Eggscellent pupils

Laughton Junior and Infant School has added several feathered friends to its school roll after adopting four chickens.

The battery hens were adopted by the school through the British Hen Welfare Trust. “We got them about a month ago,” said headteacher Caroline Keating. When a battery farm is getting rid of chickens the charity takes some of them and finds them homes.”

“One of our teachers went to pick them up from a farm in York.”

“They were a bit wobbly when they first came to the school but seem to be fitting in well.”

And the hens have a lovely new home in the school garden after pupils helped make them an ‘eggloo’ to live in and a hen run.

Ms Keating added: “We have started a special group to look after them. The pupils love collecting the eggs which are used by the school.”

The chickens are the latest addition as the school aims to focus more on outdoor learning.

“They already have an insect hotel and each pupil has a space to grow their own fruit and vegetables.