Spring Chick Hatching
Published on 31 May 2022 02:19 PM
This week we have been lucky enough to welcome five new fluffy residents into our day centre! On Monday afternoon we were given an incubator with eggs ready to hatch. One by one we watched the chicks break out into the world!
Meet Tia, Tamera, Gizmo, Chippi and Peppi. Tia and Tamera were the first to hatch overnight on Monday. Chippi arrived at 8.15am on Tuesday, with Peppi hatching later at 4.39pm. Little Gizmo was the last to hatch at 2.36pm on Wednesday.
We have a couple different breeds of chicks with Chippi being a Vorwerk and the others Araucanas. Vorwerks are the traditional farmyard breed, known to be friendly and easily tamed. They hatch with a yellow colour. Araucanas are an unusual breed from South America and are on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist. They hatch with a pattern called “chipmunk stripes”. They have been a delight to be around and have already had many benefits to our clients. Everyone has enjoyed holding and petting them!
It has been shown that having animals can have a positive impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Below are some ways they can help improve the wellbeing of our service users:
Unlocks memories:
Research has shown that having animals around can actually bring up memories of the past. This can get people talking fondly of their past and pets they may have had growing up or with their families. This can help facilitate conversation between service users and also bring up happy memories for them to relive.
Decreases stress and depression:
Having the chicks around to stroke and play with has a calming effect and research shows that it actually “increase levels of oxytocin in in our bodies, which is the stress-reducing hormone, whilst also decreasing the production of cortisol which is a producer of stress”.1 The chicks also offer a great deal of entertainment watching them patter around.
Decreases loneliness:
Having the chicks as a little companion can help people feel less lonely and like they have a connection. The service users can look forward to seeing the chicks each day and having something to care for.
Increase physical activity:
Having the chicks at the day centre can encourage people to move around more as they go and visit them. Holding them and stroking them also increases activity, good for mobility. These activities, even if small can “reduce inflammation, increase blood circulation and improve strength and mobility”.2
Increase social interaction:
Having the chicks at day centre creates a buzz and a collective interest to talk about. This encourages people to talk to each other about the chicks and share the joy they bring together.
Improves emotional wellbeing:
Overall, having the chicks around can boost wellbeing as it brings excitement into the day centre and is something to look forward to. Service users can feel a connection with them and feel valued looking after them. The physical contact can reduce their stress and improve their mood. It can also be an educational experience, seeing how they grow and are looked after. It has brought a happiness to the centre that can be shared by all.
Here is what some of our service users have said about the chicks:
“They are lovely, I loved watching them grow”.
“It was amazing to see them grow and change over the days”.
“Seeing the chickens change overtime was lovely to see”.
