Joan died one chilly, grey Saturday in June. Named after Joan of Arc, she was rescued from a free range egg farm on the foggy Friday night before. She was rescued from a free range farm who has the reputation of being one of the best free range farms in Australia.
Joan spent her entire (yet short) life being attacked and beaten by other chickens in a hierarchical system gone mad. There is no order when you have 60,000 chickens in one shed. Every chicken is constantly competing to be number one chicken with 59,999 other chickens. With no places to hide, life for a free range chicken is tough.
The crux of a chicken social network is their pecking order. It is complex and incredibly important. A chicken flock is not meant to be 60,000 birds strong and because of this, fighting for top spot and being confused about who is top chicken happens all day, everyday.
Joan tried to fight back. She was a feisty girl, she gave me some great bites, but she had absolutely no chance. She was brutalised. Her back was one huge scab. Her wings bleeding and bare. Her legs bloody. Her comb peppered with blood marks. Her body infected. She was in great pain. She just had no chance. We found her standing in the outdoor section of the free range farm in the early hours of the morning.
She lived for 12 hours after she was rescued. She died in the warmth, full of pain killers and food and water… and full of our hope that she would make it.
The term “free range” may make you feel better about using animals, but in reality, the animals suffer just as intensively, only in a different way. Choose kindness when purchasing your food…for Joan and all the forgotten girls just like her.
Please don’t use my images without permission. All images are Copyright Tamara Kenneally
Poor Joan. How can people be so cruel. This brings tears to my eyes. No chicken should ever have to suffer this fate. People have to wake up to what is going on! Thankyou Tamara for letting people know!
Thank you Tamara for letting her know she mattered and she was loved x
waarom doet de politiek niks aan het dierenleed vullen alleen hun eigen zakken mens en dier kan stikken heel erg arme beesten
These messages are so important. Even more important is we take notice.
Hi Tamara, why did you delete my comments on your Facebook page?
Can I share this on my page?
This cruelty must be stopped
Thank You So Much Tamara for showing , kindness and love to sweet Joan in the last hours of her life. . The farming industry is so cruel and brutal 🙁 It’s so heartbreaking
Beautiful person to show such love and kindness, <3
So so sad.
A horrific end for so many of our little hens 🙁
This little girl breaks my heart.
At least someone knew she passed our way and was given a name so that she wssnt “just a chicken” .
If this doesnt encourage people to buy wisely i dont know what else would.
The sad story of this little hen will sadly repeat time and time again.
Sleep tight little girl. Xx
Dear God- what have we done to your marvelous creations the animals? My heart is broken and my tears flow freely to see how farm animals as well as companion animals are abused & neglected at the hands of so many people. I know you must be angry & disappointed by the way your incredible creatures great & small are suffering. I pray that you will punish the people that use & abuse your marvelous animals.
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