Sun’s Birthday

We recently celebrated our turkey, Sun’s birthday last month and had a party for her. That Sunday also marked The Gentle Barn’s twenty-third anniversary. Festivities included cuddles with Sun, hugs from the cows, belly rubs with the pigs, kisses from the horses, affection from the goats and sheep, and selfies with the llamas. Of course, loving the animals works up a big appetite, so we had delicious food, drinks, and refreshments in our snack shop.
Turkeys are genetically engineered to grow very big and fast to be slaughtered as babies. When we rescue them, by the time they are full grown, they become larger than their wild counterparts and have shorter lifespans. Sadly, our genetically engineered turkeys have never lived past four years old. So, when Sun turned four, wanting more time with her, we started giving her monthly acupuncture treatments. Acupuncture helped her walk more easily, feel more comfortable, and work so well that Sun was able to celebrate her seventh birthday and the longest living turkey in the history of The Gentle Barn!
Sun is our cuddle turkey. She heals people in crisis, helps children practice reading, and often brings our guests to tears when she falls asleep in their laps. She has been in love with our goat Gus for years, and the two are often found standing together in silent meditation. Sun loves to sing, filling up our barnyard with her lovely chirps and squawks. We are grateful for every day we get with Sun and are excited to share her with you.
The Gentle Barn is a national non-profit organization in Santa Clarita, California, with locations in St. Louis, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee. We are home to animals rescued from trauma and host to people with the same stories. We are open to the public on Sundays and host private tours, field trips, birthday parties, and cow hug therapy sessions. For more, follow The Gentle Barn on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tick Tok, and YouTube. To visit and donate, go to www.gentlebarn.org.