Poultry Science major

[ZooZoo]

Hey
Im a freshman in college and really undecided on my major right now. I know i want to do something involving animals somehow. I have been looking into zoology, wildlife science, animal science, and a few other related majors. I know salary should not really be a deciding factor, but i just can't justify paying out of state tuition for 4 years and getting a low paying job. I was briefly looking into a degree in poultry science and was wondering if anyone is/was in this major and how they liked it? I'm really unaware of what this major really is, so someone please inform me.
thanks

 

[usschicago1]

HeyIm jsut like you, undecided.
Ive done some research too, and ive found there really no money in poultry

 

[ZooZoo]

From what i hear around campus, the poultry science major is one of the most difficult. It seems strange that a major that hard would lead to poor salary jobs.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
Hello! I'm six credit hours from completing my poultry science degree. I go/went to the University of Arkansas.

In my experience, you have to distance yourself. While you are interested in the breeds, you have to see it from industry standpoints. Broilers, layers, breeders, etc. are what matter. Breeds do not matter unless you are wanting to work in a hatchery such as Ideal, McMurray, etc. and then, you don't need a degree to work there.

One of the first things that happened as a "stripper" was to go into a processing plant. If you could make it through the processing plant (VERY clean), then you knew you had the right major. Several people did NOT make it into the second semester as a poultry science major.

Industry is what you will be learning as well as physiological happenings in the body. Temperatures, diseases, skeletal structure, muscles, etc.

I absolutely loved it and learned so much! But am I working in what my degree is? Nope. Not yet anyway...

 

[usschicago1]

Woop...NVm

 

[ZooZoo]

Quote:
Hello! I'm six credit hours from completing my poultry science degree. I go/went to the University of Arkansas.

In my experience, you have to distance yourself. While you are interested in the breeds, you have to see it from industry standpoints. Broilers, layers, breeders, etc. are what matter. Breeds do not matter unless you are wanting to work in a hatchery such as Ideal, McMurray, etc. and then, you don't need a degree to work there.

One of the first things that happened as a "stripper" was to go into a processing plant. If you could make it through the processing plant (VERY clean), then you knew you had the right major. Several people did NOT make it into the second semester as a poultry science major.

Industry is what you will be learning as well as physiological happenings in the body. Temperatures, diseases, skeletal structure, muscles, etc.

I absolutely loved it and learned so much! But am I working in what my degree is? Nope. Not yet anyway...

Thanks for the information! What kind of jobs can you get with this degree and how are their salaries?

 

[CityChicker]

Poultry science is a really tough career field. Most of us that are really poultry enthusiasts are not very well suited for poultry science (in my opinion). The jobs are just not in the area that most of us wold like to work and of course, there is the whole thing with not being able to have your own birds if you work in industry. Unless you go on to become a poultry DVM, the pay is also not great comparatively speaking (in my opinion).

Really, I would try to decide on your ultimate goal. Do you want to teach? Do you think you eventually want to become a vet? What do you really see yourself doing? If you might eventually want to do vet school, your undergrad degree can really be in almost anything as long as the prereqs are met. If you want to eventually teach, you might be better with an animal science or ag science degree. If you just want to work at a hatchery, you don't need any of the above. It just all depends on your goals and what you see yourself doing. If you want to be able to keep your own flock of birds though, do NOT do poultry science. Be mindful as well of where the different degrees lead employment wise. IMO, you are largely looking at industry, veterinary medicine, academia, or self employment. There are other niches where you can put your degree to work, but positions are few relative to number of graduates.

 

[finallychickens]

To add to what CityChicker said I would also include government jobs like USDA. These would all be decent paying jobs. I don't know why you would have to pay high out-of-state tuitions. If you are in North Jersey you have one of the country's best Ag schools just down the road at Rutgers. Have you considered going there? One thing to also remember is that you seldom wind up in the exact job that you set out to study for. Life has its twists and turns and sometimes it will pleasantly surprize you. If I was your age again, I would follow my heart. If its poultry you love, go for it. Everything will work out fine.