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Support the production of game bird chicks

URN: LANGa14
Business Sectors (Suites): Crofting and Smallholding,Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview

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This standard is about supporting the production of game bird chicks. It relates to the work activities that you undertake to support the incubation and hatching of game bird eggs.

This standard is for those who work in game bird production and can be applied to any wildlife management area or game farm involved in the production of game bird chicks.

To meet this standard you will be able to:
• load game bird eggs into an incubator
• maintain game bird eggs in incubation
• maintain the hatching process
• unload game bird chicks from a hatcher.

For you to fully understand the content of the standard, and the activities it describes, it is important that you are able to understand the terms used within the standard. See the Glossary for some definitions that should help you with this.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

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  1. carry out activities to support the production of game bird chicks safely, in line with the relevant health and safety requirements
  2. prepare the incubator so that it is in a clean and hygienic condition
  3.  monitor and maintain suitable environmental conditions within the incubator to facilitate successful incubation, in accordance with instructions, and report any environmental conditions that fall outside the given specification
  4.  load game bird eggs in the incubator, according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  5. carry out candling of game bird eggs to confirm their viability
  6. transfer viable game bird eggs to the hatcher, according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  7. clean the incubation facilities after use
  8.  monitor and maintain suitable environmental conditions within the hatcher to facilitate a successful hatch, in accordance with instructions, and report any environmental conditions that fall outside the given specification
  9. monitor the hatching process
  10. remove game bird chicks from the hatcher in a manner that maintains chick welfare and optimises their survival
  11. dispatch any sick or abnormal game bird chicks, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
  12. establish game bird chicks safely and securely in clean and well-ventilated chick boxes
  13. clean hatching facilities after use
  14. dispose of waste and mortalities according to the relevant legal requirements
  15. maintain accurate records as required by the relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational requirements 

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

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  1. the relevant health and safety requirements associated with the use of incubators and hatchery equipment
  2. the conditions required for successful incubation and the importance of temperature, humidity and movement to the incubation process
  3. the methods of monitoring and maintaining the incubation environment
  4. the methods used to confirm fertilisation and development
  5. the importance of cleanliness and hygiene to the incubation of game bird eggs and why game bird eggs are disinfected before incubation
  6. the conditions required for successful hatching to support the production of game bird chicks
  7. the methods of monitoring and maintaining the hatching environment
  8. the importance of temperature, humidity and movement to the hatching process
  9. the importance of hygiene to the hatching process
  10. how to handle game bird chicks in a manner that maintains their welfare
  11. the legislation and codes of practice controlling the production of game bird chicks
  12. how to humanely dispatch any sick or abnormal game bird chicks
  13. the relevant legal requirements controlling the disposal of mortalities
  14. the relevant legal requirements for the transportation of game bird chicks
  15. the relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational requirements for the completion of records

Scope/range

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Establish and maintain the following environmental conditions:
• temperature
• humidity
• turning
• hygiene

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

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Game birds – pheasant, partridge, duck

Incubation – the process used to support the development of chicks inside the egg

Hatching – the process used to support the hatching of chicks from the egg

Candle – the method of using a light source, such as a bulb, to see through the eggshell and determine whether the egg is developing properly and is therefore viable, or if it should be discarded

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGa14

Relevant Occupations

Estate Worker, Gamekeeper, Crofter, Smallholder

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game bird; chicks; breed; hatch; pheasant; partridge; duck