The boundary between life and death for a farm animal can sometimes hinge on a single message. For our two newest feathered residents—a quiet, lavender-grey hen and a gentle, cream-coloured rooster—their path to safety began when a concerned citizen reached out to us through our website.
She had spotted the two birds kept in a cramped, wire dog crate outdoors. When our rescue team rushed to the scene, the situation was even more horrific than we feared. The chickens were trapped together in the tiny cage, standing in their own accumulated feces. They had absolutely no shade to protect them from the elements, no food, and absolutely no water to drink. They were severely dehydrated, emaciated, and completely neglected. To make the situation even more critical, the owner was planning to kill them.
The cramped, filthy conditions the two birds were kept in with no food, water, or shade before their rescue.
Our team immediately stepped in, confronting the owner and advocating for their lives. Through persistent conversation, we finally convinced him to surrender the birds to us.
Once they arrived safely at our Langley sanctuary, their rehabilitation began immediately. Because they had been forced to live in such filthy, unsanitary conditions, they were caked in heavy grime. The rooster had also suffered severe feather loss around his neck and head—a stark, painful result of the extreme starvation and abuse he had endured. To treat his irritated skin and address potential parasites, he required an immediate medicated bath.
Emily, our resident “chicken whisperer” and honestly the only person I know who would perform this disgusting task, stepped up to perform the medicated bath. While water is typically very stressful for chickens, this brave boy seemed to instinctively understand he was finally in safe hands. He stood remarkably still and calm as Emily held him securely, using a warm spray nozzle to gently rinse the medicated suds through his feathers.
Emily giving the brave rooster his healing medicated bath in our wash sink.
Today, both birds are safe, out of danger, and are enjoying their own space while they continue to recover. They have a long road of physical healing ahead of them, but they will spend the rest of their lives knowing only kindness, dignity, and absolute peace.
How You Can Support Their Recovery
Helping starved and abused animals heal requires intensive care, clean quarantine spaces, and specialized nutrition. If you would like to support the rehabilitation of these two resilient survivors, please consider donating to our “Newcomers Fund”—one of the three designated choices on our online donation form. Your support directly funds the medical care and specialized nutrition they need to thrive.
