Hatchery - Laborer

Overview

Pilgrim’s Hatchery Labor — In a role where safety is a condition, the safety of our team members comes first — always. Join our Pilgrim’s Hatchery Team in Russellville, AL to help ensure the healthy start of our poultry flock. This is a hands-on role responsible for handling eggs, monitoring incubation, assisting with chick hatching, and performing quality checks to maintain animal care and biosecurity standards.

You’ll operate specialized equipment, keep work areas clean, and follow strict safety and sanitation protocols. This is a fast-paced environment where precision and teamwork are essential. If you’re reliable, detail-oriented, and eager to learn, this is an opportunity to grow with a company dedicated to excellence and animal welfare.

• Handle and set eggs in incubators according to established procedures.
• Monitor incubation conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation) to ensure optimal hatching results.
• Assist with chick hatching and transfer, ensuring proper care and handling.
• Perform quality checks on eggs and chicks to maintain health and biosecurity standards.
• Clean and sanitize equipment and work areas to meet strict safety and sanitation guidelines.
• Follow all biosecurity and animal welfare protocols to protect flock health and product integrity.
• Record and maintain accurate data on egg counts, hatch rates, and chick quality for reporting purposes.
• Assist with chick vaccination and preparation for transport, ensuring proper handling and care.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Education:
  
  High School Diploma/GED preferred.
• Experience:
  
  Poultry or food industry experience is a plus.
• Skills:
  
  Ability to multitask and work quickly, strong written and verbal communication, ability to comprehend simple instructions and apply common sense, and must be a team player.
• Physical requirements:
  
  Work in high-temperature environments (100+°F), tolerate odors, and handle repetitive lifting/pushing of 100 lbs or more with continuous physical activity. Candidate must be able to push/pull 450 lb. buggies (on wheels) of chicks and eggs.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Must not raise any poultry or birds.

• Schedule:
  
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 4 AM to 11:30 AM or until production is complete.
• Benefits:
  Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment.
• 401(k): company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule.
• Base hourly salary rate of $14.40 per hour (Piece Rate).
• Career Development:
  Our company supports professional growth through continuous learning opportunities and various development programs.
• Better Futures:
  Commitment to employee development and opportunities for advancement.

The Company conducts drug, alcohol, and background checks for all new team members post-offer and prior to the start of employment. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires verification of employment eligibility by the end of the third day of work.

About us:

Pilgrim’s is a leading global food company with more than 62,000 team members worldwide. The company processes, prepares, packages, and delivers fresh, frozen, and value-added food products for customers in more than 100 countries. Pilgrim’s operates protein processing plants and prepared foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.

Our mission:
To be the best in all that we do, completely focused on our business, ensuring the best products and services to our customers, a relationship of trust with our suppliers, profitability for our shareholders and the opportunity of a better future for all of our team members.

Our core values are:
Availability, Determination, Discipline, Humility, Ownership, Simplicity, Sincerity

EOE, including disability/vets

Unsolicited Assistance:
Pilgrim’s and its companies do not accept unsolicited assistance from recruitment vendors for open jobs. All resumes or candidate profiles submitted by recruitment vendors or headhunters will be owned by Pilgrim’s and its companies. No fees will be paid for unsolicited referrals.