AHCPLY302
Brood poultry


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to brood poultry.

This unit applies to all poultry species and breeds.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.

This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare for brooding

1.1 Confirm work to be undertaken from work program and management

1.2 Follow biosecurity procedures

1.3 Hold discussions with other workers who may be affected by the brooding operations to ensure smooth operation of enterprise production processes

1.4 Select, check and maintain tools and equipment

1.5 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement suitable controls

1.6 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment

2. Place hatchlings

2.1 Check shed and equipment has been set up correctly for placement of chickens and for brooding

2.2 Start heaters prior to chick placement to ensure brooding section is at required temperature for chick placement

2.3 Check feed, water and shed conditions are adequate

2.4 Check shed and litter are at required temperatures

2.5 Carry chick containers safely and gently remove chickens from boxes and place on litter, paper or matting

2.6 Check chick behaviour regularly after placement

2.7 Follow enterprise animal welfare policies

3. Carry out brooding operations

3.1 Observe chick behaviour regularly

3.2 Check temperature regularly and adjust according to chicks requirements

3.3 Pick up dead birds and dispose of carcases

3.4 Identify and remove sick, injured or unthrifty birds

3.5 Remove paper or matting at appropriate time

3.6 Extend brooding area as young birds grow

3.7 Check equipment, shed climate, litter condition and ventilation regularly, and adjust as necessary

3.8 Clean drinkers and equipment regularly

3.9 Remove wet litter and replace where appropriate

3.10 Adjust lighting program as chickens grow

3.11 Carry out black-out training where required

3.12 Monitor beak tipping at appropriate times

3.13 Monitor body weight regularly

3.14 Monitor feed and water intake

4. Complete cleaning, maintenance and administration activities

4.1 Dispose of waste in line with enterprise environmental policies

4.2 Clean, maintain and store tools, machinery and equipment appropriately

4.3 Clean and maintain work areas

4.4 Complete records promptly and accurately and report to management

Evidence of Performance

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:

check and confirm that shed or section is ready for brooding

place hatchlings

carry out brooding operations

monitor chick behaviour and sensors and adjust temperature and ventilation appropriately

monitor body weight and beak tipping where applied regularly

complete cleaning, maintenance and administration activities

implement work health and safety policies

follow biosecurity procedures

follow enterprise animal welfare policies

apply enterprise environmental policies


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

the effects and impacts of brooding operations on enterprise production processes

the types, uses, maintenance and storage of relevant tools, machinery and equipment

relevant work health and safety requirements

the requirements, industry standards, codes of practice and procedures for welfare and health of poultry during brooding

the effects and impacts of temperature and shed climate on chick behaviour and how temperature and shed conditions are checked

the range, effects and impacts of stocking density and overcrowding on poultry behaviour, health and welfare

the relevant lighting and lighting programs for chickens and pullets and effects on welfare and performance

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

the requirements and procedures for cleaning and maintaining work areas

relevant records and reports that are required

describe relevant animal welfare and biosecurity requirements


Assessment Conditions

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.


Range Statement


Sectors

Poultry (PLY)