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From factory farm to freedom
30 June 2012 Have your say
Discover how one lucky chicken, rescued from a factory farm, ever so briefly experienced life's simple joys — and touched the hearts of those she met...
This is Autumn. She was quiet by nature, but when she chirped, she sounded like a baby. She never knew her mother, but constantly sought comfort and protection from those around her.
Until the last weeks of her life, all she knew was the inside walls of a factory farm. She had never seen the sun. She had no room to move, and lay in faeces covered litter every hour of every day.
Autumn was valued only for how much meat she could produce. Her body was bred to grow many times faster than nature intended. At just 30 days old, she already carried the weight of an adult, and struggled to walk.
Chickens like Autumn are not designed to live past six weeks. After her rescue, and in her last weeks of life, Autumn was given then chance to discover what brings joy and meaning to life. Her eyes closed in delight whenever the sun hit her face. She developed a profound love for watermelon. She quickly learned how to dust bathe...
She enjoyed time with her feathered companions. In fact, she would become distressed if she and her best friend Summer lost sight of one other. Upon her passing, Summer mourned for her close friend.
Not long after her rescue the chickens Autumn grew up with were packed into crates and trucked to slaughter. A week later they were on supermarket shelves.
Though Autumn has passed from us, her story lives on. By sharing this, you'll ensure that the millions of hens in battery cages across Australia will have their stories heard.
Autumn was someone, not something.
Thanks to Tamara Kenneally Photography for providing Autumn's photo and providing sanctuary for her to live out her life in peace. And thanks to you, for caring. Every meal is a choice. Animals like Autumn are depending on us to make compassionate ones.
Post a commentYour Say: 67 comments
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rose:
voting
Monday, 1 April 2013 at 8:37pm
can any one tell me who to vote for in the next election, that will help our animals
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Angelique:
Cage Hens
Tuesday, 8 January 2013 at 9:06pm
I'd like to know how she was rescued when the most of the hens she was caged with served out their purpose?
I'm very interested in working hands on to save cage hens, and would like some information as to what groups are around and what action they're taking to stop this.
I'm very interested in working hands on to save cage hens, and would like some information as to what groups are around and what action they're taking to stop this.
Val:
'Unpaid Fines Lead To Boc's Demise'
Saturday, 11 August 2012 at 4:13pm
In a story of losing man's best friend, South Perth resident Charlie has lost his forever. The last time Charlie, who did not want his surname published, saw his dog Boc ( aged 10 ) was on May 12th. Charlie believes the City has put the dog down. He says the reason the City did not release the dog to him was for an accumulation of unpaid fines. " I believe they took the dog from the property. "They put the fines to the fines enforcement agency. After that they should have given Boc back to me because it is out of their hands. I am now taking them to court because what they did was wrong. They are after me, but took it out on the dog. I went to a meeting with the City and made an offer but they never let me know whether they accepted the offer or not. "They referred to him as as dangerous ( but ) he had never bitten anyone. " The City confirmed Boc has been put down but did not comment further. I will ask them what has happened to this poor tragic dog in an email. You can have a say at www.inmycommunity.com.au Thanks Val.
Jennifer Fancett:
no need
Sunday, 5 August 2012 at 4:23pm
the shame is that humans are becoming so fat because they overeat AND throw so much good food away that producing chickens in this way is not only horrendous for the chickens but a downright health hazard to humans, Vegetarian is the way to go but even then meat of any kind should only be an occasional luxury for those that insist. KFC etc shame on you. If u want them grow your own and participate in their demise.
ken:
DONT WORK CRUEL FARMS
Saturday, 4 August 2012 at 7:32pm
WOULDENT IT BE GREAT, IF NO ONE' DID THOSE JOBS ,
james:
still saying ban live export
Wednesday, 1 August 2012 at 7:23pm
i havent forgotten these poor animals, a day dont go by that i think of them, BAN LIVE EXPORT,
Emma Seeley:
chicken meat and eggs
Monday, 30 July 2012 at 6:20pm
i think personally that all chickens for eggs and meat should be free range they taste better, so much better for the environment and so much better for the chickens. it brings me to tears seeing pictures and reading about it. to those people being selfish and not caring shame on you
Show 1 reply
victoria Carpenter:
Ex-battery hens wanted..
Sunday, 22 July 2012 at 11:44pm
hi i am wanting to get some ex-battery caged hens can someone please help me ...
