Farmers who operate large farms and employ many laborers can set fairly regular hours for themselves. Poultry farmers who run small farms and do much of the work themselves must work seven days a week. Poultry farmers set their own hours, which depend on the size of the farm and the number of laborers they employ. Most job openings will result when farmers retire or leave the field. Increasing productivity is expected to contribute to the decline of poultry farmers through the year 2012, despite the high demand for poultry and eggs.

In general, the chances for success are best for those who obtain the backing of an investment group. Farmers must invest a great deal of money. The financial risks are high in poultry farming. Some go into related areas of work, such as poultry inspection for government agencies. Workers on poultry farms may become farm managers or start their own farms. Poultry farmers may increase the size of their farms in order to add to their earning potential. Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook Candidates should also check newspaper want ads and the state employment office. If a prospective farmer attends a school for formal training, the placement office or teachers may know of openings. Another way to get into the field is to start as a technician or laborer on someone else's farm. If a person's parents or relatives own a farm, he or she may be able to make arrangements to operate it when they retire. To start a poultry farm, an individual must have or be able to borrow a great deal of money. Students who plan to manage farms should take courses in accounting, business management, and economics. Some two-year colleges offer programs leading to an associate degree in poultry production and related subjects. Valuable training in poultry production is also available from high schools, technical institutes, and colleges. Work experience can give candidates the background needed to become a farm manager or to run one's own farm. Part-time and summer jobs in the poultry industry are often available to high school and college students. One way to get the knowledge needed is to take a job as a farm worker on a poultry farm. To be a successful poultry farmer, one needs a working understanding of poultry production, business practices, and management techniques. These records also help them to select poultry for breeding. By doing so, they can keep track of expenses and income. Farmers usually keep records of the amount of feed eaten and the number of eggs produced. Farmers are also careful to call a veterinarian as soon as an illness develops among their birds. For this reason, farmers inspect their flocks every day. Since most poultry houses are crowded, disease can spread quickly. Usually these machines consist of feed blowers and conveyor belts.

Most poultry farmers have machines that feed their birds and clean beneath the cages. Poultry farming is often a job for the whole family. When the eggs hatch, farmers put the chicks into trays where they are kept warm for a few more days. Poultry farmers carefully watch the thermostats and gauges on incubators to make sure that these machines keep the eggs at the proper temperature. Incubators keep trays of eggs warm and moist until the eggs hatch. Although some farmers still hatch eggs by leaving them under a hen, most use machines called incubators. Farmers then put the eggs into cartons and refrigerate them. The eggs are then rolled down ramps onto small machines that automatically sort them according to size. Each egg is then candled, or held against a strong light to see if it is fit to be sold. The eggs are then put into racks on conveyor belts, which take them through automatic washers. Farmers collect the eggs soon after they have been laid. Poultry farmers who raise their own chickens for eggs sell the eggs to consumers or food processing companies. Others sell their broilers and eggs on the open market. In return for their labor and the use of their farms, poultry farmers are paid a set price for the broilers (meat chickens) and the eggs they produce.

They may receive chicks, feed, and technical advice from an investment company or its agents. Some poultry farmers work under contract. On smaller farms farmers and their families do much of the work themselves. On large farms farmers or farm managers may spend most of their time supervising workers.

Framing job salary