Decide who will catch, count, load, drive and collect the finished order before processing morning. One person can do several jobs, but not all at the same time. Give helpers the current appointment and instructions before birds are handled.
Poultry drop-off is 6:30–7:00 a.m. Use the arrival arrangement for your confirmed Underground Processing poultry appointment, not general business hours.
Give each job an owner
| Job | What needs to be ready |
|---|---|
| Flock review | Current count by species and any condition concerns |
| Equipment | Suitable carriers, secure closures and a prepared vehicle |
| Catching and loading | Helpers who know the handling method and have a clear route |
| Final count | Loaded groups reconciled with the farm record |
| Driving | Appointment, destination, route, contact and instructions |
| Office communication | One person to report changes or delays |
| Remaining farm care | Someone to check other animals while the driver is away |
| Product pickup | An available collector, cold transport and storage space |
Put actual names beside the jobs. Check overlaps with daily care or chick arrivals, and identify a backup for work that cannot wait.
Check equipment before catching
Inspect carriers, latches, vehicle space and the loading route. Move obstructions and make sure keys and equipment are available. New helpers need species-appropriate handling advice, not an improvised catching method under pressure.
Borrowed carriers need preparation too. APHIS’s entry-control guidance covers people, clothing, footwear and equipment. Its cleaning guidance calls for removing debris and following product-label directions.
Hand the driver one current plan
Use the actual departure count by species, not the original chicks-ordered number. Record where each group is loaded and explain any difference from the flock record. Tell the office promptly about a material change and keep its response with the booking.
The driver needs the confirmed date and arrival window, destination, office contact, final count and completed cutting instructions or confirmation they were submitted. Name the person who can answer an order question.
Completed sheets are due before processing or at drop-off, with no charge simply for submitting a completed sheet then. Arrange help filling it out beforehand. If you are delayed or concerned about bird condition, contact Underground Processing before assuming the changed arrival or group will be accepted.
Arrange pickup as a separate job
The live-bird driver may not be free when meat is ready. Poultry takes an estimated two to three calendar days; freezing can add up to two days. Follow the agreed pickup time. The three-calendar-day interval from invoice concerns storage charges, not a replacement pickup arrangement.
Plan cold transport and destination storage for all returned products, including requested cuts and saved items. Bird count alone does not tell you package count or storage volume.
Make the next trip easier
Record labor, delays, equipment faults and accepted changes while they are fresh. Assign a specific correction—prepare carriers earlier, improve the count handoff or name a pickup backup—and check it before the next flock. Send appointment changes through Underground Processing’s contact page so everyone works from the same accepted plan.