Raising Chickens and Special Needs Kids

[PatForeman]

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Hi Cynthia, and all!
Thank you for starting this thread! The whole concept of therapy chickens is rapidly gaining ground. I've taken birds (Oprah Hen-Free and proteges) to convalescent homes, schools, retirement centers, public hearings, to court as an expert witness that chickens can be pets, Mother Earth Fairs, street fairs and a LOT of other places and they always make an impact.








To promote what you described in your post there is a Therapy Chicken Handlers course. The course description is below and the next one begins June 8, 2016. It is via the internet with 24/7 class replays and has international access. More information is at www.ChickensAndYOU.com. Proceeds go to the GossamerFoundation, a nonprofit dedicated to global sustainability and local foods: we can't have one without the other.

There is a lot more research coming out about the therapeutic benefits of chickens. We have barely scratched the surface.

THERAPY CHICKENS: Training & Coaching of Handlers and Their Birds
Facilitated by Patricia Foreman
This ground-breaking course on therapy chicken visitations teaches you how to safely, sanitarily and expertly take chickens to public events. A therapy chicken handler, and their bird is specially trained to provide visitation, comfort, education and entertainment to people in retirement homes, schools, rehabilitation facilities and other suitable venues. Learn how to work with your birds which are often pets. Graduates awarded a certificate of completion of the Therapy Chicken Handler Course. Prerequisite is successful completion of the Backyard Chicken Keeper Certification course. This prepares therapy chicken handles to provide solid information and answers to questions that will arise during visitations.

Topics include:
• Individual bird selection (not all chickens are suited to be therapy birds)
• Handling & training fundamentals
• Special techniques for working with young children
• Bird and visitation safety and sanitation
• Poultry defenders with the 7 Myths of Urban Chickens
• Transportation of birds
• Three real life visitations with class support & review for lessons learned

As the therapy chicken handler, you should be able to:
• Read your bird’s particular stress signals and body language
• Anticipate your animal’s responses, behavior and positions
• Advocate for the safety and well being of your bird at all times
• Re-direct your bird’s behavior in a positive way,
• Inform folks accurately about chicken keeping and employing
• Answer the 7 myths of urban chickens with appropriate responses.

This is an advanced, experimental course with six intensive classes some 90 minutes. Chickens admitted free. Graduates awarded a certificate for the completion of the Therapy Chicken Handler Course. Class size limited.

Qualified as an advance course for the Master Backyard Chicken Keeper Diploma.
Let's help spread the chicken love!

 

[Henriettasmum]

There were some interesting and heart-warming stories in this thread. I do admire you all so much. I have been extremely lucky with my children's health as well as grandchildren's and now great-grandchildren's. I might add most of them live on the other side of the country to me, so it's phone calls and Facebook for us and we keep in close contact. I was unaware however that one of my granddaughters - a bright young woman, unmarried, uni student - was suffering from severe depression until, while reading one of her posts on FB one night, I realised she was extremely upset and her comments frightened me. I rang her straight away while my husband got on the internet trying to get an airline ticket for her. "Ask her if she will come over and stay with us for a while. We'll pay for the ticket." Her answer was "Yes, thank you." Within two days she was in the air, winging her way to us where she stayed for over a month. Before she arrived, my hubby said "I wish we had some chicks for her to bond with. I think it would do her good." Sadly we didn't but we did have some Indian Runner eggs in the incubator. I wanted to sell them to augment my pension. I checked the calendar and sure enough they were due to hatch in a couple of days. My lovely granddaughter arrived on a Friday and on Saturday morning she knocked on my bedroom door, "There's a little duckling in the incubator." She was so excited. It was wet, bedraggled but gorgeous. Later that day, we both stood and watched (and filmed) the second duckling emerge from its shell. It took a long time. "Should we leave it alone and get some dinner?" I asked. "No, Grandma. Let's watch." From that day I could see her demeanour change. She cleaned their brooder, fed and watered them, cuddled and petted them. They ran all over her and as they grew they would follow her around the house. When she named them, I knew that these were two little ducklings that would never be sold. They would remain here forever. During her time with us and during a subsequent visit a couple of months later, we saw a vast improvement in her mental health. She is now back at Uni, started a small business and is a totally different young lady. She attributes it to us bringing her over here to mend. I attribute it to two darling little ducklings that have also grown up to be two beautiful birds - a duck and a drake who, although I have seven more ducks, these two remain together as a couple with only a passing glance at the others. Knowing how much help can be received by depressed and aged people, I have now given two lots of hens to a local Aged Care facility for the dementia patients to nurse. I hope they give them some enjoyment.

