Builders take chook under their wings

A Ballarat chook has become the newest member of the construction union, after a bunch of builders took the hapless hen under their wings.

Archie was almost dead meat when she was attacked by a dog as she wandered the streets of Ballarat searching for a new home.

But the building crew, who are working on the reconstruction of the city's Arch of Victory, saw that she had ruffled some feathers and flew to her rescue.

They have since built their new pet a nesting box and they feed her their left-overs from home.

Archie - a name inspired by the landscape the men are working on - has become very comfortable among the rubble, even laying an egg, and shows no sign of flying her new coop anytime soon.

Along with her life of luxury, Archie also has the full protection of the CFMEU, whose 30,000 members have vowed to keep the hen away from harm for as long as she remains on-site.

Ballarat Union official Jason Bell told the Herald Sun: "For as long as she remains on-site she can rely on the might of 30,000-plus CFMEU workers, who will step up to help her out."

Union shop steward Andy Pitlik told 7News: "We look after members, families, communities, and obviously in this case....animals."

He said workers arrived on-site this morning to find Archie had laid an egg.

"She's obviously pretty comfortable and doesn't seem to want to leave."

The builders say they will continue to care for Archie, but hope her rightful owners come forward soon.

It echoes the plot of a new film out soon, The Red Dog.

It's a true story about a charismatic kelpie who unites a mining community, and becomes an honorary member.