A practical farming exercise will see baby chicks arrive at Chevalier College, as part of the Sydney Royal Easter Show Meat Bird Pairs competition.
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The chickens will be cared for and fed, with data recorded by each school's agricultural students in the lead-up to the Show, which will run from April 3 - April 14 2020.
Now in its 10th year, the competition gives students from 63 NSW schools the opportunity to undertake a hands-on farming experience by raising chicks over a six-week period and selecting their heaviest and healthiest two male and two female chickens to be judged.
Students will be paying close attention to heat, feed and water as well providing the chickens with safe shelter to allow them to roam freely during the day and rest at night.
General Manager, Agriculture & Sydney Royal Easter Show, Murray Wilton, said the Meat Bird Pairs competition is an ideal project for schools wanting to engage in agriculture.
"The Meat Bird Pairs Competition gives secondary students, from both regional and metropolitan areas, the unique opportunity to witness the agricultural industry first-hand," Mr Wilton said.
"For the next six weeks these students will learn how to raise strong and healthy chickens, gaining industry insights in an interactive way."
The competition will be judged by experts from the commercial poultry industry, and students will be critiqued on the presentation of their exhibits, conformation, muscle growth, fat cover, health and pair similarity. Students will also deliver a PowerPoint presentation detailing how the birds were raised and prepared for the Show.
The one-day old chicks will be distributed from Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday, 25 February.
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