Animal Place
Sanctuary
July 2010
[Ed. Note: Watch Egg-laying Chickens Abused by Workers at Turlock Farm, California to see how many hens are treated on factory farms.]
Unfortunately, while the legs of the hens grew, the bands did not. More than 90% of the hens had deeply embedded leg bands, some to the bone.
In July 2010, 200 hens arrived at Animal Place, safe and sound from a small egg farm. They are the very first residents of Animal Place's Rescue Ranch, a 60-acre farmed animal adoption and placement center located on the former site of the Animal Place sanctuary.
The hens arrived with leg trauma. When they were young, the farm manager attempted a new identification system - plastic-coated, wire leg bands.
Unfortunately, while the legs of the hens grew, the bands did not. More than
90% of the hens had deeply embedded leg bands, some to the bone.
It has taken almost two weeks of intensive care for the first group of birds
to be ready for placement.
The manager will not be using these identification bands anymore.
We are placing the hens into permanent homes. Check out the adoption
information below.
How to Adopt Hens
These hens are all commercial brown layer crosses. They have been bred to
produce an amazing 250-300 eggs a year - 5 times more than normal. When
their production decreases, they are generally sent to slaughter. They are
1.5 years old and can live another 6-7 years.
All the animals received by Rescue Ranch will be placed into permanent
homes. Those who cannot be placed will be sent to the 600-acre sanctuary in
Grass Valley, CA.
All of the rescued hens are available for adoption. If you are interested in
adopting, please contact Marji Beach at [email protected] or
530-798-5114. You will be requested to fill out an adoption form and, if
approved, pick-up of birds will be arranged. Adoption fees are to be paid
upon pick-up of birds. The fees cover the care of the birds and allow us to
continue our life-saving work. Any additional donations are greatly
appreciated!
The adoption fees are as follows:
1-4 hens: $10/each
5-11 hens: $7/each
About the Farms
Animal Place's Rescue Ranch is unique in that we work directly with farmers
to provide an alternative to slaughter for a small percentage of hens in the
egg laying industry. There are more than 15 million hens raised for eggs in
California. Most will never find true sanctuary. The farms we work with
range from small, pasture-based operations to larger facilities.
Animal Place is honest - we are a vegan organization promoting compassion to
all life. We may never see eye to eye with farmers on some issues, but we
hope to find common ground in order to save as many lives as possible.
Toward that end, we keep all information about cooperating farmers private,
and they reciprocate by not using Rescue Ranch as a tool to promote the
consumption of their eggs. We do not bring cameras or recording equipment
into the farm and both parties sign confidentiality agreements. Again,
Rescue Ranch's goal is save as many lives as possible without compromising
the integrity of our organization.
Return to Animal Rights Articles
Read more at Egg Production