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FAQ for Aged Care

When can I participate in a program?

You can participate in the program at any time during the school year, subject to availability. The earlier you book, the better your chances are of receiving the date you want..

 

How long is the program?

Hatching Chicks is a 12 day program unless there are any public holidays that interfere with the schedule. We usually deliver on Monday and collect on Friday of the second week. About a week before the delivery date, we will send you an email to confirm the booking and finalise your address and contact details. Please ensure that you give us the contact details of the person who will be meeting us in the morning, rather than a head office number.

 

When can I expect the delivery?

If you do give us a mobile number, then we will send an SMS to this account, which will provide the recipient with our planned arrival time, and they can track us to see how we are progressing, just like a courier tracking app. This way, you’ll never need to call us to find out where the driver is, as it will always be at your fingertips.

 

What should I do before the driver arrives?

When the driver arrives, please provide them with a table that's at least one meter long by half a meter wide. The table will need to be located within a meter of a double power point, or please organise an extension cord and a power board if the powerpoint is not close by. It’s great to have it somewhere where you can supervise it easily and where there's a fair bit of room so that a small crowd of people can stand around and see what's happening.

 

Where can the equipment be placed?

There are three other points to consider (other than access to power) when finding a location for your program - you cannot place it in a location that gets direct sunlight, you cannot place it near a heater, and you cannot place it under an air conditioning unit. Try to choose a spot that has a fairly stable temperature throughout the day.

 

What will I get?

We'll set up the incubator. You will receive between 8 and 11 fertilised eggs, depending on availability. We'll prepare the brooder box with a heat lamp, bedding, a drinker, a feeder, and food.

 

Can the residents handle the chicks and ducks?

Yes, the chicks are not timid, and they enjoy being handled gently once they have recovered from hatching. As they grow older, they love to be taken out of the box for a run around. You can ask the children to sit in a circle and place the chicks in the middle. This is also a good opportunity to let the children handle the chicks while they are sitting down. You can make a temporary enclosure out of large building blocks to put the chicks inside or outside in the warmer months. You will need to stay with them outside, as they are prey for crows and currawongs.

 

Do they require a lot of work to maintain?

No, during the first week, the chicks will not need much attention as they are so small, they sleep a lot and do not eat or drink very much. During the second week, you will need to change the bedding at the bottom of the brooder box regularly, fill up the water, and top up the feed containers daily.

  

What happens at the end of the program?

We will collect all of the equipment and hatchlings. If any person wants to purchase the hatchlings they must complete the Adoption Application first, followed by their purchase. They will need to complete this paperwork by no later than Wednesday before we collect the equipment. We can also supply them with any feed or equipment they need in order to look after the hatchlings Allow the residents to have enough time to say goodbye to the chicks and ducklings. If we have your mobile number, you will receive an SMS from us detailing the time of the collection.

 

Need a copy of the Risk Assessment?

It is located at the bottom of the page .

“The residents have enjoyed them so much and have spent hours watching the chicks. They have been the talk of the town as they remember when they had poultry in their own backyards which has brought back a lot of memories”