Ms. C, and Rosemary are brown layers who came to the Little Red Barn in the spring from a socalled “free-range” barn, along with their friends, Georgia and Henny Penny. Despite the term free-range which makes people think it is more humane, these hens lived in an overcrowded barn with thousands of other hens. At one year, during their natural molt, their destiny is to be culled by gassing. When we picked up the four ladies, they were in terrible distress with most of their feathers missing, not only from the natural molt, but also from the stress of the barn which causes them to pluck their own feathers and those around them. Poor Georgia only survived a few days after rescue. Ms. C, Rosemary and Henny Penny went on to thrive with complete freedom, dust bathing, lots of sunshine and blue skies, green grass, insects, daily fruits, vegetables, straw and lots of love. Henny Penny never did grow her feathers back, and was a favorite with visitors. She was quickly identifiable by her lack of feathers. She lived a wonderful summer in our care and has left a legacy of memories. Ms. C, one of the boldest and outgoing of the ladies, was named after the science teacher who originally inspired the research which led to the ultimate creation of our sanctuary. Alexandria, Dehlia and Goldilocks were saved from a hobby farm who was culling their older hens who were no longer producing eggs. All our hens roam freely inside and outside the barn. In the heated barn they have free access to several roosting areas and separate hen coops, although they particularly enjoy lying on the pigs while they sleep. Each of our hens are treated as individuals with their own personal preferences and loved as someone, not something.
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Ms C, Rosemary, and Hens
Ms C, Rosemary, and Hens