Chicken Delivery Helper - 1st Shift

Perdue Farms; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Job summary

Perdue Foods is seeking a Chicken Delivery Helper to support hatchery operations and ensure chicks reach their destination safely. You’ll assist loading, transport, and unloading chicks with care while maintaining animal welfare and efficient operations.

This is a piece-rate position with earnings linked to miles and boxes, plus an annual bonus and potential overtime. The schedule runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:00am until processing is complete, with weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Reading and writing skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the driver in loading chicks onto the Smithway transport vehicle.
• Assist with unloading fully loaded pallets and reloading emptied pallets.
• Remove stacked chick boxes from pallets and gently empty chicks onto the ground.
• Restack empty chick boxes and prepare them for return to the hatchery.
• Adhere to all biosecurity and safety requirements.
• Remove bio-security garments and dispose of refuse at the farm.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Hatchery management.

Skills

Reading and writing

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

Be part of a critical team that keeps our hatchery operations running smoothly! As a Chicken Delivery Helper, you’ll play a key role in ensuring chicks reach their destination safely and efficiently. You’ll support the delivery driver in loading, transporting, and unloading chicks with care, helping maintain top-notch animal welfare while keeping operations on track. Every day offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on our poultry program and the start of a healthy flock.

This position is a piece rate position and is paid $0.0234 per mile completed and $0.0982 per box completed with average earnings ranging from $15.45 per hour, guaranteed minimum wage laws apply. Annual bonus (variable depending on performance) as well as overtime may be available.

Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 4:00am-Until Processing Complete.

Weekends/Saturdays as business needs dictate.

• Assist the driver in the loading of chicks onto the Smithway chick transport vehicle.
• Assist with the off-loading of fully loaded pallets from the Smithway, and the reloading of emptied pallets.
• Remove stacked chick boxes from pallets approx. 7 feet high and gently empty the chicks onto the ground.
• Restack empty chick boxes onto pallets and prepare them for return to the hatchery.
• Adhere to all biosecurity and safety requirements.
• Remove bio-security garments and dispose of all refuse at the farm.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Hatchery management.

Minimum Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Reading and writing skills are preferred.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Work environment includes, but not limited to, moving in an upright position, and working on a dry, concrete, sawdust and plastic grating surfaces with up to 4 hours in a single interval.
• Must be able to lift, control and carry up to 50 lbs. at distances of up to 200 feet.
• Exposure to temperature ranges from 28 degrees to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with both ambient and 100% humidity.
• Exposure to airborne chick down, vaccine, disinfectants, and other chemicals used in hatchery & breeder management.
• Bending, twisting, lifting, reaching, sitting and grasping varies in repetitions, distances, degrees, angles, weights, height, intervals of time, objects grasped and body positions depending upon the task being performed.
• Normal exposure to chemicals listed in plant MSDS.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.