Common Poultry Inspector Interview Preparation Guide

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"Standard" chickens weigh 4-7 pounds depending on the breed and the sex (roosters weigh more than hens). "Bantam" chickens -- which are the same as standard chickens, only smaller -- weigh 1-2 pounds.

Sort of. Smaller (lighter) breeds, and "bantams" -- which are the same as "standard" breeds but about 1/4 the size -- can fly 25-50 feet and will roost in trees if allowed to. Heavier breeds have much more limited flight.

The stringy white portion of the egg is called the chalazae. It is there to anchor the yolk in the center of the egg. The presence of a prominent chalazae is actually an indication that the egg is fresh because as the egg ages the chalazae becomes less noticeable.

In the vast majority of cases, no, but you do hear of this once in a while. Most cats are more intimidated by grown chickens than chickens are of them. Baby chicks are more at risk because they're helpless, but again in our experience cats aren't interested in them. Better to take precautions, though!

To determine if an egg is fertile, incubate it for a few days and then candle it to see if cell division has begun.

No, the color of the egg has no effect on how healthy it is. However, how chickens are kept DOES have an effect on how healthy the eggs are!

Certified egg production flocks are those flocks that comply with the guidelines established by the United Egg Producers organization. To be certified, flocks must meet requirements in housing and cage space allowance, beak trimming, molting, transportation and handling.

Under optimum conditions; good nutrition, ideal day length, adequate housing and good management practices, most layers should begin egg production at about 20-22 weeks of age.

They just do! Different breeds lay different-colored eggs. Eggs come in many different colors - light brown, deep chocolate brown, white, off-white, pinkish and even green and blue! Some also lay speckled eggs.

A couple of key facts:

☛ An individual bird's eggs will remain basically the same color all the time.
☛ There can be variation in the shade of egg colors amongst individuals within a breed, but not the base color (brown, white, blue etc.).
☛ One way to tell what color egg a chicken will lay is to look at her earlobe! A hen with a white earlobe will always lay white eggs, whereas hens with red earlobes can lay brown, blue or green eggs.
☛ Araucana and Ameraucana breeds, also known as the "Easter Egg Chickens", famously lay varying shades of green and blue eggs.

Yes! Chickens will come back to the same place to sleep every night -- so you can let your chickens roam your yard during the day and when it gets dark they will return to their coop to catch up on their beauty rest. (A "roost" is a pole they perch on, which they much prefer to sleeping on the ground.)

Designer eggs are those eggs produced by flocks of chickens which have been fed special diets in an attempt to modify the nutrition of the eggs they produce. Consumers should be well informed about the differences in these eggs and all other eggs when making purchasing decisions. Free range eggs are produced by flocks of chickens which are not confined in cages. The chickens may be raised on the floor of a poultry house or they may be allowed to roam around outside. Yolks of free range eggs may be darker because of the chicken's eating foods that contain more carotenoid pigments (green grass, yellow corn, etc.).

You shouldn't. Chickens are social creatures and they will not do well alone. I advise a minimum of two.

No, all eggs have the white spot called the germinal disc. It is almost impossible to determine if an egg is fertile without first incubating it for several hours.

There is essentially no nutritional difference due to shell color. White, brown or blue-green eggs from birds being fed similar rations are very similar. Research has shown that the cholesterol content of eggs is about the same regardless of color and whether or not the egg is fertile. In simple terms an egg is an egg regardless of the color or whether it is fertile.

☛ What challenges do you anticipate in this new role?
☛ Describe your typical work week.
☛ What interests you about Herbruck Poultry Ranch?
☛ What goals would you like to accomplish while working for Herbruck Poultry Ranch?
☛ What is your greatest weakness?
☛ What is your greatest strength? How will it help you make a difference at Herbruck Poultry Ranch?
☛ The work environment at Herbruck Poultry Ranch can be fast-paced at times. How do you handle stress?
☛ At Herbruck Poultry Ranch we understand that conflict can arise when you're working closely with others on a team. Give me an example of a time when you had to deal with an issue while working with others.
☛ Tell me about a time when your actions resulted in greater efficiencies of your team.
☛ What is your greatest professional achievement so far?
☛ Why are you leaving your current job?
☛ What do you think you will enjoy most about working in the food and beverage industry?
☛ How would your co-workers describe you?
☛ Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
☛ What are some of the challenges that the food and beverage industry face today?
☛ Tell me about an idea you implemented in the past that made an impact.
☛ Do you have experience training others?
☛ How do you handle customer complaints?
☛ How do you handle situations that could cause you to be tardy or absent?
☛ It's important for shift changes to go smoothly at Herbruck Poultry Ranch to maintain productivity. How do you make sure transitions are seamless?
☛ At Herbruck Poultry Ranch we value individuals who take initiative. Can you give me an example of a time you did something without being asked?
☛ There may be times when you are asked to stay late, work weekends or overtime, due to fluctuations in the schedule and shift changes at Herbruck Poultry Ranch. What is your availability?
☛ How would you handle an issue with a policy or procedure?
☛ We strive to help our employees create a healthy work/life balance at Herbruck Poultry Ranch. What steps do you take to maintain balance and manage your workload?
☛ Tell me about a time when you reached a goal within a tight deadline.
☛ How do you believe your coworkers would describe you?
☛ Describe a time when you took a creative approach to solving a problem.
☛ When have you been asked to perform a function or complete a task in which you had little or no experience in doing?

