An egg collector works on poultry farms and collects eggs from hens, geese, turkeys, and ducks.
Also known as poultry worker and egg collector, poultry farm worker (breeder farm or egg production only), free-range egg collector, or egg collector and packer.
This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business.
In Britain, the poultry industry works to world-class standards and has high levels of animal welfare. There are many opportunities to work in this industry, with good training and development schemes available.
An egg collector can work on poultry farms of various sizes, and there are many different systems for hens that lay eggs; these are known as layers. Free-range systems are where birds are housed in barns, but they are free to roam outside in grass ranges.
Caged systems are where birds are managed in a controlled area to high welfare standards. They are provided with enough space for areas for nesting, feeding, littering, and bedding.
Eggs can be laid for humans to eat or are produced to hatch young chicks. These laying hens are usually kept in barns where their health and welfare can be monitored carefully.
Full-time egg collectors can work about 39 hours per week. These hours might be divided into shifts to fit with collection times. Shifts might start as early as 6am, and you sometimes be required to work evenings and weekends.
You’ll work on your own initiative but report to the farm manager, production manager, or owner.
You may need your own transport to get to work.
As an egg collector your responsibilities might include:
To work as an egg collector, you should:
The role of the egg collector is an entry point into the poultry industry, where you’ll be working closely with birds. As such, you’ll need some training to ensure you meet the British Poultry Training standards. Your employer can usually organise online training for you.
When you’ve completed your training, British Poultry Training keeps a record for you called a Poultry Passport. You’ll be able to access and update your Poultry Passport as you progress.
You must be aware of hygiene, health and safety to help reduce the risk of disease spread among the birds. You’ll also need good observation skills so you can spot and report health issues and damage to buildings and equipment.
An excellent work ethic and timekeeping skills are essential for this role.
You can also gain experience by volunteering on a farm or smallholding.
If you live in a city or urban area, you could volunteer on a local city farm, community garden, or allotment. You can find some of these in your area on the Social Farms and Gardens website.
It’s also helpful to have a basic knowledge of poultry diseases and health issues and how to help prevent them.
As an egg collector, you’ll have the following competencies in relation to the careful collection of eggs and the health and wellbeing of the poultry in your care. You will:
The salary for an egg collector is in the region of £24,000 to £30,000 per year.
This figure is for a full-time permanent position for workers over 21 years of age, depending on level of experience, business type and location. Workers below 21 years of age can be paid a lower hourly rate.
This role though is often advertised as casual, self-employed, part-time or hourly with a salary that is reflective of the full-time rate of pay.
As an egg collector you may, in some instances, be paid for travel time and receive support in travelling to your place of work.
Within the agriculture and horticulture sectors there are often many associated benefits that are not reflected in the headline salary. These include accommodation being provided or subsidised, travel pay, profit shares, vehicle use and production bonuses.
As you gain experience and further training through the British Poultry Training initiative or the Lion Training Passport (for egg production), you could progress your role to a poultry stockperson or assistant farm manager.
The British poultry industry can provide long-term careers, and there are opportunities to work with other poultry businesses if you want to. You may decide to specialise in a specific area of the industry, such as food technology, sales and marketing, food production, breeding, or genetics.
Courses which can help you on this career path include:
Level 2 Diploma in work-based Agriculture (poultry)
Level 1 Diploma Land-based Studies Agriculture
Level 2 Technical Certificate in Agriculture
Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Agriculture
Apprenticeships
Employers and recruiters who hire for this role include:
The employers and recruiters listed below hire for roles like this one. If you would like your business to be listed here, please click the button underneath the logos shown here.
https://banhampoultry.co.uk/careers/
https://www.culturaconnect.co.uk/careers.html
https://pilgrimseurope.current-vacancies.com/Recruitment/Index
https://www.tnpltd.com/careers/
For more information on career inspiration and lots of varied job profiles visit The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture’s website
Promoting food, farming and countryside education in Norfolk 🚜🐑
💚 A huge thank you to @benburgessag and all their fantastic staff for supporting our...
🍎🥕 What a fantastic time we had at @theaylshamshow ! 🌱
We loved welcoming visitors...
🥕 Come and visit us at the Aylsham Show this Bank Holiday Monday!🍓
This year’s...
🎉 A Levels Results Day! 🎉
A huge congratulations to everyone receiving their results today!...
What a fantastic day at our 2nd Exploring Food & Farming event of 2026 🚜...
Did you see us at Wayland Show on Sunday? 🐑✨
We had a wonderful day...
Happy Norfolk Day! 🌾💛
From fields and thriving farms to fresh local produce and the...
Our women in farming project carries on with the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Associations community cube...
🌱✨ Throwback Thursday ✨🌱
Today we're looking back at some fantastic memories from our school...
🚜 Are you passionate about innovation in agriculture, food production, sustainability, engineering, technology, or rural...
🌾 Come and see us at the Wayland Agricultural Show on Sunday, 2nd August!
The...
🚜🌾Applications are still open for our FREE Exploring Food & Farming Day on Wednesday 5th...
What an incredible @royalnorfolkshow we had last week! 🌾🎉
The Food & Farming Discovery Trust...
We're at @groundswell_agriculture for the next two days! 📸🌾
Come and visit our Women in...
☀️ Hot weather is forecast for this year's Royal Norfolk Show. Here is some useful...
📸🌾 Celebrate Women in Agriculture at the @RoyalNorfolkShow 🌾📸
As 2026 marks the International Year...
🌾🎉 The countdown is on!
Next week, we’re delighted to welcome more than 15,000 school...
