Eight hens were confiscated in a local animal cruelty case in June of 2007. They were kept by an older couple in extremely crowded conditions. The husband believed he was the devil and also that neighborhood teenagers were sneaking into the pen at night and tying up the chickens so he would have to spend all day untying them. The chickens were missing lots of feathers because of the crowded conditions and had various medical problems, including lice, mites and bumblefoot. They are Junebug, Lily, Lucy, Winona, Ally, Molly, Rose and Violet.
Thanks to a high-protein diet, weekly (and sometimes twice weekly) health care sessions and various medications, they have blossomed and regrown almost all of their feathers. One — a sweetheart named Lily, who always ran to greet us and didn't mind being cuddled — died of cancer but had a few good months of happiness.
Big Al the rooster came to us being picked up by animal control wandering along Lakeshore Drive. He was held for 10 days and then put on a kill list, when we were contacted.
