Walk Intuit Therapy Chickens located in Orange Park Acres

"Chickens are social and empathetic creatures. As such, they can form special bonds with their human caretakers. These bonds can tremendously help individuals who are suffering from mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. Therapy chickens have been found to lower levels of isolation and loneliness—both major contributors to mental illness. Additionally, just the act of caring for another living thing gives people a reason to get up in the morning and creates a daily routine that can help ease symptoms of anxiety." 

 "Chickens have lived among people for thousands of years, except for the second half of the 20th century... Today, we’re rediscovering the conventional chicken’s effect on the human condition... “Animals have a lengthy history of assisting humans in rehabilitation and treatment,” explains Tanya Bailey, a licensed social worker, researcher, and Ph.D. student at the University of Minnesota. “One of the earliest accounts dates to the 9th century where people with disabilities living in Gheel, Belgium, worked with and learned about the daily living needs of farm animals, including chickens.”

"How Chickens Help Heal

Depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, hypertension, dementia, end-of-life care, and even general stress can be eased by the presence of animals, including chickens.

“I find all people respond to the work I do with my registered therapy chicken, often because they are so surprised to see a chicken that is so calm and enjoys interacting with human beings,” Bailey says..." 

 “I think anytime we have an opportunity to experience the world in a different way than we were raised or taught, we have a perspective change and it’s quite difficult to go back to old ways of belief,” Bailey says. “Chickens are sentient beings with unique personalities, abilities to reason. They recognize faces, form social bonds, and are incredibly smart. I believe some chickens make choices to connect differently with people, and these connections help provide many people with learning, growth, and healing.” 

Chickens are known to be very social critters who enjoy interacting with humans. One benefit of raising chickens is that they can be wonderful companions and help reduce anxiety and depression.

Studies show that chickens are very empathetic. They can detect different emotions, such as grief, and respond accordingly. Chickens are therefore great companions whose presence can help those prone to anxiety feel calmer and more at peace.

Chickens are very vocal creatures. According to Chickens and More, they are capable of over 20 different vocalizations, each with its own meaning. Another health benefit of raising chickens, especially for those who are disabled, is that they help encourage verbal communication.

Some mental and physical disabilities can make verbal communication difficult. Because chickens chatter very frequently–sometimes even appearing to respond to humans—they can help increase confidence in verbal communication skills. They can also help owners practice appropriate responses to such vocalizations, like when it comes to feeding and warning about predators.

For those with a mental or physical disability, establishing a routine to follow can be very important in finding regularity in day-to-day life. While chickens don’t necessarily require the same amount of daily care as other pets, they still help encourage routine and responsibility in owners.

Chickens have daily care requirements including feeding, cleaning the coop, gathering eggs, and human interaction. These daily requirements give people a reason to get out of bed and do something good for their pets. They can also encourage responsibility in owners, which may help those with self-managed diseases and disabilities stay on top of their medications and treatments.

Those who have any experience with chickens know just how funny they can be. Not only are chickens entertaining, but the laughter they encourage can actually be beneficial to one’s health.

According to Stanford University, laughter has numerous health benefits. These benefits include lower stress levels, lower inflammation, and higher levels of good cholesterol. With their funny antics, chickens are a constant source of healthy laughter and entertainment.

Sometimes, mental and physical disabilities can cause those suffering from them to feel alienated from others and quite lonely. Another health benefit of raising chickens is that they can greatly lessen such loneliness.

According to Michigan State University, when chickens were brought into nursing homes, they helped lessen feelings of loneliness in residents. Residents who interacted with the chickens were more likely to experience joy, to smile, and to have a more positive outlook on life. Raising chickens helps reduce feelings of loneliness by giving owners the sense of being needed and a greater sense of purpose."

Sources 

Counsel for Disability Awareness

chickensforbackyards.com Therapy Chickens

From the Hobby Farms Website  Therapy Chickens: Creating Bonds And Improving Health