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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare to work in poultry shed
   • Follow biosecurity procedures
   • Confirm work to be undertaken from work program and management
   • Follow enterprise work health and safety policies
   • Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment
   • Select, check and maintain tools and equipment
2. Check and maintain shed and equipment
   • Check biosecurity procedures are in place to prevent entry of pathogens on personnel and equipment
   • Check shed and all equipment are clean, sanitised to required standards and maintained in working condition
   • Check that pest and vermin controls are in place, and maintain if required
   • Ensure that rodent barriers are in place and working
   • Operate and check lights, time switches and shed equipment
3. Prepare shed
   • Spread or place litter/paper as per enterprise procedures
   • Ensure litter/paper is clean & dry
   • Setup feeders, drinkers, heaters and other equipment in shed
   • Ensure that bird wires are in place and working
   • Install brooder curtains if required
   • Test watering, feeding, ventilation and cooling systems
   • Check and adjust lighting levels for day old chicks
   • Reset or adjust shed climate management system if required
   • Test alarm systems and time switches
   • Test brooders for proper operation and temperature control
   • Adjust time clocks
   • Install additional drinkers if required
   • Install additional feeders or lay paper & spread feed on it as required
   • Start heaters prior to chick placement to ensure brooding section is at required temperature for chick placement
4. Place chicks
   • Check that feed, water and shed conditions are adequate
   • Check shed and litter are at required temperatures
   • Carry chick containers safely and gently remove chickens from boxes and place on litter or paper
   • Check chick behaviour and health regularly after placement in line with enterprise animal welfare policies
5. Complete hygiene and administration activities
   • Clean and sanitise containers and equipment as required
   • Dispose of waste in line with enterprise environmental policies
   • Complete required records and documentation promptly and accurately

Range Statement

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Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

make preparations to work in poultry sheds

check cleanliness of shed and equipment

check and maintain shed and equipment

check pest and vermin controls are in place

prepare shed (spread litter or place paper, setup feeders, drinkers, adjust time clocks)

place day old chicks

check chick behaviour

complete hygiene and administration activities

follow enterprise work health and safety policies

follow biosecurity procedures

follow enterprise animal welfare and environmental policies

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

relevant regulatory requirements, codes of practice, industry standards and enterprise procedures for biosecurity

relevant animal welfare requirements and practices for poultry and day old chicks

types, uses, cleaning and maintenance of suitable equipment, tools, machinery and personal protective equipment

types, characteristics, cleaning and maintenance of poultry sheds

commonly used methods of pest and vermin control

types, characteristics and maintenance of bird wires and rodent barriers

lighting systems, time switches, alarm systems, brooders, watering systems, feeding systems, ventilation systems and fogging systems, and methods for determining that they are in working condition

requirements of day old chicks to ensure their health and welfare

behavioural signs of health and methods for assessing health and welfare in day old chicks

types, characteristics, uses and maintenance of litter for poultry

biosecurity requirements for brooding and rearing chickens

relevant environmental and sustainability requirements, and procedures for disposal and management of wastes

relevant documentation and records that are required

relevant work health and safety requirements

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