May 22, 2018 4.55 pm This story is over 69 months old

Poultry in motion at Lincoln care home

The special therapy chicks visited the residents in their rooms

Residents with dementia and Alzheimers at a Lincoln care home are beaming from the experience of raising their own brood of therapy chicks.

Activity Coordinators at Neale Court Care Home in North Hykeham, Annette and Lyndsey, have been taking the chicks to visit residents in their rooms, bringing smiles to their faces.

Residents have learnt about the process of rearing chicks and enjoyed the calming and therapeutic benefits of holding them.

The eggs of a mix of pure, rare breed and hybrid chicks are delivered to the care home by specialist breeder ‘Incredible Eggs’.

The chicks need heat for the first four to five weeks, but after six they can live outside.

Another resident at Neale Court Care Home being shown one of the hatched chicks. Photo: Country Court Care

They are quiet and sleep a lot for the first few days as they recover from hatching.

Chicks absorb the yolk of the egg into their stomachs to give them enough nutrition to go for at least a couple of days without food or water.

The hatchlings will stay at the care home for around 10 days before being returned to the farm where they can be cared for as they grow.

Home Manager Becky Hunt said: “It’s been a great experience for our residents and one we hope to repeat next year.”

Care home resident Joan reminisced back to her past adding: “We used to keep them in a shoe box by the range in the kitchen to keep them warm. Oh, yes it’s wonderful to see them, takes me right back.”

Dementia Action Week runs from May 21 to 27.