More than 1,500 egg-laying hens from a conventional egg farm in southern California were rescued by the Animal Place.
California-based animal sanctuary volunteers visited an egg farm to collect some chickens that were about to be disposed of. More than 150 crates of hens were transported to the sanctuary for rehabilitation.
When the volunteers started opening the crates, the hens excitedly flew away from it one by one, as it is their first time flying. Video footage captured their first moment of freedom as the hens flock around the sanctuary.
"In these first moments, each hen had a choice. To our surprise, many chose to lift off, feathers upon the air, wings flapping madly to gain altitude and a higher perch," Animal Place Education Director Marji Beach said, according to Discovery. "Soon too, even the most frightened hen would decide her own fate - a nest box maybe, or perhaps a jaunt over to the lowest perch, or maybe simply stopping and taking it all in with her acute eyesight."
A medical examination will be conducted for the hens, which will be quarantined for two weeks to ensure their good health. After said process, the hens will be put up for adoption.
Viewers of the video were pleased about the freedom and the new home the chickens had. "So beautiful to see their excitement at being freed from cages and in a happy, safe place, as opposed to a disgusting hell. Be vegan everyone, for all of their freedom," one commenter from ALA Freedom said.
