Chicken Rearing Chickens For Agricultural Day Are Purchased Through The School Only. These chickens are six week old pullets and are available to be picked up from school in July. You are asked to order these in advance at a cost of $8.00 and they will be delivered to the school on Friday 24 July. Additional chickens are available for sale if required. Cat cages or boxes are required on the day of pickup to take your chicken home. Note: chickens are not to be taken home on the school buses. Approx. Rearing Needs Poultry mash or starter crumbs, pellets, suitable water and feeding dish. Feeding Feed your chicken as much pellets or mash as they like. Have a constant fresh clean water supply. Household food scraps (bread, greens, etc.). They will also eat grass, worms and grubs if allowed to roam the garden. Oyster grit is also good for them. Housing Requirements A warm dry house with a perch and nesting area is required. This will protect the chicken from dogs and cats. Let your chicken roam the garden during the day but shut it in the coop at night for safety. Judging The ribbons are presented for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in each of the three age groups Junior, Intermediate and Senior. Then an overall winner is chosen based on judging points in the following categories. Calling - the steward holds your chicken. When called it must come to you from a distance of 3 metres and be caught easily without frightening it. Rearing - chickens are the same age when given out so they are looking for the best condition and growth presented on the day. Best trick - demonstrate a trick you can do with your chicken and tell the judge what you particularly like about your chicken. Props can be used in the trick, e.g. rope, skateboards, prams, clothing, boxes - just use your imagination. Tips For Success · The more you handle and spend time with your chicken the better the bond. · Name your chicken quickly and use the name as much as possible. · Ensure the chicken has a constant food supply for optimum growth. · Get the chicken eating grain or a particular food it likes out of your hand, which will help when training it for calling.