Rescued Hens Teach the Students
Students at LVS Hassocks have given a new loving home to some ex-battery hens. The eight new residents at the school have taken up home in the already established chicken coup, but it seems both pupils and hens have a thing or two to learn!
Neil Peckham, teacher for the Post 16 group said: “We wanted some more chickens and re-homing some battery hens seemed are really good way. It helps the children understand where their food comes from and by giving them the facts they can make their own informed choices. We won’t change the system by re-homing them, but we can give the chickens a better living environment and at the same time develop the student’s animal husbandry skills as they help the hens learn the skills to live a free range life.”
The students have been investigating the best way to stop the other hens bullying them and how to help build their confidence.
Ben Raven said: “Some of them are quite friendly but they seem to like hiding in the long grass, they are not used to living outside, so won’t even know what to do it if it rains.”Tony Collard a student and one of the animal husbandry assistants said: “It was really upsetting seeing them when we first picked them up, but we know they are healthy, their combs are starting to turn red and we hope when they have settled in they will start laying eggs again.”
The school in Sayers Common offers unique learning opportunities for children with Asperger’s and autism, with the aim of developing the young people’s skills for the work place and life. The eggs will be used by the students when they prepare their own meals, alongside the vegetables they have grown. They will also be freely available to parents and staff as part of the Arts Café enterprise the students run.
