From Rooster Sanctuary
at Danzig's Roost
September 2013
Fonzie is from a backyard flock kept for egg production.
Rooster Sanctuary at Danzig’s Roost is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization that provides shelter and advocacy for roosters and other farmed birds who have been fortunate to escape the cruel hands of the animal use industry. The sanctuary is run by two dedicated vegan activists, Jason and Jewel, who both work full time jobs to support the sanctuary and residents.
Rooster Sanctuary at Danzig’s Roost is founded in memory of one wonderful rooster named Danzig, who passed years ago. Danzig was a stout little guy, with a brave personality and loving character to his flock members.
We know first hand how wonderful roosters are. It’s unfortunate for them that they are viewed as aggressive and mean and worthless. We’ve discovered through daily interactions with such lovely individuals that these boys are so much more than people give them credit for. Roosters, when hurt, either emotionally or physically, will shut down and mope for days without crowing until they can slowly build their esteem again. Surprisingly enough, it’s the hens that are quite resilient, eager and territorial more often than the roosters. When a rooster looses a member of his flock, he will mourn for days, and his courageous crow morphs into a sad song with a completely different tone. Roosters are regularly removed from their beloved flocks when they are unwanted by those who only want hens for their eggs. When a rooster finds us, we welcome him to our forty acre sanctuary and merge him with a flock that he will never been torn from again.
Roosters have it rough in this world even if they’re allowed to live beyond day one.
In all egg production the chicks hatched male are exterminated after emerging from their shells. Male chicks are macerated (scientifically destroyed by being tossed alive into grinding machines), gassed or simply discarded to die slowly in disposal containers. The egg or meat industry has no use for the smaller bodied males of “egg type” birds. The egg and meat industry also includes that of small family farms, local organic farms, and urban farmers. Each of these industries plays a part in the demise of roosters. Each of these industries demand that roosters be destroyed and hens be discarded when production declines. The “meat” birds are all killed in the same ways while begging for their lives to be spared. Cruelty is unavoidable when animals are used by humans and viewed as objects that can be owned.
Rooster Sanctuary at Danzig’s Roost treats each individual who arrives here with the utmost respect. Each individual here knows that they are important. They don’t all arrive feeling that way, but in time with our kind words and respect that we show them, they flourish. The roosters establish their own flocks and territory, and they’re given the space they need in which to do this. The roosters fortunate to make it here each had their life threatened simply because they are who they are; proud crowing boys who do not have what humans want, eggs. Due to the inevitable cruelty involved in any use of farmed animals, we promote and live a completely vegan lifestyle.
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