Which Grows Faster? Grain- or Protein Fed Meat?

The chicken was big and rambunctious, going to the bathroom when and where it chose.

“It was like having a child almost,” said Sarah Preston, about the chicken she raised for her science fair project at l. 

As she stood in front of the cardboard display board that displayed her research, she reached into the box and pulled the chicken out to show me just how big 30 ounces is. 

It assumed the characteristics of a fluffy lapdog, seemingly enjoying the attention as she lifted it into the air. It did not make any attempt to get away or peck at her. Why would it? She had raised it from the time it was a wee chick in Danville. 

This bird, along with the other one in the box at the fair, was part of her research to discover whether feeding protein to a chicken would affect its growth. 

“I never thought the results would be so significant,” Preston said, opening her eyes wide and raising her eyebrows for emphasis.

One of the chicks was fed grain while the other one was fed cat food and meal worms. The grain-fed chick weighed 9 ounces, a fact she tracked along over the past few weeks. The protein-fed chick was more than 3 times as heavy. 

Preston and her fellow middle-schoolers met with teachers during lunch time to track project progress.

“The quality of the work surpassed our expectations,” said Teacher Michael Ritter, noting that he was “on cloud nine” as he stood in between the rows of science fair projects located in the multi purpose gym on March 29.

Ritter worked with Teacher Michael Espinoza to breakdown the scientific process into manageable chunks for the students, sending them emails to remind them of due dates.

“That way two days before the science fair they’re not slammed,” Ritter explained.

All of the students who participated in the event did so voluntarily and did not receive a grade for their endeavors, they said.

“What I love about it is that with all the rigors of academics that the student have here, they still gave up their lunch hours to do this," Espinoza said. 

Valerie Ambawani, who is a mom and a teacher volunteer, said this year it was evident that the students were doing the projects themselves, rather than the parents playing a huge role in the creation process the way they do in the . 

“The scientific process is alive and well in the public school system,” Ambawani said.

Ambawani said the event was paid for with Parent Teacher Organization funds, including the display boards and t-shirts.

Next year, the goal is to have the 6^th and 7^th grade students eligible to be judged by the San Mateo County judges, which is something usually reserved for eight graders.

Preston said next year she’s going to duplicate her experiment with ducks.

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