Tikvah and Nesya

In October of 2022, we were contacted by an activist group in NYC who had saved the lives of two baby chickens from an annual religious ritual. They were only weeks old and were facing a brutal death. When their rescuers contacted us to ask if we could take them in to spare them this fate, we had to say yes.

For weeks, we had to follow extreme isolation procedures, both to ensure that they were healthy enough to meet our other bird residents, and because they were so young and fragile. We named these sweet babies Tikvah and Nesya, hope and miracle in Hebrew.

Tikvah in sanctuary

Nesya in sanctuary

Once grown, Tikvah and Nesya had their own flock to socialize with at last and quickly befriended many other chickens. Sadly, Tikvah faced serious chronic health challenges and passed away in late 2025. We are so happy she spent years at her friends’ sides, exploring the grass, taking dust baths, and cuddling on their caregivers’ laps. We miss Tikvah dearly, but we are so honored to continue to watch Nesya live out her life alongside friends with the level of joy she deserves.