 

[Blooie]

WOW! This is a treasure trove of good information from both of you, and I sure appreciate that you took the time to post here. There is absolutely NO doubt in my mind the value of chickens as therapy animals - I've seen it with my own eyes with our beautiful granddaughters. Both of them love to be around the chickens and I credit chicken-keeping with the huge strides Katie has made with her Autism. We just hatched out some Silkies for her and she is eager to join the local 4-H here with the Silkie she's named "Smudge". I was unaware of classes to certify chickens as therapy animals...that's really interesting!

@Henriettasmum I love the photo of your granddaughter with the babies! It's just heartwarming to hear what a difference those little things made in her life. And providing hens for dementia patients is a brilliant idea!

Thank you both so much!


Katie watching her Silkies hatch.


And Katie with one of the chicks. I think this is the one that ended up being her favorite (not sure because I can't see the markings on its back).

 

[Blooie]

I'm so glad that the babies are all out in the outside brooder now. Kenny, Jenny and Kendra are leaving for Denver at 5:00am and I've got Katie for the week. Original plan was for me to take Jenny and Kendra to Denver but at the last minute Kenny's boss was able to juggle things enough for him to be exactly where he needs to be - with little Kendra while she has surgery. I'm hoping that chicken chores and watching her Silkies out in the brooder pen will relax Katie a bit - she is pretty tense right now. She's spending the night here so she doesn't have to wake up that early tomorrow morning, and she's so sensitive to everyone around her that she seems to cry at the drop of a hat. Poor baby - too bad kids with Autism have no empathy for others, isn't it? (That was sarcasm, by the way) And it goes without saying that we are all worried about Kendra, of course. This will be such a major thing for her, and she doesn't understand what we try to explain to her so it will be really hard on her.

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. If you have a minute or two, a couple of prayers for a safe trip and good outcome for Kendra would sure be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jessimom]

I'm so glad that the babies are all out in the outside brooder now. Kenny, Jenny and Kendra are leaving for Denver at 5:00am and I've got Katie for the week. Original plan was for me to take Jenny and Kendra to Denver but at the last minute Kenny's boss was able to juggle things enough for him to be exactly where he needs to be - with little Kendra while she has surgery. I'm hoping that chicken chores and watching her Silkies out in the brooder pen will relax Katie a bit - she is pretty tense right now. She's spending the night here so she doesn't have to wake up that early tomorrow morning, and she's so sensitive to everyone around her that she seems to cry at the drop of a hat. Poor baby - too bad kids with Autism have no empathy for others, isn't it? (That was sarcasm, by the way) And it goes without saying that we are all worried about Kendra, of course. This will be such a major thing for her, and she doesn't understand what we try to explain to her so it will be really hard on her.

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. If you have a minute or two, a couple of prayers for a safe trip and good outcome for Kendra would sure be appreciated. Thanks.

Katie and Kendra will definitely be in our thoughts here. I wish them a safe trip, and as easy a surgery as possible, with a quick recovery!!!! (along with lots of chicken therapy for Katie)

 

[Blooie]

Kenny and Jenny made it safely to Denver. Since Kendra is having surgery today they had to be sure she didn't eat after midnight but since she's not scheduled for the OR until 1pm she could have clear liquids early this morning. Last night the kids went for dinner and Kendra could have whatever she wanted. She wanted Mama's crab legs -



The surgery should take about 4-5 hours, unless they get in there and find that she does need the bladder augmentation. Then it could take 7 or more. This is going to be a very long day for our family, but most especially for Kendra. I wish I was there with all my heart, but I'll just have to sit by the phone and wait. I ain't a very good waiter-oner. Please say a little prayer for our Little Warrior....thanks.

 

[Jessimom]

Kenny and Jenny made it safely to Denver. Since Kendra is having surgery today they had to be sure she didn't eat after midnight but since she's not scheduled for the OR until 1pm she could have clear liquids early this morning. Last night the kids went for dinner and Kendra could have whatever she wanted. She wanted Mama's crab legs -



The surgery should take about 4-5 hours, unless they get in there and find that she does need the bladder augmentation. Then it could take 7 or more. This is going to be a very long day for our family, but most especially for Kendra. I wish I was there with all my heart, but I'll just have to sit by the phone and wait. I ain't a very good waiter-oner. Please say a little prayer for our Little Warrior....thanks.

She is definitely in my thoughts!! I hope that her surgery goes fast and easy! She is such a trooper!!!!

Not what I would have chosen for a meal, but she looks like she is having fun with them!!!

 

[Blooie]

She's all checked in. The kids, Katie and I were on FaceTime a few minutes ago. She was given some Gatorade type stuff to drink and they gave her 15 minutes to get it down. Yeah, not happening! It's so they can do her pre-op bladder test. They'll be taking her down in about an hour and a half.

 

[sourland]

Subscribed for updates.

 

[WVduckchick]

We're with you and her in spirit Blooie!