Hatchery Worker

Hatchery Worker at Hoover's Hatchery NM LLC in Portales, NM.

SOC 45-2093 accounts for 100% of the work performed. Employees work in a chicken hatchery production facility where chicken eggs are incubated, chicks are hatched, and customer chick orders are prepared and shipped. The work begins with receiving eggs at the hatchery and farms, loading and unloading eggs and chicks at the hatchery, farms, and shipping locations, and placing eggs on trays for movement into incubators. From there, employees load trays into incubators, transfer eggs from incubators to hatchers, and handle chicks as they emerge. They examine feathers and colors of chicks to segregate chicks according to sex, load chicks into the separator, and package chicks to fill customer orders before shipment. Employees also assist across all areas of the hatchery and farms by performing toe, wing, and beak clipping, vaccinating chicks, dumping product waste, and cleaning and sanitizing the facility and equipment. They support movement between work locations by driving vans to farms and shipping locations and by loading and unloading eggs and chicks during these transfers, while also performing all other duties as assigned. The employer, at its sole discretion, may grant pay increases based on factors such as performance, longevity, and/or experience. Employer may also, at its sole discretion, offer performance-based incentive bonuses that are not guaranteed and are determined by the employer. Workers returning for a consecutive season will be paid at their previous season’s rate if that rate exceeds the current published rate.

Work begins January 9, 2027 and ends September 22, 2027.

Pay is $15.96 per hour.

Housing is provided.

Typical schedule: about 40 hours per week.