Sanctuary Tails

Our New Darling, Clementine

 

by Susie

Many farm animals are victims of simple neglect, as is the case for Clementine, a recently arrived hen at our New York Shelter. Clementine was taken into a bar and left there as a prank, without concern for what would happen to her. Some patrons spent the evening trying to find her home, but with no luck. Eventually, she was taken in by a wildlife rehabber, who then thankfully brought her to us, where she can receive the care and attention she deserves. 

Clementine was a little thin when she was brought to us, but otherwise in good condition. And, since she is chatty and sweet, and prone to curiously and playfully pecking at people who come into her barn stall, many of the staff here have already become very fond of her. When she isn’t hanging out in her nest, she is often found serenely perched on top of her water bowl, which is a really cute sight to see!

In her short time here, Clementine has also made a close friend in Clarence rooster. He too was a victim of neglect, but with far worse consequences. Left with no shelter in below-zero conditions, Clarence lost all the tips of his comb and two toes to frostbite. But now he is doing well in his stall next to Clementine. The two chat throughout the day, and when they are both deemed healthy enough to enter the main population, they will likely live together and spend full, happy lives by one another’s sides.

Feeling Their Pain: Chickens and Empathy

 

By Susie

Scientists have recently published a study showing that chickens are capable of feeling empathy. They say their study “has important implications for the welfare of farm and laboratory animals.” Here at Farm Sanctuary, we’re happy that the scientific community is starting to acknowledge that animals deserve ethical consideration, but if they wanted to know whether or not chickens are capable of empathy, they could have just visited our farm! For many years we have been marveling at chickens’ personalities, at their individual quirks and habits, at the relationships they form, and at their numerous displays of empathy. 

We frequently see chickens empathize with one another when one of them has a health issue. All of the hens and roosters we’ve rescued from the egg production industry perch at night, but if a hen is sick, we will usually find her on the ground when we come in to close the barn. She will not be alone, however, and if not a rooster, one of her companion hens will be there to keep her company until we take her to our shelter hospital for treatment and observation.

The bonds between chickens grow when they have these experiences. We remember Taboo and Giggles, who were from different flocks, but developed a strong relationship when they spent time together at the hospital barn while they were both sick. Taboo’s health improved, so we returned her to her flock. After a few days, she ventured away from her flock and made the downhill trek back to the hospital to see her friend. We had to keep her away from some of the sick birds, so we again put her back with her original flock. It wasn’t long before Taboo started to show signs of illness and had to go back to the hospital barn. Immediately the friends united, and Taboo made an amazing recovery. At this point, we relented to Taboo’s insistence and let the two chickens remain together. They happily lived with one another until Giggles passed. After that Taboo started to succumb to illness again, and was never quite the same as when she was with her friend. It was clear to anyone who knew her how meaningful her relationship with Giggles was, and how profoundly affected she was by her friend’s well-being. 

The sad truth is that despite all the information we have about the complexity of these beautiful, intelligent animals, agribusiness still treats them like egg, milk and meat making machines. In typical factory farm conditions, behaviors like those shown by Taboo and Giggles could never be observed — most chickens spend their days crammed in a cage barely able to move, or in the case of birds used for meat, are killed after just six short weeks of life. We have been fortunate to be able to give chickens like Taboo and Giggles a home where they can act as they naturally should. In return they have shown us just how much they can empathize with one another, without having to test on them!

Top photo: Taboo and Giggles, friends for life

Reel Life Video Series: Episode Six

On episode six of our Sanctuary Tails blog video series, Reel Life at Farm Sanctuary, California Shelter Director Leanne Cronquist makes the morning rounds. Watch as eager animals pour out of their barns, happy to greet the day! The pigs tend to take their time getting up, but you’ll meet Lil' Bud, one of our West Coast sanctuary's oldest pigs, who likes to get up early to start grazing while his friends laze in the sun.

Catch up on previous episodes of Reel Life at Farm Sanctuary at the links below:

Episode 1: Pasture Rotation
Episode 2: Chicken Nutrition
Episode 3: Turkey Talk 
Episode 4: Hay Feeds
Episode 5: Love on the Farm