To start, they look almost exactly alike. They’re the same breed (Ameraucana), and have the same medical condition: cross beak (which looks just like it sounds). Rescued four years apart, and introduced last year, these bold and gregarious friends are both thriving at Farm Sanctuary—and their close friendship makes their lives so much richer.

Not everyone loves animals with special needs—especially if that animal is being used for food production. Because of the malformation of their beaks (the bottoms jut to the left of their faces, instead of aligning with the upper tips), it’s very hard for Bella and Vector to pick up food, and to eat enough to fill up before other birds claim the bounty for themselves.

On large-scale chicken farms—or in the care of guardians who just don’t have the time—these hens likely would have starved or been culled. It simply costs more, and is more labor intensive, to raise animals that require consistent, individualized attention. And because cross beak can’t be corrected, Bella and Vector will need this level of care for life.

Thankfully, Bella and Vector had allies who valued them as individuals—not just vessels for egg production.

Bella came from a small farm. She had trouble eating and was much smaller than the rest of her flock, who picked on her relentlessly. Assuming that she wouldn’t sell, her farmer agreed to relinquish her to Farm Sanctuary, along with a friend named Stella for company.

Vector came from a feed store. Concerned that Vector might starve to death because of her beak, an employee took her home. Vector blossomed under her care, and matured into a bold (if not a bit spoiled) hen. A few years later, the guardian decided to return to school, and knew she’d have less time to tend to Vector. Not wanting her friend to fall to the wayside, she asked if we could take on her care.

When Vector arrived at Farm Sanctuary, we knew she would need to join a special needs flock—and what better, we hoped, than Bella’s? That way, we could provide the similar food and care they needed, all in one place. We not so secretly hoped that these lookalike stars would form a power couple, too.

At first, their similarly dominant personalities led to some ruffled feathers. Vector, long accustomed to life as an “only child”, wasn’t ready to share the spotlight with her mini-me. But they soon began adjusting to this new arrangement, each ultimately realizing she quite liked the other! That affection blossomed, and now these lovebirds are seldom apart.

Bella and Vector always take meals together—sometimes sharing the same bowl! We feed them three soft meals a day, consisting of watered-down pellets, veggies, treats, and other supplements. This lets them gulp their food more easily—though they also make quite a mess of their feathers from the enthusiastic food splatter! For dessert, they enjoy cleaning (and snacking on) any food traces left on their friend’s face. To help clean up any excess, and keep them well-coiffed, Bella and Vector get regular baths and blow-dries, too. Yes, they’re that fancy.

This Valentine’s Day, you can take these special hens under your wing with a symbolic adoption through Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Farm Animal Program. Your one-time gift of $35 will support their special healthcare needs, along with our work to save others from the cruelty that Bella and Vector so narrowly escaped. In gratitude, we’ll send you an adoption certificate featuring these “birds of a feather.” You can print and keep it for yourself, or email it to the Bella to your Vector (or vice versa!) to help us share the love even further.

Click here to learn more about the sentient lives of chickens, and how you can help hens like Bella and Vector, with a Valentine’s gift from the heart.