Poultry Sex Determination

Short-Term Certificate · 480 clock hours · Division of Animal and Agricultural Sciences

This program is measured in clock hours, does not carry credit, and is not eligible for transfer.

Determination of the sex of day-old chicks by vent examination and by feather sexing. Vent technique is taught to a working standard of 800 chicks per hour at 98 percent accuracy, which is the commercial minimum. Students who cannot reach 700 per hour by the twelfth week are counseled to withdraw.

The program is 480 hours because the skill cannot be taught in fewer. Most of that time is repetition. Students should not enroll expecting variety in the instructional day.

Chicks are supplied by two cooperating hatcheries and are returned to them. The College does not retain them.

Graduates work at hatcheries. There are four within a day's drive. The occupation is compensated well above the regional median and has no career ladder.

Facilities and instruction

Instruction is delivered in the facilities of the Division of Animal and Agricultural Sciences. Additional photographs are collected at Campus photographs.