As factory farms throughout the United States kill off “excess” animals amid the coronavirus pandemic, 1,000 lucky chickens narrowly escaped death at one Iowa egg farm.
The hens, who were going to be “depopulated,” got a second chance at life when they were flown via privately chartered planes to their new home at Animal Place’s Grass Valley sanctuary in California, courtesy of a generous anonymous donor.
Millions of farmed animals are being killed due to infected people not being able to safely go to work, slaughterhouse closures and supply chain disruptions. The egg farm that surrendered the hens announced its willingness to give animals away rather than move forward with a plan to kill 140,000 chickens with carbon dioxide. Local activists quickly contacted Animal Place, which specializes in large-scale rescues.
Rescuers, including two Animal Place staff members who drove nearly 30 hours from California to the egg farm in Iowa, encountered a devastating scene: chickens stacked four to five cages high, 10 hens per cage. Due to shortages, the birds were not fed for at least a week prior to the rescuers’ arrival, and dead hens littered the barn aisles.
The 1,000 survivors were flown from Fort Dodge, Iowa to Truckee, Calif. where rescuers are nursing them back to health and will adopt them out to backyard flocks throughout the state’s northern region. Those who are too ill for adoption will receive lifelong care at Animal Place’s sanctuary.
“The entire process, from the 27-hour drive, arriving at the farm at 3 a.m., loading and unloading full crates from the planes and vehicles, and going straight to caring for them once we arrived at the sanctuary was the most exhausting experience I’ve ever had,” Animal Place’s animal care director Hannah Beins said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat, because until their rescue these hens never got to touch grass or feel sunshine, and now they can live out the rest of their lives as chickens should.”
The ongoing pandemic is drawing long-overdue attention to the inhumane and unsanitary factory farming industry, which kills roughly 25 million animals daily in the United States alone. If you haven’t already, sign Lady Freethinker’s petition urging Congress to ban cruel factory farming throughout the United States in favor of more sustainable and humane food systems.
SIGN: End Cruel and Deadly Factory Farming in the United States

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Congratulations,
Norrie
I am so glad to hear this, thank you.
PLEASE, PEOPLE, PLEASE CONSIDER A VEGETARIAN/VEGAN LIFESTYLE. IT’S SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR HEALTH & WEALTH! I’VE BEEN VEGAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
Perhaps it is time to thin the human horde?
Thank you so much for adding positive articles on animal issues. I became a vegan 45 tears ago after working on a cattle ranch. I went out to work with horses and my side job was raising the orphan calves. If you raise a calf like a puppy or a foal they are no different. It has been torture to witness the ignorance and cruelty of humans so good news is greatly appreciated!
At least these 1000 gentle birds had the luck to see another days sunshine. Thanks to the caring kinder spirited people who rescued them from their hellish conditions. Bless you all.
“When you feel the Suffering of another living being, in your own heart, that is Consciousness”. Bhagavad Gita–
Wonderful to read of the amazing rescue of 1000 laying hens. It raised my spirits, hugely. I’m so grateful to everyone concerned.
Also delighted to hear of moves by China to buy out the dreadful wet markets. I do hope this is a genuine offer.
Thanks to everyone who keeps up the fight,
With love from England
Clare
Great for Wuhan but like I read here come the black mkt ppl
I think all human’s should (NOT CAGE OR CAPTURE) wild animals for food, as they are wild, and we as human’s do not know what they have to eat in order to survive in the wild. It’s so cruel to keep them in an !OPEN MARKETS! Unsanitized” with people touching them and being sold for food without wearing cloves or area’s in dirty conditions.
Thank you.
Kind people are heroes
Thank you for all you do.
Thank goodness.
I have tears in my eyes thinking of those poor creatures going from pain and misery to feel grass and sunshine for the first time in their lives. Thank you so much to all involved in this lifesaving situation for those beautiful chickens. Factory farms have evolved for the greed and indifference of man but ask yourself this question…who is keeping them open? I have found my new heart and soul when I became vegan
thanku Animal Place for rescuing those 1,000 chickens 🐣🐤🐥
How lucky those chickens were. They can make great pets. Thanks to all of the tireless workers that helped. Three cheers!
Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren have once again introduced a bill that would phase out factory farming by 2040. There is also a companion bill in the House. While 20 years is too long, please encourage support for these bills. They’re a start.
YAY!!! AM SO HAPPY FOR THESE CHICKENS, MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS ALL INVOLVED, AMEN. SHUT DOWN THESE HORRIBLE ABUSIVE FARMS, STOP EATING ANIMALS, PERIOD!!!