A New Feathered Family at our Secondary Campus!
We are thrilled to introduce our new school project, Cluck & Compost, which brings the joy and learning experience of raising chickens to our secondary students. This initiative, supported by WasteSorted and the Government of Western Australia, aims to enrich our educational environment and promote sustainability.
Welcoming Our Chicks
Recently, we welcomed 11 adorable baby chicks to our college, sourced from local providers at just one day old. Our flock includes 4 Isa Brown chicks, all female, and 7 Australorps, whose genders are yet to be determined. We plan to keep one rooster to maintain a healthy dynamic within our flock and to help care for the hens.
Building Their Home
Our dedicated Groundsman, Mr. Darren Bulstrode, constructed a beautiful chicken coop in the Wiriny Buru space at our College. The coop was designed with the help of our students and built using recycled materials from other projects around the school. We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Darren for his hard work and presented him with special messages and a thank you gift in appreciation.
Sustainable Practices
In line with our commitment to sustainability, we use shredded paper from our front office as nesting material for the chickens. This paper is later composted, enriching our garden soil. Our students actively participate in composting, learning valuable lessons in biology, chemistry, and physics. This hands-on experience fosters an understanding of ecosystems, nutrient cycles, and soil health, while also reducing methane emissions from landfills.
Educational Benefits
Caring for chickens provides our students with practical knowledge about chicken anatomy, behaviour, and life cycles. It teaches responsibility, empathy, and compassion. As our chicks grow, students will observe egg-laying and brooding, gaining further insights into poultry care. The chickens also inspire creative writing, storytelling, and art projects, with students already making chicken toys from recycled materials.
We are excited about the positive impact Cluck & Compost will have on our school community and look forward to sharing more updates as our chicks grow and thrive.