☛ How do you see your job relating to the overall goals?
☛ What would be your ideal working environment?
☛ What is your expected salary?
☛ What was the most stressful situation you have facedas as Meat and Poultry Inspector?
☛ Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
☛ Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback.
☛ Tell me about the most effective presentation you have made.

☛ What motivates you to do a good job?
☛ What do you do if you disagree with a co-worker?
☛ Has anything ever irritated you about people you've worked with?
☛ If you worked as Meat and Poultry Inspector, what are you doing?
☛ Describe how you have balanced your academic work with your extracurricular activities.
☛ Why do you believe you are qualified for this Meat and Poultry Inspector position?
☛ Why are you leaving your present job?

☛ What decisions do you find easy to make?
☛ What gets you out of bed in the morning?
☛ Why have you been unemployed for all this time?
☛ Which areas of your work are most often praised?
☛ Would you work holidays/weekends?
☛ What things do you find difficult to do?
☛ Which is more important: creativity or efficiency?

☛ Are you a leader? Give examples.
☛ In what ways have your college experiences prepared you for a career?
☛ Would you rather be liked or feared?
☛ In doing your job, do you think it's more important to finish quickly?
☛ What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked?
☛ What do you look for in a job?
☛ What kind of games do you like to play?

☛ What qualities do you look for in a supervisor?
☛ How do you take direction?
☛ Do you think grades should be considered by first employers?
☛ Do you take work home with you?
☛ Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
☛ How many raises were given at your last position? Why were you given them?
☛ Which areas of your work are most often criticized?

☛ Were you able to achieve the results you wanted?
☛ Can you perform Internet research? Please describe to me your steps in doing so.
☛ Could you have done better in your last job?
☛ Have you ever been fired?
☛ Describe the best person who ever worked for you or with you?
☛ Which one is better: mentoring or coaching?
☛ Is grad school important?

Commercial rations will usually produce the best results from all types of poultry. A ration designed specifically for a particular type of bird should always be used (ie. layer ration for layers, broiler ration for broilers, etc.). The commercial ration should not be supplemented with scratch, corn or table scraps because the birds will not be eating a balanced diet.

Chickens reproduce in a manner similar to some other animals. The female produces an egg which if fertilized can result in a baby chick. The true egg, the part that develops into the embryo, is located on the egg yolk. The yolk begins to develop in the ovary and after 10-12 days of development, ovulation occurs. If the female has been mating with a male, sperm will be present and fertilization can occur.

The male chicken does not have a penis and therefore there is no penetration of the female reproductive tract at the time of mating. Instead the female inverts the cloaca (site of the common junction of the reproductive and digestive systems) which comes in contact with the male's inverted cloaca and receives the sperm. The cloaca is then drawn back into the hen's body and the sperm are captured. They then begin the journey up the length of the reproductive system. The sperm live inside the female reproductive system and each time an ovulation occurs (every 24-26 hours in good egg producers) the egg can become fertile. This process continues and matings at 7 - 10 day intervals are necessary to maintain fertility. After fertilization occurs the egg albumen, shell membranes, and shell are added to complete the egg formation process. The chicken usually lays the egg about 24 hours after ovulation.

Different muscles in the body of the bird are used at various rates. Since chickens and turkeys do not fly, the breast muscles (which are used in flight) are not used as much as the leg and thigh muscles and do not require as much oxygen. The oxygen transport mechanism is myoglobin and is present in dissimilar amounts in the muscles which results in the color contrast.

Take it to a veterinarian that specializes in avian medicine or farm animals.