Job Description

Quail Care Specialist

Department: Farm Operations

Reports To: Assistant Director of Operations

Job Type: Full/Part-Time; Employee

About Steadfast Farms

From Hatch to Harvest, with Purpose and Passion: At Steadfast Farms, we blend tradition, innovation, and regenerative practices to create food that sustains families, enriches communities, and preserves the values of ethical farming for generations to come.

By honoring farmers' dedication and producing nutritious, high-quality food, we’re shaping a healthier food system and inspiring future generations to sustain the rich legacy of agriculture. We stand as a testament to intentional work, ethical stewardship, and an unwavering commitment to community. By placing our partners and families at the heart of every story, we champion a brighter future—one that honors the land, uplifts people, and strengthens communities for generations.

Role (Overview of the Position)

The Quail Care Specialist Farm Hand is responsible for the daily care, cleaning, and maintenance of the Steadfast Farms Coturnix Quail Flock, ensuring optimal conditions for egg production, hatching, and overall bird health. This role requires close attention to detail, accurate record-keeping, and adherence to strict biosecurity protocols. The ideal candidate is dependable, self-motivated, and able to work independently while maintaining open communication with farm management, bringing not just observed concerns, but proactive solutions, in alignment with our team’s solution mindset. This position starts in the quail hatchery but may expand to other areas of the farm as the employee demonstrates proficiency, reliability, and dedication.

Responsibilities (Tasks Associated with the Role)

• Daily cleaning and maintenance of the quail hatchery.
• Accurately record data on egg counts, weights, hatching rates, and incubation progress on a daily and weekly basis.
• Plan and schedule incubation cycles to ensure maximum production.
• Communicate with management to schedule and plan harvesting cycles.
• Monitor bird health and behavior, reporting any concerns immediately.
• Track overall flock mortality and retirement schedules of breeding flock
• Asist CT DOAG during quarterly NPIP testing days
• Submit suggestions to management to improve any process or task that results in better efficiency, cost savings, and bird health
• Follow biosecurity protocols to prevent disease, including proper handling, sanitation, wearing PPE, and restricted access to sensitive areas.
• Maintain, track, and refill feed and water systems as needed.
• Identify and relay supply needs (bedding, feed, equipment, etc.) to management in a timely manner.
• Lift and move feed bins, bedding, and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. with two-person assistance.
• Work independently while maintaining a high level of accuracy and accountability.
• Potential opportunity to assist in additional farm operations as needed, including poultry husbandry and general farm maintenance.
• Comfortable with or experience with driving a 38 HP Hydrostatic Tractor with loader on various terrains and under load. 
• Ability to travel and maneuver around people, structures, and equipment without causing damage or injury.
• Attaching and detaching tractor implements.
• Refilling tractor safety and environmentally conscious.

Results (Expected Accomplishments)

• The Quail Care Specialist Farm Hand will have clear, trackable goals that ensure consistent, high-quality results. Success in this role will be measured by the following:
• Hatch Rate Efficiency

§ Good: Maintain a minimum 75% hatch rate for incubated eggs.

§ Better: Improve hatch rate to 80% by following optimized incubation procedures.

§ Best: Consistently achieve 85%+ hatch rate by maintaining ideal conditions, monitoring humidity/temp levels, and identifying infertile eggs early.

• Chick Survival & Health

§ Good: Keep weekly chick loss at or below 10%.

§ Better: Reduce chick loss to 5% or lower through early intervention and care.

§ Best: Consistently maintain chick survival rates at 95%+ with proactive monitoring and optimal brooder conditions.

• Egg Production Tracking & Efficiency[ND2] [AM3] 

§ Good: Maintain at least 85% egg production rate (percentage of laying hens producing daily).

§ Better: Achieve a 90% or higher egg production rate through consistent feeding, lighting, and care.

§ Best: Help optimize flock conditions to a 95% egg production rate, identifying any hens that aren’t producing and adjusting conditions as needed.

• Facility Cleanliness & Biosecurity

§ Good: Complete all required cleaning tasks daily, keeping records up to date.

§ Better: Consistently exceed sanitation standards by identifying and resolving any facility sanitation concerns before they become an issue.

§ Best: Implement improvements to cleaning processes that reduce disease risk and improve overall health, leading to fewer than 2 health-related issues per month, and improve efficiencies in cleaning and biosecurity.

• Quail Live Weight[ND4] 

§ Good: 9-week grow cycle by breed

• EPC - Roos 9oz, Hens 12-13oz
• Whites - Roos 11oz, Hens 16+oz

§ Better: 8-week grow cycle by breed

• EPC - Roos 9oz, Hens 12-13oz
• Whites - Roos 11oz, Hens 16+oz

§ Best: 8-week grow cycle by breed

• EPC - Roos 10oz, Hens 14+oz
• Whites - Roos 12oz, Hens 18+oz

Requirements (Expected Proficiencies)

• Physical ability to lift 50 lbs., work in various weather conditions, and perform hands-on farm labor.
• Attention to detail when recording data and monitoring bird health.
• Reliability and punctuality to fulfill daily responsibilities 7 days a week, with scheduled hours ranging from 2–5 hours per day, with the potential for additional hours as flock size increases or operational needs arise.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining communication with farm management.
• Reliable transportation to and from the farm.
• Willingness to follow biosecurity protocols and farm safety procedures without exception.
• Experience working with poultry or farm animals is a plus but not required training will be provided.

Payment Terms

• $17/hour

This role is eligible for performance-based quarterly bonuses.

• PTO & Sick Time
• Yearly Staff Events
• Monthly Food Items from in-stock products.
• Payment Schedule: Weekly
• Opportunity for additional responsibilities and wage increases based on performance and farm needs.

Ready to join a purpose-driven team that values integrity, hard work, and growth? If you believe you're the right fit for our Quail Care Specialist role, we want to hear from you!

To apply, please email steadfastspps@gmail.com with the subject line "Quail Care Specialist."

Be sure to attach your resume and include a brief (1-minute max) video introducing yourself and answering the following:

1. Why are you excited about this role at Steadfast Farms?
2. What experience do you have working independently or with animals?
3. What does being a dependable teammate mean to you?

We’re looking for someone who’s not just applying for a job, but stepping into our mission to shape the future of agriculture in Connecticut. Let us know why that’s you!

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Job Tags

Full time, Temporary work, Part time, Immediate start,

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