Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 3:30 PM AWST

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Incubate eggs

Incubate eggs

Unit of competency
National Code
AHCPLY310
State Code
OFB01
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
24/01/2023
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
09/06/2023
Field of Education
050105 - Animal Husbandry
Original Release Date
09/06/2023
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to incubate eggs, including the operation and monitoring of egg setting and hatching equipment.This unit applies to workers who apply technical knowledge and skills with discretion and judgement to incubate poultry eggs in commercial production environments. They work under broad direction, coordinate activities and solve problems related to egg incubation. Workplaces may include poultry breeding farms and egg incubation facilities. Commonwealth and/or state/territory health and safety, animal welfare, environmental protection and biosecurity legislation, regulations and codes of practice apply to working with fertilised poultry eggs, and the use of fumigants. Requirements vary between jurisdictions.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Receive and store eggs
  • 1.1 Identify and implement enterprise biosecurity procedures that apply to incubating eggs
  • 1.2 Identify tasks to be undertaken from work plan
  • 1.3 Identify health and safety hazards, and assess and control risks associated with fumigating, operating, transferring eggs and carrying out the hatching process
  • 1.4 Select and fit personal protective equipment (PPE) required for fumigating, operating, transferring eggs and carrying out the hatching process
  • 1.5 Check egg storage plant, equipment and tools in readiness to receive eggs
  • 1.6 Unload eggs from delivery vehicle, transfer to setter trolleys and record temperature, humidity, storage period and other required information
  • 1.7 Attach eggs to turning machine and manage eggs according to enterprise requirements
  • 1.8 Monitor and adjust temperature, humidity and airflow to maintain required conditions
  • 1.9 Complete ongoing records and report issues according to enterprise requirements
2. Fumigate setter and/or incubator
  • 2.1 Identify fumigation requirements according to work plan
  • 2.2 Prepare fumigant and application equipment and PPE
  • 2.3 Fit PPE, seal room and fumigate for required period
  • 2.4 Ventilate room or chamber to remove unsafe remnants of the fumigant prior to re-entry of staff, re-installation of equipment and placement of eggs
3. Monitor and operate setter
  • 3.1 Calibrate temperature probes in setter according to manufacturer and/or enterprise requirements
  • 3.2 Check and record setter readings
  • 3.3 Recognise alarms and carry out specified sequence of operations
  • 3.4 Operate and maintain setter to consistently meet required settings
4. Transfer eggs and operate incubator
  • 4.1 Move trollies and/or pallets to egg handling and transfer area according to sequence required by enterprise
  • 4.2 Check incubator temperature, humidity and airflow, and adjust to maintain required conditions according to developmental stage of eggs
  • 4.3 Transfer eggs to hatching trays according to predetermined sequence
  • 4.4 Recognise alarms and carry out specified sequence of operations
5. Carry out hatching processes
  • 5.1 Operate incubator and/or hatcher and record temperature, humidity and airflow as required
  • 5.2 Transition eggs into hatching stage
  • 5.3 Recognise alarms and carry out specified sequence of operations
  • 5.4 Vaccinate viable hatchlings and complete processes required to transfer chicks to brooding destination
6. Clean and/or sanitise work areas and equipment
  • 6.1 Identify health and safety hazards, and assess risks and control risks for cleaning and/ or sanitising
  • 6.2 Select and fit appropriate PPE required for cleaning and/ or sanitising
  • 6.3 Measure chemicals and prepare cleaning fluids safely according to supplier instructions and enterprise procedures
  • 6.4 Check and prepare cleaning equipment
  • 6.5 Clean and/or disinfect work areas, tools, equipment and surfaces according to enterprise health, safety, personal hygiene and biosecurity procedures
  • 6.6 Dispose of waste according to enterprise biosecurity and environmental procedures
  • 6.7 Maintain and store tools, equipment and machinery
  • 6.8 Complete records and report issues according to enterprise requirements
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
BAS32 AHCPLY304 Incubate eggs Unit of competency