Chester's chickens are in demand

Chester Borrows

Whanganui MP Chester Borrows' lesser-known position as "Minister for Chicken Donating" has kept him busy lately as he handed out free chickens for young people and children to take care of.

Mr Borrows recently donated live chickens to children at Ramanui School in Hawera, as well as young people at Youth Justice residences in Palmerston North and Christchurch.

"I've been doing it for a while now," said Mr Borrows, who buys the chickens from a local breeder.

"I just think that chickens are great for kids and young people to look after. They respond very quickly to being well treated."

After donating the chooks to the Christchurch Youth Justice Residence, he had received a message from the next takers.

"Palmerston North got in touch to say they had built their chicken coop and they were ready for their chooks please," he said. Mr Borrows knew Ramanui School was interested in being given the chickens but he had to wait until the end of the electoral period before he could make the donation.

"I got in touch with them straight after election day and said, 'Where do you want them and how many do you want'?" he said.

He has a couple of chickens at his own home as well.

Mr Borrows said there was "not a lot going on" with pets at Youth Justice residences and he believed it was good to teach residents to care for animals, as many people who abused animals went on to abuse people. "If you can teach kids to respect and care for and nurture animals, hopefully it will follow through."