Hatching at Scoil Aonghusa

THE pupils at Scoil Aonghusa have just embarked on their final science project for this year, a chick hatching project.

This is the school’s second time hatching chicks.

The school was recently awarded the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths School of Excellence Award. Science and Maths education is a priority for the school as they prepare their students for second level science pathways.

The hatching project will bring nature, biology and animal husbandry to the classroom. Former poultry advisor Marie Kelly of the Kildalton College of Agriculture, Kilkenny has always praised chick rearing and egg production projects at the school, stating “it is a great experience for the children to learn where chicken and eggs come from and how they are produced.

“Eggs are a totally natural wholesome complete food, they can be a nutritious breakfast food which can help children study as they contain all of the essential fatty acids.”

Williams Poultry in Charleville have donated the eggs for the project and will provide advice throughout the project should the children have any questions. The excitement is infectious with all classes being involved in the management of the project and care of the chicks.

Sixteen fertilized eggs are incubating at 37.5 degrees Celsius for 21 days, hopefully hatching just before the summer break. The pupils will be responsible for the care, cleaning and monitoring of the chicks and their housing for a couple of days before they leave for a new life at a farm.

Some of the chicks will return to visit the pupils over the 2018/2019 school year as they grow and develop into hens and lay their first eggs. Keep a look out for more news from Scoil Aonghusa as the eggs hatch, here and on their Facebook page. Facebook.com/corketb.ie.