Liberated Hens Fly for First TimeWatch and share. For the first time in their short lives, 1,525 hens learn what flying feels like. We want to convey, on some small level, how meaningful these first moments are to these #chickens. In the 56 weeks of their time at an "egg farm", none of these hens touched the earth. They have not flapped their wings. If they wanted to nest in a bed of straw, they could not. If they wanted to experience the sun on their feathers, they could not. If they wanted to dust-bathe or perch at night, they could not. Their experience of the world was one cruel deprivation after another. In these first moments, each hen had a choice. To our surprise*, many chose to lift off, feathers upon the air, wings flapping madly to gain altitude and a higher perch. Some cautiously poked concerned heads out of transport crates and gently lifted overgrown nails attached to wire-floor-stung feet to tread carefully upon novel things like straw. Their rescuers watched in glee, savoring the magicked moments of watching half-lived souls become whole again. The hens terrified to flee transport crates were carefully lifted by a rescuer's hands and placed on solid ground. Soon too, even the most frightened hen would decide her own fate - a nest box maybe, or perhaps a jaunt over to the lowest perch, or maybe simply stopping and taking it all in with her acute eyesight. On the farm where they lived, each one of these hens lacked meaningful choices. They existed. They ate. They drank water. They paced. They cried. Their bodies could not control the expulsion of egg, day after day after intensely boring, hot day of perpetual nothingness. What a terrible injustice humans inflict on these sensitive, social birds. #AnimalPlace constantly promote #veganism. We believe it is a vital way to change our interactions with other animals. Sometimes we feel as if we are in an echo chamber, sometimes shouting, sometimes quietly pleading with people to consider the inherent value a hen, cow, pig, rooster, sheep, any other animal. To consider how dysfunctional our relationship is with others, especially nonhumans exploited for agriculture. We hope you see these hens for who they are - unique beings with an interest in being alive and participating in the day to day joys and sorrows all complex, social creatures experience. If you would like to adopt, donate, or volunteer, visit www.henrescuers.org. * Usually the hens we rescue from #egg farms are "older" (like, two) and suffer from side-effects of over-production and confinement, unable to even physically fly with their damaged bones and bodies. These hens are much younger and stronger.
Posted by Animal Place on Saturday, July 25, 2015
Help ferry hens to freedom
This July, be a hero for animals and join Animal Place in liberating at least 1,500 hens from the agony of cages. If we can find homes for our current 500 adoptable hens, we can bump that number up to 2,000!
We have not met Libby yet. For the past year, she has lived in a cage with a dozen other hens. Her beak was mutilated. Her feathers have been battered from rubbing against wire walls. She is ready for freedom.
In California the majority of white Leghorn hens are gassed and their bodies trashed in landfills. Read an eyewitness account of hen gassing.
Be a part of Animal Place’s next large rescue! As the only sanctuary in the nation that regularly performs large-scale rescues directly from farms, we rely heavily on our volunteers and supporters to make these massive rescues possible. For our next rescue - Liberate Libby - we need you!
Read about our 1,500 hen rescue from February 2015.
Be a Hen Helper!
Apply to adopt! Be a rescuer. Give them the loving home they deserve. By adopting, you literally save the life of a hen who would otherwise have been needlessly killed. There are 500 available hens ready for their new homes now! They were saved from the same farm.
Volunteer! We cannot do this rescue without volunteer support. Find out how you can love the hens by helping keep them clean, fed, and healthy! The first three weeks are the most important. Housing available onsite.
Donate! It takes $15 to liberate one lovely hen from a cage and $35 to liberate and feed her for more than a month!