Since a hatchery manager oversees the entire hatching schedule, they must consider many factors to ensure supply meets demand. This includes factoring in customer orders, market trends, and facility capacity. Hatchery managers need to keep detailed records of all hatchery information and occasionally produce reports on recent activity in the hatchery. They also may need to provide feeding, sanitization, and breeding practices to farmers.

Hatchery Manager Duties

• Manage all hatchery activities
• Direct and implement an effective quality assurance program
• Ensure hatchery follows industry regulations on sanitation, vaccinations, etc.
• Coordinate equipment repairs or address equipment issues
• Maintain a reasonable hatchery budget
• Manage the sale and shipment of eggs and chicks
• Plan and develop hatch schedules that consider market forecasts and customer orders
• Supervise employees to ensure all hatchery standards are being met
• Stay current on industry knowledge and new trends, such as improved equipment models or more effective processes
• Communicate with farmers on feeding and breeding practices
• Maintain appropriate animal welfare in the hatchery

Typical Employers

• Poultry production companies
• Hatcheries
• Large poultry operations

Required Education and Training

A hatchery manager should have a bachelor's degree in poultry science, animal science, or a related field. They should also have previous management experience to show they can handle the responsibility of managing an entire hatchery operation. Candidates who have worked in a hatchery environment before will have a competitive edge.

Key Skills and Qualities

• Strong analytical skills
• Leadership skills
• Good business sense
• Excellent multitasker
• Possesses basic administrative skills
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Excellent researcher
• Strong relationship-building skills

Average Salary

The average salary for a hatchery manager is £42,000, depending on the company and experience level.