Care home residents participate in egg hatching programme in celebration of National Pet Month and Easter.

The project was facilitated by Incredible Eggs, a family-run company specialising in hatching kits.

The initiative saw the arrival of two incubators, each bearing 15 eggs, at Cornwallis Court in Bury St Edmunds.

The residents were tasked to care for the eggs until they hatched into baby chicks.

East Anglian Daily Times: Resident Marion Turner meets one of the baby chicks Resident Marion Turner meets one of the baby chicks (Image: Submitted)

The introduction of the animals was well received, with the residents showing immense joy at the chance to pet and interact with the chicks.

Resident Jan Wright said: “One of the chicks came up really close to me and perched on my chest.

"It was so enjoyable to spend time with them and it brought back great memories.”

Emma Gibson, the activities coordinator at Cornwallis Court, said: “I did a sponsored walk last year, trekking 75 miles over four days around the Isle of Wight and raised £650, which we used to hire two egg hatching sets for our residents.”

East Anglian Daily Times: The programme has been a huge success The programme has been a huge success (Image: Submitted)

The presence of the animal companions brought about lots of excitement within the home.

The programme was not only therapeutic as it has been said to have helped to reduce anxiety and depression in residents, it also ignited a sense of nostalgia.

Ms Gibson added: “There was a real buzz around the Home and our residents and staff had so much fun caring for the chicks, watching them hatch and grow.

East Anglian Daily Times: Resident John Bluett poses alongside one of the newly hatched chicks Resident John Bluett poses alongside one of the newly hatched chicks (Image: Submitted)

"It also prompted stories from residents who had fond memories of keeping chickens when they were growing up.”

Cornwallis Court is managed by RMBI Care Co, a part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The care home, which has been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, anticipates the inception of a £16million investment project to develop a new home facility starting this month.