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Chickens as therapy animals?  You may scratch your head at this idea, but one woman in Polson, Montana is doing it, or shall we say using them. 

We usually associate the job of therapy animal with dogs or cats, but Jana Clairmont is expanding the duty roster to include her chickens.  Anyone who has ever owned a chicken knows that they can be quite calming and make unique pets that also give an egg or two for breakfast.  So, perhaps it’s not as odd an idea as you would think.

Clairmont certainly decided that her pet White leghorn rooster named Alex and Cornish game hen named Carlita were excellent pets and maybe even good therapy animals.

She originally purchased the chickens to entertain her grandchildren, but they turned out to be so good with people that she wanted to spread the love. So, Clairmont and a friend took the pair of birds to visit the residents of Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center.

The visit went well and Alex the rooster bonded in particular with one man named, Chuck Gilham.  While visiting with Gilham, the rooster stretched out in his lap, allowed his feathers to be stroked and even snuggled his head between the man’s arm and chest to snooze for a little while. 

Gilham who grew up on a farm near Cut Bank, Montana and even owned a chicken as a kid simply stated, ‘I like him.’

Clairmont says this is part of the reason she thought chickens would do well as therapy animals.  She states, ‘Most of your seniors were raised around chickens and cows… [They] develop so many human qualities if they're around people.’

To further aid those in need of a little cheering up Clairmont has set up appearances with her chickens at local retirement homes and assisted living centers in the area.  She may also be taking the chickens into the classrooms this fall if any teachers are interested.  Clairmont isn’t charging a fee for the visits, but would like to recoup gas costs if she ends up leaving Polson for the trip.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gf5nfjJSsPdR2_pqKKebXXNomLTQD98TV2DG0

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hddod/536392298/