The Iowa Survivors

In May of 2020, we learned that a large egg facility in Iowa was going to kill nearly all 140,000 of their hens. The facility had to scale down because of breaks in the supply chain caused by COVID-19. These hens lived in tiny cages their entire lives, unable to spread their wings or enjoy the grass

under their feet. Hens used for eggs are packed up to 10 in a cage and, at this facility, there were dead chickens found in every cage. It was a horrible place, and we can’t imagine what these poor hens witnessed happening to their friends as they managed to survive such exploitation and neglect.

Fortunately, multiple sanctuaries came together and managed to rescue 1,400 hens. Ten of them found their forever home here at Woodstock Sanctuary. When the sanctuaries arrived on the grounds to rescue these hens, they saw piles of dead birds all over the property. Excavators were already dumping bodies of dead innocent birds into pits. As the sanctuaries worked quickly to take chickens out of cages and save their lives, workers at the farm were killing other birds by putting them in boxes and gassing them. The birds were then thrown outside to be composted. This was happening in front of all the remaining living hens who were completely terrified.

The surviving hens fortunately made the long journey to New York and are now thriving in sanctuary They share a large, beautiful yard and coop and some remain close friends. These hens are curious and gentle, and, here in sanctuary, their personalities can shine. They have access to plenty of nourishing food, clean water, and pasture and they will never know harm or terror ever again.