Residents at the Abbeyfield St Albans Society received a slightly different Easter treat last week.

Whilst many were expecting a serious chocolate haul, ten ready-to-hatch chicken eggs were delivered to Grace Muriel House on Tavistock Avenue.

The eggs came with an incubator, food, water and a ‘brooder’ box to raise the chicks in after they were born.

The initiative comes as part of not only Easter, but Abbeyfield’s wider Pet Month campaign, designed to connect older people with animals.

There are a number of health benefits associated with animal interaction, including lower blood pressure, the release of serotonin and a reduction of anxiety and agitation for those living with dementia.

Grace Muriel’s Activities Coordinator, and chick-hatcher extraordinaire, Siouxsie Liddle, said: “The living eggs have been a huge success with everyone here at the house. The residents love it, the staff love it and we’ve even had friends and family come down to see the chicks. My children can’t get enough.

“What’s even better though is just how involved and creative the residents have been throughout this. In February we arranged for the eggs to arrive for Easter and the residents took it upon themselves to fundraise the entire thing.

"They got together to in their knitting group make some adorable knitted baby chicks which we then sold. The money they raised completely covered the project and we even had a little left over for future activities.”