CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — It was an egg-citing day as Johnson & Wales University (JWU) welcomed more than a dozen chickens to its Harborside Campus.
The 19 hens, which were hatched on campus back in July, moved into their new coop Friday morning. The chickens consist of three breeds: Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, and Black Star.
The so-called “Coop-a-Cabana” will bring together students from various programs to care for the hens and maintain the enclosure.
Initially, JWU said the eggs produced by the hens will be used for research involving animal science, sustainability, culinary nutrition and product development.
The eggs will eventually be used for consumption in culinary classes, pending approval from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
JWU’s Dr. Jackie Bowser said the coop will give students invaluable hands-on experience that will give them a first-hand look at where their food originates from.
“This was kind-of lightning in a bottle,” Bowser said of how everything came together. “We were really excited — when we first had this idea — that the university got behind us in a really fast way.”