By CASEY NEILL
CHOOKS are again ruling the roost at Noble Park Primary.
In March, the Journal reported that the school needed help to build a Fort Knox pen following two chicken-nappings.
Principal David Rothstadt said students with traumatic backgrounds had found refuge in the chicken coop and the thefts had affected their moods and behaviour.
Leading teacher Susan Vissenjoux said Grade 4 student Mohammad started at the school last year, came from war-torn Afghanistan and learnt English through his relationship with the chickens.
“Mohammad used to come down and talk to the chickens every day,” she said
“For Mohammad it was a safe place. They were his friends.”
The nine-year-old said he felt sad when the hens were gone and was happy to have six new friends to pat and play with.
Kitchen garden co-ordinator Filomena Henderson said a parent donated his time to weld a new pen and install a security camera, and the birds came from Talking Hens’ Jason Nethercott.
“He donated six hens and feed because he read the story in the newspaper,” she said.
Ms Henderson said children took turns cleaning out the chook house, feeding and watering the birds and collecting their eggs.
“We’ve been getting about six eggs a day. We use them in our cooking and we also sell them to parents,” she said.
“The kids love it.”
