The operations performed at each farm are listed helow: 



1. Preparation 



a. Position the truck 



b. Release tie downs on the load 



c. Inspect broiler house for such conditions as proper temper- 

 ature, ventilation and equipment operation 



2. Unloading and emptying chick boxes 



a. Carry boxes of chicks to brooders 



b. Remove chicks from boxes 



c. Carry empty boxes back to truck 



3. Preparation for leaving 



a. Load and secure empty boxes 



b. Conduct any necessary paperwork 



c. Leave farm 



Some additional time is necessary for personal needs of the crew. 



The policy for chick distribution is to assign one man to a vehicle 

 to drive and place the chicks. On occasions when the scheduled trip is 

 longer than usual or the load larger than usual, a second man, a helper, 

 is added to assist the driver at the farm or in driving. For purposes of 

 this study, two men per vehicle is the maximum permissable crew. 



Data on labor productivity for distribution was collected from sev- 

 eral integrated hatcheries. In placing chicks at production units crews 

 consisting of one or two men averaged 5,000 chicks or 50 boxes per man- 

 hour provided no time was lost waiting for the grower to finish prepar- 

 ing the facilities for receiving the chicks. This is the productivity stand- 

 ard adopted for use in constructing the distribution model. 



Chick Distribution Vehicles 



A variety of sizes and types of vehicles were found available to 

 hatcheries for chick distribution. Hatcheries generally used the straight- 

 back truck with van, but buses, panel trucks, and tractor-trailer com- 

 binations were also in evidence. 



One specific vehicle size was not suitable for all hatcheries. Five 

 different load capacity vehicles representative of the sizes that were 

 found in use are utilized in developing the distribution models. The 

 load capacities range from 14,000 to 34,800 chicks (table 19) . 



Cost of Distribution Inputs 



Chick distribution requires three inputs: labor, vehicles, and man- 

 agement. No buildings are included since hatcheries use the indoor load- 

 ing areas as garages or leave the vehicles outside. 



Labor Costs 



Drivers are assigned a cost of $1.70 per hour which was the prevail- 

 ing wage found for hatchery vehicle drivers. Helpers are assigned a cost 

 of $1.35 per hour. These wage rates include such fringe benefits as 



33 



