Spring chickens – and ducklings – bring wartime childhood memories back

The hands-on animal therapy initiative, delivered across two Church Farm Care homes in Nottinghamshire – Field House in Radcliffe-on-Trent and Church Farm Nursing Home in Cotgrave – saw fertilised eggs provided by ‘Incredible Eggs’ carefully incubated within the homes. Residents were able to follow every stage of development, from egg to hatchling.

For many, the experience sparked powerful memories of childhood. One resident, Kim Howell, 92, was instantly transported back in time. She said: “They are gorgeous. We had chickens when I was a child during the war.”

The arrival of the hatchlings quickly became a daily talking point, with residents gathering to check on the eggs, watch them hatch, and gently care for the chicks and ducklings once they emerged.

Other residents at Field House shared their delight, with Carole Sharp, 70, saying: “Oh my gosh, how lovely”, while Ken Almond, 90, added: “We had chickens and lots of other animals growing up!”

The ducklings at Church Farm Nursing Home caused just as much of a stir, with Hilda Hanney, 93, saying: “I’m proud to be able to give them their first swimming lesson – it’s a magical experience of new life,” while Gillian Townhill, 85, said: “This one is beautiful. I love all animals, but this one is especially cute.” Gillian Rand, 88, was waiting patiently for the eggs to hatch, exclaiming: “I can’t wait to see who comes out!”

Animal-assisted activities are widely used in care settings and are known to support wellbeing and encourage a sense of purpose and connection, particularly for people living with dementia.

Jessica Bingham, wellbeing assistant and activities coordinator at Field House, said: “When I was in secondary school, my friends wrote in my yearbook that they thought I’d be a chicken farmer when I grew up – so having chickens at Field House is very apt! The chicks have been so good for residents, families and staff; everyone has interacted more with each other, and there’s been a lot of laughter. We’ve even had a staff member adopt three of the chicks!”

Lucy Atkinson, co-owner of Church Farm Care, said: “The eggs sparked so much curiosity and excitement from the very beginning. Watching the chicks and ducklings hatch has brought smiles and conversation into our homes – it’s been a real joy for residents and staff alike.”

Incredible Eggs is an ethical provider of high-welfare hatching kits throughout England and Scotland, delivering to care homes, schools, nurseries and private homes.

Church Farm Care is an award-winning care provider specialising in dementia and nursing care across Nottinghamshire. Church Farm Nursing Home specialises in 24-hour specialist nursing, dementia, Parkinson’s and end-of-life care, while Field House offers a wide range of specialist nursing and residential services.

To find out more about Church Farm Care and its services, visit churchfarmcare.co.uk/.