Rebecca

It was a difficult decision to make. Standing in the middle of a gigantic warehouse, surrounded by row after row, cage after cage, six tiers high as far as my eyes could see, and knowing that there were 14 identical enclosures right outside the door. Was she the one who needed us the most? I looked at one of my fellow rescuers, and though neither of us could either ask nor answer that question, one thing was clear: She would die without us. She would die without ever seeing the sun or feeling its warmth. Without feeling solid ground beneath her feet. Without ever even fully extending her wings. Though we could not be sure she would survive even with our help, surely she would prefer soft cloth and a pair comforting arms to sharp metal wire and aggressive cagemates.

In order to remove Rebecca from the tightly packed metal box, I first needed to lift another hen who had found relief from the wire floor by standing on her back. Even though her muscles were weak and atrophied from lack of use I felt a sharp pain as she clung to my hands. Her overgrown circular claws pinched my skin through my gloves. Noticing the welts and abrasions on her body I was sure Rebecca knew this (and other) pain all too well. The soft touch of my hand sent a wave of shock (terror) through her body. As I lifted her from the wire floor she cried out. Her shrill voice ricocheted through the cages and was absorbed and concealed, as were all other expressions of fear and pain in this horrible soundproof factory.

Within moments of being in my arms, Rebecca calmed down and was looking up at me with inquisitive eyes. We had both just made a friend. After a short trip we made it home. Rebecca made a remarkably fast recovery. She paid a visit to our veterinarian who was pleased to give her a clean bill of health with a recommendation for plenty of R&R. Though she was battered, malnourished and anemic she was going to live! In the coming days she continued to amaze and inspire me. She had a voracious appetite and happily gobbled up her food, vitamins and supplements. Within days she was eating corn, oats, millet and other grains and vegetables her body was intended to digest. She particularly enjoyed taking baths in my sink. She would raise her scant feathers and meticulously preen each one as the water loosened the feces and dried egg which was encrusted upon her. On the third day she was with me I gave her a kennel full of sand that she immediately jumped into and began dust bathing as if it had been a common practice throughout her life. She would walk around the house stretching out her wings and flexing her toes as if she had always been able to do so. I will never forget bringing her out onto my deck and watching her immediately stretch out, raise her wing and extend her leg to absorb all off the sun's light that she possibly could. Rebecca stayed with me for a little over one month until she was ready to go and live with other rescued hens at the farm sanctuary where she continues to live a long, happy, healthy life.