The four chickens of Levin War Veterans Home now have plenty of room to run in their new coop, thanks to support from the community.
Generous donations were made, of both funds and labour, towards the construction of a new home for the popular animals.
Levin Home manager Michelle Day says the new and improved area is better for the chickens and for the residents.
“The residents can now use the garden and enjoy being out there interacting with the chickens.”
It is not only great for getting residents outside in the fresh air and interacting with the animals, but the eggs are collected and used for baking and cooking as part of the home’s recreation programme.
Michelle says the home was grateful for the support of the many individuals who donated and to Levin Waiopehu Lions Club whose members built the new coop.
Lions member David Goodin says about 180 hours of work went into building it, with four or five retired handymen involved.
David says the Lions have a good relationship with the home and use one of its meeting rooms.
“It is a way of saying thank you back to them for the use of their rooms.”
He says they took it as a bit of a challenge and are happy with how it turned out, especially to see the residents, and chickens, are enjoying it.
Another generous supporter of the project was Marjorie Law, whose late husband lived at the home.
Upon hearing of the fundraiser, Marjorie thought it was something her husband would have loved, and so she made a donation.
Her husband had been a farmer all his life, and while the home wasn’t as spacious as the open pastures he was used to, the chickens made him feel more at home.
“Having those chickens to look out at, he knew them all and watched what they were doing, and it just made a huge difference to his life.
“I just felt it had helped him so much, and I could see it could help other people as well.”
