Once they reached the vehicle, however, they discovered a far more urgent situation: The truck was crowded with farm animals, including 50 chickens, four turkeys, and many rabbits — some of them dead. The animals had no food or water, and questioning revealed that the family, relocating from the Midwest to southern California, had been on the road for several days. The trip must have been harrowing for these animals, who endured it cramped, hungry, thirsty, and scared, with no idea when or if relief would come.
The animals were seized, and custody was transferred to the Pasadena Humane Society, which reached out to Farm Sanctuary and other groups for help. We welcomed 39 chickens to our Southern California Shelter in Acton while the rest of the animals were placed with other shelters and adopters in the area.
We soon brought 27 of the chickens north to our shelter in Orland, CA; the other 12, all bantams, remained at Acton. Clearly victims of neglect, all of the chickens arrived with a heavy parasite load, for which they are receiving treatment.
The staff at Acton are already smitten with their new flock of pint-sized chickens, which includes a couple young roosters. The tiniest of all the bantams, these fellows can stand in the palm of your hand. Having just learned to crow like big boys, they’re excited to try out their new voices — and caregivers are delighted to hear them practice!
The bantam flock also includes Barbara and Beverly. The two, who appear to be related to each other, arrived emaciated and severely debeaked. A procedure standard in the egg and poultry industries, where it is used to discourage fighting among stressed and crowded birds, debeaking is performed by amputating a portion of a chick’s sensitive upper beak with a hot blade or a microwave — and without anesthetic.
It’s unclear why Barbara and Beverly, belonging to a breed that is not used in industrial production, would have been subjected to this cruel procedure. Whatever harsh circumstances these girls faced, all that is behind them now. When they first got here, the two spent a great deal of time in the shelter office receiving treatment and charming caregivers with their gentle cooing. Barbara came to us with an eye infection, which has left one eye permanently misshapen, but we were able to save her vision. Now she and Beverly are back with their fellow bantams, enthusiastically exploring their new home.
As for the chickens recovering at our Orland shelter — well, that’s where kind people like you come in…
