Description
Select and breed chickens, turkeys, and other poultry based on pedigree, performance, and desired traits. Manage egg collection, incubation, and hatching; apply artificial insemination when needed; maintain records on fertility, hatchability, growth, and health; and implement biosecurity, vaccination, and housing programs.
- • Feed and water birds, and clean and disinfect coops, brooders, runs, nest boxes, and equipment.
- • Inspect birds daily to detect illness, injury, or stress; isolate and monitor affected birds.
- • Administer vaccines via drinking water, spray, or injection; implement parasite control and biosecurity protocols.
- • Select roosters/toms and hens for breeding based on pedigrees, conformation, performance, and desired traits.
- • Treat minor ailments and injuries; consult veterinarians for diagnosis and care of serious conditions.
- • Collect, handle, and store hatching eggs; monitor egg production, fertility, and hatchability.
- • Operate incubators and hatchers; set, candle, transfer, and hatch eggs according to schedules.
- • Maintain precise records of pedigrees, egg counts, fertility, hatch results, growth, weights, and feed intake.
- • Manage mating groups, pen breeding, or trap nesting to track parentage and performance.
- • Collect, evaluate, dilute, package, and label semen for artificial insemination; maintain specimen logs.
- • Measure semen into syringes or AI devices and inseminate hens under approved procedures.
- • Examine semen microscopically to assess motility and concentration; adjust extenders per formulas.
- • Band or tag birds for identification; record line, hatch date, and location.
- • Build and maintain coops, runs, brooders, nest boxes, and fencing.
- • Adjust ventilation, temperature, humidity, and lighting programs to optimize breeder performance and chick quality.
- • Cull and select birds to improve genetics; manage replacements and flock rotation.
- • Purchase and stock feed, bedding, equipment, and medicines; track inventory and usage.
- • Arrange sale and shipment of breeding stock, hatching eggs, and chicks/poults to farms, hatcheries, show buyers, and processors.
- • Clip wings and trim nails as needed to manage birds safely and prevent injury.
- • Provide range access or enrichment to promote activity, condition, and welfare.
- • Exhibit birds at shows and promote breeding lines to buyers.
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Agriculture
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Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
