CHILDREN at Dunky’s Day Nursery, Culcheth, had a very exciting and educational morning – thanks to a visit from some very special feathered friends.
One of the nursery families brought in their pet chickens, and the children were absolutely thrilled to meet Henrietta, Skye, and Olive.
Nursery Manager Vicki Foy said: “The visit from the chickens sparked curiosity and laughter as the children had the chance to stroke, feed, and interact with the chickens up close.
“They also learned some interesting chicken facts including why chickens have a comb on top of their head and a wattle underneath their beak. The children listened intently and asked thoughtful questions about how to care for them. This hands-on experience brought learning to life in the most exciting way.
“The visit wasn’t just fun, it was also rich in educational value and supported several areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), including Social and Emotional Development.
“Caring for living creatures encourages children to develop kindness and empathy. The children showed amazing gentleness and respect while handling the chickens and asked lots of questions about how to care for them.
“Interacting with animals can help reduce anxiety. Some of our children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) were especially engaged and calm during the visit, showing just how powerful animal interactions can be.
“Experiences like this help children build a relationship with the natural world and understand how we care for living things.
“We also talked about how chickens lay eggs and discussed the different foods we make at nursery that use eggs, encouraging the children to think about where their food comes from. Being involved in the care of chickens also promotes interest in nutrition and farm-to-table concepts.”
