Goodstart Kelso’s community has rallied to replace the centre’s pet chickens after they were stolen last week.
The four chickens, named Hokey, Pokey, Hubba and Bubba, including two which had been with the centre for just one day, were taken overnight from their purpose-built hutch.
Centre director Renee Gelling said the centre made an appeal to the community to get the chickens back but were unsuccessful. Instead, All Saints College offered to donate two chickens – Rainbow and Sparkles - and a breeder offered to donate two more.
“We had a lot of offers of help which was amazing and because we’ve had these chickens for a year now, we wanted to replace them,” Ms Gellling said.
“The children love the chickens – they collect their eggs, let them out into the chicken run and generally look after them.”
Ms Gellling said she wanted to thank the community for offering their help, and especially All Saints and Christine for organising the new chickens.
“We have a number of children who were afraid of animals before we got the chickens and now they’re confident and willing to pat them,” she said.
“It’s something that we really enjoy and I think it shows the importance of having animals around.”
The four chickens, named Hokey, Pokey, Hubba and Bubba, including two which had been with the centre for just one day, were taken overnight from their purpose-built hutch.
Centre director Renee Gelling said the centre made an appeal to the community to get the chickens back but were unsuccessful. Instead, All Saints College offered to donate two chickens – Rainbow and Sparkles - and a breeder offered to donate two more.
“We had a lot of offers of help which was amazing and because we’ve had these chickens for a year now, we wanted to replace them,” Ms Gellling said.
“The children love the chickens – they collect their eggs, let them out into the chicken run and generally look after them.”
Ms Gellling said she wanted to thank the community for offering their help, and especially All Saints and Christine for organising the new chickens.
“We have a number of children who were afraid of animals before we got the chickens and now they’re confident and willing to pat them,” she said.
“It’s something that we really enjoy and I think it shows the importance of having animals around.”