Mercy

by Ellie Laks | Sep 25, 2018 | Kids Activities

We were given a rare and wonderful opportunity to pull twenty baby chickens from a poultry farm. Through saving these babies I have learned more about factory farming than I ever cared to, and my eyes have been opened wide to the immense cruelty that exists behind closed doors. Like most of us, I always thought that chickens get to live some semblance of a nice life before being killed. I would think that at the very least they would get to eat and play during the day and sleep warm and safe at night. But apparently, tremendous thought has gone into how to get chickens to grow as absolutely huge as they can, in as short of a time possible, even if that means that the chickens have no quality of life at all.
There are no windows or skylights in the football field size warehouses. The chicks are intentionally kept in the dark, so they don’t burn off any calories. Because they are kept on their own feces, the ammonia burns their eyes and lungs. After a few weeks, the chicks actually go blind and have tremendous difficulty breathing. With the constant eating and the genetic engineering to grow very fast, these babies are full grown at only seven weeks old and sent to slaughter. It is a life of suffering from beginning to end and the only mercy in their short lives is the moment they are cast out of their bodies to go to a better place.
The twenty chicks that we were able to save are living a much better life. Even though there is nothing we can do to reverse genetic modification, they have room to exercise, are eating organic food, and they have Sun Chlorella Algae Super Food in their water which will boost their immune systems. For the first time in their lives, they will feel grass under their feet, fresh air on their faces, see the sun and the sky, and they will get to pick flowers, chase bugs, lay in the sunshine, and enjoy dust baths. They all have names and they are all loved, safe, happy, and alive! They will be seen as beings, not objects. And they will be accepted as family, not belongings. Please come visit us, hold one of our lap chickens, and fall in love!
The Gentle Barn is home to animals rescued from abuse, and host to children with the same stories. They host school field trips, private tours, special needs groups, and are open to the public every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Go to www.gentlebarn.org for more information.

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