The Residents and staff were delighted when on Tuesday 3rd May 2011 a delivery of 11 eggs arrived at Inglewood for hatching.  The eggs came with incubator and brooder box.  We watched during the day with anticipation and each time we looked the eggs had moved.

During that first night one chick, named 'Oz' (by the night staff) hatched and by the morning a further three had pecked their way out, to the delight of our early morning residents to the Day Room.

During the day residents queued to watch a further seven hatch.  All chicks were healthy and and we watched as their feathers dried and fluffed up.  Only one egg remained which was being pecked by the others, this last one hatched that evening.

By Thursday they were all fluffed up and safely in the brooder, being kept company by our continual stream of viewing residents and staff.

The following Monday we were allowed to take them out for short periods to hold.  Everyone felt they were a wonderful distraction throughout the day and thoroughly enjoyed seeing them hatch and grow to fledglings.  The  chicks were taken to the rooms of residents who were not able to visit the day room to see them.

This activity brought many happy memories flooding back to some residents who, as children, raised their own chicks.

We look forward to hatching some more chicks next year.