Vacancies

Chick Rearing Management Assistant

Company Overview

Heart of England Farms Ltd is one of the country's leading breeders, hatchers, and rearers of game birds. We are looking for a new staff member to join our team on the main rearing site. Working alongside the Farm Manager you will be assisting in the rearing of large quantities of pheasants and partridges for this coming season.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the daily care and management of game bird chicks, ensuring their health and well-being.
• Daily routine checks, feeding and maintenance of the water systems.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of rearing facilities.
• Assist with bird care activities, including health monitoring.
• Use hand tools and power tools safely for maintenance tasks.
• Follow all safety protocols to ensure a safe working environment.

Role Requirements

• Commercial experience in livestock management or agriculture.
• Basic knowledge of mechanical systems, irrigation, or equipment maintenance is preferred.
• Ability to perform physical tasks including some heavy lifting.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Strong work ethic and team spirit.
• Basic math skills for record-keeping.
• Prior experience with specifically with poultry would be beneficial but not compulsory.

The successful candidate will also become involved in the day to day requirements of running a busy working farm, again assisting with pest control, landscape management and ongoing maintenance.  At different times in the season you will also become involved in the wider requirements of the company whether that be breeding birds, hatching, poult catching and the production of Christmas birds for the Christmas market. This is an exciting role with lots of variety as the year evolves. 

-          40 hour (Mon-Fri) working week permanent contract however hours worked will easily average between 45-50 hours per week (all hours worked are paid for) which includes weekend work.

-          Weekend Work will either be a Saturday OR Sunday but not both.

-          Normal working hours are 7:30am – 4:30pm with these hours increasing from the spring as the rearing season starts.

-          Salary is to be discussed at meeting and is paid by the hour. Weekend work attracts a £ premium. Quality accommodation on site possible in a modern house however this isn’t suitable for families. 

Game Farm (Pheasants) / Poultry Assistant

We are a busy and progressive business breeding and rearing game birds (pheasants and partridges) currently requiring a practical and enthusiastic person to fill this position for a Farm Assistant.

Heart of England Farms Ltd over-winter large flocks of birds for breeding in the following season. These flocks are then paired or grouped in the Autumn and the following early Spring to be settled for the start of the breeding season. All birds undertake a health inspection and rigid vaccination programme to ensure their health and the ongoing health of their off-spring. Laying commences in early Spring when our hatchery starts producing the first day old chicks in mid April. Batches of chicks are kept week on week to be reared on to poults.

Initially you will be working within different teams and will help with the responsibility of our breeding birds. Sorting birds from their winter quarters, assisting with the vaccination programme, then placing into the breeding units. Then as the spring progresses you will assist with egg collecting and egg washing on a daily rota basis. Power washing duties will include, equipment used in the rearing of birds, buildings and hatchery on a weekly basis. You will work with the team on a 'bitting' gang, catching birds for sale and working with the staff responsible for the rearing of the birds.

To be suitable for this role you may have some livestock experience, this need not be in game birds but beneficial if you do. It is very important that you are prepared to take responsibility and able to work alone or as part of a team. You will ideally have worked in a similar environment and have prior experience of livestock management.

Salary is totally dependent upon your experience and will be discussed at interview. We are interested in seeing the details of both experienced people who can hit the ground running and are looking for high levels of responsibility or those who have little experience and would like to gain in their knowledge and grow into the role. We have opportunities for both levels of ability.

We offer a 40 hour working week contract (Mon - Fri).  However the actual hours worked will be between 48-55 per week inc weekends.  Weekend work (either a Saturday or Sunday NOT both) is required during busy times. Weekend work attracts an additional pay bonus.  We pay hourly not annually so all hours worked are paid for!

The successful applicant must be able to provide past employment reference contact details for us to follow up.