After ten years of the competition running more than 12,000 day-old chicks have been raised by students across regional and metropolitan areas of NSW.

This year 63 schools will receive 10 chicks to raise for competition, before selecting their heaviest and healthiest two male and two female chickens to be judged at the show.

Students will have to pay close attention to heat, feed and water as well provide the chickens with safe shelter to allow them to roam freely during the day and rest at night.

Participants will present their birds for judging on Saturday, April 4 at the Sydney Easter Show, with the top 12 finalists' birds then put on display in the Poultry Pavilion.

Students from Goulburn High School and Karabar High School in Queanbeyan received the day-old chicks on Tuesday, February 25.

Goulburn High teacher Jade Smith said the program was a good way to teach kids about the industry.

He said it was a good little project that got most of the students engaged.

General manager Murray Wilton said the Meat Bird Pairs competition was an ideal project for schools who wanted 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 Royal Easter Show will run from April 3 -14. Visit www.eastershow.com.au for more information.