Spring Has Hatched: Welcoming Chicks and Ducklings to Our Homes
There is something quietly wonderful about new life arriving in spring.
This Easter, all three of our homes have had the pleasure of welcoming some very special residents: fluffy chicks at Red Court Care Community, and ducklings at both Red Rose Care Community and Red Roofs Residential Care Home.
The eggs were supplied by Incredible Eggs, a responsible smallholding with years of experience bringing ethical, hands-on encounters with nature into care and educational settings. Watching the eggs arrive, settle into the incubators, and eventually hatch has been a source of real anticipation across all three homes, with residents keeping a close eye on proceedings in the days leading up to the big moment. The reaction has been everything we hoped for.
At Red Rose, Activities Coordinator Charlotte noted that residents had been “thrilled at being able to hold them” and that the home had seen “so many smiles” since the ducklings arrived. It is a reminder, if one were needed, of how much a small creature can lift a room.
At Red Roofs, resident Margaret has enjoyed watching the ducklings settle in and the buzz they have brought with them. “It has been lovely to see,” she told us. “The whole home has felt a bit brighter with them here, everyone stopping to have a look and a chat. You cannot help but smile at it all.”
More than a visit
In our homes, we see time and again how much these moments matter. Time spent with a small creature seems to soften an ordinary day: it eases feelings of loneliness, prompts conversation and shared memory, and brings a warmth and spontaneity that is difficult to plan for. Holding a duckling or watching a chick explore its new surroundings is an inherently sensory experience, and one that tends to draw people together rather than apart.
For many of our residents, the arrival of the chicks and ducklings has stirred memories of earlier seasons: of farmyards and back gardens, of springtimes long past and the particular feeling of a small, warm creature in cupped hands. That connection to living memory matters to us deeply. We believe that what makes a home is not just the quality of its care, but the richness of the life lived within it.
The ducklings and chicks are with us for a short time, but the smiles they have brought will last rather longer. We are grateful to Incredible Eggs for making this possible, and to all of the staff at Red Court, Red Rose, and Red Roofs who have made sure our feathered guests have felt every bit as welcome as our residents.
Looking ahead this spring
There is plenty more to look forward to as the season unfolds, and we will be sharing our favourite spring moments across our social channels in the weeks ahead. We would love for you to follow along.
Happy Easter from all of us at Red Homes Healthcare Group.
