Flock Service Technician

The Flock Service Technician position is a technical position and is a key link between the growers, flock owners and company management.

The position is responsible for all aspects involved with weekly visits and management oversight of contracted poultry flocks. The specific aspects of flock management overseen include but are not limited to: bird health, ventilation, feed and water management, blood and swab testing, weighing, and reporting observations and management recommendations.

The position requires on-call duties for flock health and management emergencies. The schedule of flock visits is flexible, but must be prioritized based on biosecurity and flock health concerns.

This position will report directly to the Flock Service Supervisor.

The Flock Service Technician(s) at Risser’s Poultry must be able to perform the following job duties:

2.1. Schedule weekly service visits at assigned farms and prioritize that schedule based on biosecurity and flock health concerns.

2.2 Availability to take calls from your assigned growers at times that can include evenings, weekends and holidays. The response to these calls must be determined on a case by case basis and could require an emergency farm visit.

2.3 Maintain a professional working relationship with contracted growers to effectively communicate management recommendations and effect positive changes and improvements.

2.4 Accurately identify and diagnose flock health issues through the use of on-farm necropsy procedures and the PADLS Laboratory system as needed.

2.5 Schedule, perform and accurately complete all procedures and paperwork needed for required testing including: bloodwork, environmental swabbing, tracheal swabbing, and water and feed testing.

2.6 Advise growers on the proper barn setup and conditions for successfully starting chicks.

2.7. Communicate the chick delivery date and time to the grower. Receive chick deliveries at assigned farms ensuring that the type and number of chicks is accurate and that all proper vaccinations were completed at the hatchery. Make sure the chicks are placed in the proper barn and/or pen as directed.

2.8 Advise and train growers on barn management and husbandry best practices including: ventilation, feed type and availability, water availability, lighting schedules, and equipment setup and maintenance.

2.9 Follow biosecurity protocols and procedures as outlined in Risser’s biosecurity plan.

This includes using disposable boots, coveralls and hairnets, keeping your vehicle and its contents clean and disinfected inside and out and properly cleaning and disinfecting anything you take into or bring back out of the poultry house.

2.10 Ensure that each farms biosecurity plan is being followed to minimize the risk of contracting and/or spreading disease in the flocks and to ensure that indemnity payments will be approved in the case of catastrophic disease.

Continually emphasize the importance of biosecurity to the growers and make sure HPAI plan book for each farm is kept up to date.

2.11 Complete all service reports accurately and with appropriate detailed comments to effectively document and communicate all observations, recommendations and concerns to the farm manager, bird owner and Risser’s management.

2.12 Accurately complete all paperwork needed to obtain required Prescriptions and Veterinary Feed Directives (VFD) for restricted water soluble and feed grade antibiotics. Ensure that the usage of restricted products are accurately reported to the Flock Service Manager for the purpose of maintaining exact inventories and complying with FDA requirements.

2.13 Confirm that the vaccination schedule for each flock is followed and that all vaccinations are done on time. Communicate any inconsistencies to the…