Heard of therapy dogs? A Santa Barbara School has therapy chickens

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - It’s class time at Monte Vista Elementary School.

“We’re making like food bowls for the chickens to eat," said student Scout Siciliano of Monte Vista Elementary School

Zavian Hodges is in kindergarten.

He checks on the chickens every day.

"Chickens run and poop," said Hodges.

Principal Hans Rheinschild built a chicken coop.

He had a special purpose that would benefit kids while going to school.

"Chickens are social ... they’re friendly ... they love to be held ... and there’s a lot of ability for students to connect with animals," said Rheinschild.

Sure, they’re cute and fluffy.

But Rheinschild’s original plan didn’t involve chickens.

He wanted to get a therapy dog to run around with the kids.

“But it was actually really complicated to get a therapy dog," said Rheinschild.

then his idea took a big right turn.

“I started thinking about chickens because my dad lives on a former chicken farm in Clemens, North Carolina … and I’ve always enjoyed seeing my own children play with his chickens. Since the therapy dog thing didn’t really happen, I thought, why not therapy chickens?”

Rheinschild built the first and only chicken coup on a Santa Barbara school campus.

Since its inception, this outdoor program has skyrocketed in popularity.

“We have kids over here when they just need a break ... and just bonding with the chickens," said Rheinschild.

"I like how he’s very calm," said Siciliano.

“I'm looking for eggs," said Hodges.

From kindergarten through the 6th grade, kids are learning how to raise chickens as a part of their education.

“They lay like 5 eggs a day so we have to come on the weekend … we also have to feed them a lot," said Siciliano.

Today, the chickens are a part of the Garden and Outdoor program.

And their care is funded by the Monte Vista PTA.

While Rheinschild hopes future generations of students will be able to enjoy the benefits of therapy chickens, they're not the only ones learning something new.

He asked the kids, “Which came first the chicken or the egg?"

The kids replied, “The chicken.”