PUPILS at a York primary school have been getting lessons in poultry rearing.

Harley, Dolly and Sally the chickens have been proving very useful since they arrived at St Barnabus CE School last year providing the school with freshly laid eggs.

Deputy head teacher Victoria Pendry explained: “We sell the eggs in the community and the money goes to a charity called Send a Cow, which provides chickens for poor farmers in Africa.

“Each chicken lays 366 eggs each year so it’s a rate of about one each a day.”

With the three chickens cared for each weekend by a rota of parents, the school welcomed some advice this week from a vet.

“Sara Perez is a poultry expert who works for Minster Veterinary Practice,” said Mrs Pendry. “She came in to pass on her knowledge.

“She taught the children about the different parts to chickens and brought in some different coloured eggs.”