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." "That reflects how the university is changing to meet the needs of the students and their interest in the human-animal bond, animal care, animal health and, of course, the farm-to-table movement," she continued. "It all has to do with increasing the quality of our food stuff and knowing where our food actually comes from." Bowser said she recently asked a student where meat comes from and was surprised by their answer. "[The student] said 'the supermarket,'" Bowser recalled. "It's really important [for students] to know where their food comes from, the quality-of-life that animal had while it was making the food for us and learning that it actually does increase the taste and the flavor of the product that we're consuming." "Our students are seeing that in every aspect of their classes," she added. Bowser expects the first batch of eggs to arrive sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW