Animal Stories from All-Creatures.org



Alice Was a Fighter

From Zoe Rosenberg
Facebook posting, December 24, 2022

It makes me angry what we have done to the bodies of animals like Alice. If it weren’t for the way chickens have been genetically manipulated, perhaps Alice would be running up to greet me right now.

Hen Alice

Alice passed away overnight after suddenly falling very ill from reproductive complications, most likely from ovarian cancer.

I carried her out of a factory farm just over 2 years ago. I always say that we can free animals from factory farms, but not from their bodies. The egg industry has genetically manipulated chickens like Alice to lay over 300 eggs every year. Naturally, undomesticated chickens, free from any selective breeding, only lay 10-15 eggs every year. Laying this massive number of eggs, nearly one every single day, takes a huge toll on these chickens’ bodies. They develop osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, egg yolk peritonitis, prolapses, and other reproductive illnesses that are often disabling or fatal.

Alice was never particularly healthy, she always struggled more than her fellow chickens. However, she was a fighter and she had such a strong spirit.

I’ll always remember her sweet nature. She would always run up to greet you. She’d cock her head and look up at you with her precious eyes. When it was time for bed, she’d wait at the gate to be picked up and carried to the crate where she slept.

Alice was so special, and it’s hard to believe that she is gone. Just two days ago she was so full of life, running to greet me as I gave her some popcorn.

It makes me angry what we have done to the bodies of animals like Alice. If it weren’t for the way chickens have been genetically manipulated, perhaps Alice would be running up to greet me right now. Perhaps she’d be enjoying a treat or taking a dust bath. Instead, she’s gone and there will never again be an individual quite like her who will walk this earth.

I love you, Alice, forever and always. You will live on in our hearts and you will never be forgotten. I promise I will fight against the brutalities of the egg industry until this cruelty is no more


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