05/30/2026
We lost our sweetest boy, Pippin, today. He was just a little shy of his 5th birthday. We had no warning. One minute he was enjoying the sunshine and eating some veggies and a few minutes later he was gone. I believe it was most likely a cardiovascular event. No matter how long we've been caring for chickens, it never gets easier having to say goodbye. Pippin was so adorable! Whenever I carried him from his indoor area to his outdoor run. He would talk nonstop and always looked so eager and happy.
Pippin and his brothers, Merry and Gandalf, came to us in August 2021 when they were surrendered by a slaughterhouse for being too small. They were 4 weeks old, but chickens are normally 6-8 weeks old at slaughter. There are approximately 9 billion baby chickens killed each year in the United States.That's around 25 million chickens killed every day. They are babies who are still peeping when they are killed to be roasted or baked or turned into a nugget or sandwich. The babies who become someone's meal don't get to live a happy life exploring the grass and enjoying sunshine, but are crammed by the thousands into cramped, windowless sheds before they are slaughtered. Most die a horrific death due to the speed of the processing lines and the companies who prioritize profits over humane treatment.
Please remember that chickens have feelings just like your dog or cat. They have personalities and find joy in life. They have the ability to suffer and feel pain and fear. Most importantly, they want to live. Please consider a more humane and peaceful way of living and leave animals off your plate.
