Nyngan High School students are getting practical farming experience raising baby chicks for the Meat Bird Pairs competition.
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The competition is organised through the Sydney Royal Easter Show and involves the students getting practical farming experience by raising the chicks over a six-week period.
Nyngan High are one of 63 schools to receive 10 chicks to raise in the lead up to the Royal Easter Show.
General Manager of Agriculture at the 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," he said.
"For the next six weeks these students will learn how to raise strong and healthy chickens, gaining industry insights in an interactive way."
Students will pay close attention to heat, feed and water as well providing the chickens with safe shelter.
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.
Participants will present their birds for judging on Saturday, April 4 at the Show, with the top 12 finalists' birds then put on display in the poultry pavilion.
The competition is now in its 10th year and has seen over 12,000, day-old chicks raised by students across regional and metropolitan areas of NSW.
