Thelma Harris loved her little chicken – it reminded her of the ones she cuddled as a child.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bill Wright wasn’t taking chances with his little bird, so he held it tightly while he chatted to it.
And Dot Neilson, 98, was delighted with them all.
It was a big day at Living Care Nursing Home in Green Hills, where residents gathered to see the chickens hatching from their shells in a chicken warmer.
Then, after a few minutes of sampling their new lives, the tiny chicks were handed around to be patted by the elderly folk.
The idea came about when an activities officer suggested residents might enjoy watching chickens hatch.
“This was the first time we have done this and it has brought enormous joy to residents,” acting hospital administrator Ladonna Leayr said.
“So we arranged with Henny Penny Hatchery to lend us some eggs that were about to hatch,” Ms Leayr said.
“The residents gathered round for the big event and it was a huge success.
“We had a total of 14 little birds that brought us all so much fun and laughter. It went off so well I am sure we will do this again.”
Clasping a newly hatched bird, Thelma Harris said: “He’s a beautiful chook – I love him.
“I watched him through the glass as he broke out of his egg. What a joy.”
The other residents shared her view and as they handled the chickens they shared stories that unlocked their memories of long ago.
“I can’t believe how lovely this is – I remember watching chooks hatch when I was a kid,” Betty Daniels said.
Val Hudson, 88, said she had not seen anything so lovely for a long time.
The eggs arrived at the aged care service from Henny Penny Hatchery, along with three live chickens.
They lived with the eggs in the heated enclosure, until the first egg was pecked open.
“It was a remarkable event for all of us; the look on the faces of our residents as they watched the chickens hatch was very moving to see,” the centre’s leisure and lifestyle officer Kathleen Deards said.
