Earlier this year, our team at Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage worked with the people we support on an extra special project.

Every day, our specialist team supports people with learning disabilities to achieve their goals and aspirations and each small step forward has a big impact on their lives.

So, when the team identified an unusual opportunity to hatch ducklings, they knew this would be an unforgettable experience. Not only would this bring the joy of caring for new life, but it would also offer an incredible sense of accomplishment for the people we support. Knowing how much the people we support love animals; this was the perfect opportunity.

Inspiring ideas

Our housemates at Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage take regular trips to a nearby farm and during these visits, our team noticed how much they all enjoyed seeing the animals. Inspired by how the experience boosted their wellbeing, they wanted to enhance this and bring a special sense of joy into the home.

Deputy Manager, Amy Harris, was keen to get the ball rolling and introduce opportunities for the people we support to enjoy new, meaningful experiences with animals. One day, by chance, she discovered the 10-day hatching experience that involved watching and looking after eggs in an incubator with a heat lamp and brooder box, until they hatch into ducklings.   

Amy discussed this idea with the rest of the team, who were thrilled! She also shared the idea with the people we support, providing them with printed information ensuring they had time to understand what the experience involved, and it didn’t take long before everybody was on board! Excited for a chance to welcome new fuzzy friends into the world, the whole household was intrigued. Every day, they would ask Amy when the hatchlings were arriving.

Although hatching ducklings was only a 10-day experience, Amy knew the people we support would gain lots of new skills from it. From improving their social skills to decreasing challenging behaviours, interacting with the eggs and watching them hatch would have a positive impact on everyone involved. And she knew it would be a valuable experience for the rest of the team, too.

The countdown was on! With risk assessments in place, six duck eggs, hatching equipment and all the necessary information would soon arrive at the home!

Making the hatchlings at home

Before the hatchlings arrived at Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage, our team carefully assessed potential risks. With a range of needs in the home, and new equipment being brought in, the team ensured safety measures were taken, keeping both the people we support and the hatchlings safe.

Everybody was keen to welcome the hatchlings, so they all chipped in to create a care plan. The best option was to keep the hatchlings locked in our activity room. While they were still fragile eggs, this would be an ideal spot for them to safely mature.

Although the people we support knew they couldn’t enter the activity room without 1-1 support, they could still watch the eggs through the glass on the door!   

When the eggs and equipment arrived, they came with clear instructions on how to care for them. To start with, the eggs were kept in a special incubator until they were ready to hatch.

As time passed, everyone eagerly awaited the first shell to crack. Our team explained to the people we support that the hatching process could take a few hours, even after the first crack, building excitement as they prepared to welcome their new feathered friends.

As soon as the eggs began to hatch, both the team and the people we support huddled round to watch the process. Beaming with excitement, they watched on as the ducklings entered the world.

New members of the family!

Once the ducklings were born, it was time to think of some names! With 14 people we support and only six ducklings it was decided that the fairest way to pick names would be for everyone to write down their favourites, and to draw them from a hat. With a good shake, the first duckling was named Sunshine, with Daisy following after!

While the ducklings were in their home, the people we support were keen to go into the activity room to check they were okay and see the progress. We knew this was an experience they would remember forever!

From the moment they arrived at the service, the people we support were enchanted by the eggs and found themselves mesmerised by the hatching process.

Once here, the people we support naturally wanted to keep the ducklings. But Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage didn’t have capacity to keep them at the home. And, located in a rural pocket of Gloucestershire, it wasn’t safe for them to live in the garden because of predators like foxes.

The people we support were gently reminded that this was a special 10-day experience and now that the hatchlings were ducklings, they would soon need space to roam in a safe place.

Understanding this, the people we support were made aware that the ducklings would be collected soon for their new home on a loving farm. Although the people we support were sad to see them go they were excited for the ducklings’ new adventure, and they were grateful they were able to hatch new lives into this world!

Team benefits

The combined interest and passion for care between the people we support and the team, made interactions and relationships blossom. It has improved the team’s communication and has unlocked potential for innovation – empowering the team to generate new ideas for future experiences.

Watching the hatchlings make their way into this world, was a remarkable experience, full of joy for everyone involved.

Positive outcomes

By discovering the passions of the people we support, our team at Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage were able to engage them with a unique project.

It gave the people we support a valuable focus for 10-days, delivering a sense of responsibility and compassion. This fun experience boosted their happiness, promoted social interaction and encouraged open communication – helping the people we support to build stronger relationships!

Our housemates at Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage are keen to experience something like this again in the future. Keeping them at the heart of every decision, the team will continue to explore options so they can bring magic into the home again.

Find out more about our specialist support!

Learn more about how we can support you, a loved one, or a client to live their best lives. Complete our quick and easy enquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch!

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