Show 5 replies
Julie Douglass:
Cheap food
Monday, 16 July 2012 at 1:29am
There is no such thing as cheap food, someone pays and it's usually the animals. My rescued ex-battery hens live out their lives in peace now, they're the lucky ones, like Autumn & Summer; but they should never have been bred to suffer in the first place. Unlike Autumn the egg-laying hybrid hens can't put weight on, they struggle even in the cold of a British winter when I feed them corn and cooked high-carb treats. They lay so many eggs it often ends their lives with egg peritonitis or heart failure. Beautiful Autumn, enjoy each day of your new life and we'll remember all your brothers and sisters who didn't escape.
Ken:
We can stop it!
Thursday, 12 July 2012 at 1:56pm
It is illegal to inflict cruelty (or allow cruelty) to any animal under your care or control. We must start at the top and force the police to charge the parliamentary minister with the responsibilty of the cruelty to animals Act. with cruelty to animals that are (directly or indirectly - it doesn't matter) under their portfolio and therefore care.
Firstly formally require the police to to proceed to charge the minister under a serious crime.
Seoncdly , gather a petition of immense numbers (on the basis of reporting a serious crime) to force the police to take this action.
Thirdly, the media will be all over this, so speak out at every opportunity. Once there is even a serious threat of being charged, personally, for this crime, Ministers will view this very differently. They will try and pass the buck and have the ones lower down charged, which will still solve the problem. But Ministers must know they have a legal respoonsibility and can go to jail if they don't protect these animals.
We can stop it!
peacefromken.
Firstly formally require the police to to proceed to charge the minister under a serious crime.
Seoncdly , gather a petition of immense numbers (on the basis of reporting a serious crime) to force the police to take this action.
Thirdly, the media will be all over this, so speak out at every opportunity. Once there is even a serious threat of being charged, personally, for this crime, Ministers will view this very differently. They will try and pass the buck and have the ones lower down charged, which will still solve the problem. But Ministers must know they have a legal respoonsibility and can go to jail if they don't protect these animals.
We can stop it!
peacefromken.
lynne Irving:
saving Autumn
Monday, 9 July 2012 at 9:36pm
Sorry I cant watch the video brings up too many emotions in regard to human selfishness, in allowing animals to suffer, to satisfy an addiction for dead cooked animal flesh into the mouths of uncaring or naive human beings.Makes me sick!!
I saved six of these lovely placid chickens from a breeder in NSW and was the most horrific eye opener for me in regards to big business and animal farming. These chickens were growing so fast unnaturally that their body weight impeded their ability to walk and live a normal life. They were a delight due to their placid nature and it was so upsetting to watch them implode then become crippled due to their imense body weight and eventually one by one pick up the dead bodies day after day as the six week lifespan they are bred to expired.
I saved six of these lovely placid chickens from a breeder in NSW and was the most horrific eye opener for me in regards to big business and animal farming. These chickens were growing so fast unnaturally that their body weight impeded their ability to walk and live a normal life. They were a delight due to their placid nature and it was so upsetting to watch them implode then become crippled due to their imense body weight and eventually one by one pick up the dead bodies day after day as the six week lifespan they are bred to expired.
gail canning:
Too Cruel
Sunday, 8 July 2012 at 1:31pm
Why didn't the chicken cross the road?
A: Because it couldn't - it was too crippled by factory farming.
Meat should have images of crippled, tortured and slaughtered animals on the packages just like cigarette packets. Every consumer should be made aware of the immense suffering inflicted on the billions of intensively farmed animals.
GO VEGAN and save others such as Autumn.
Show 14 repliesA: Because it couldn't - it was too crippled by factory farming.
Meat should have images of crippled, tortured and slaughtered animals on the packages just like cigarette packets. Every consumer should be made aware of the immense suffering inflicted on the billions of intensively farmed animals.
GO VEGAN and save others such as Autumn.
Michelle:
Beautiful Autumn
Saturday, 7 July 2012 at 11:10pm
We decided to start keeping some girl's some six year's ago...there was Ruby,Lilly and our dearest departed Blackie.Blackie chook was queen of the girl's and always looking out for the other's and even attracted the attention of a local bush turkey.We lost Blackie last year as she developed cancer.Rather than take her to the vet,she wandered around our yard bathing in the sun with her sister's,chatting and being loved by our family until her last day when I carried her to the sunny front yard for her last time with us and I openly wept as I knew her time was near.She went off to bed early that last day as she had been doing but she was not alone.Ruby had been her constant companion and was nursing her in her pain till her final breathe.The love and devotion that they showed to each other and that they bestow upon us today is truly beautiful.All living things deserve to live without fear,pain and suffering.
Bless you dear Autumn and your friend Summer....may your day's be long and sunny.
Bless you dear Autumn and your friend Summer....may your day's be long and sunny.
Bev Woodburn:
This cruelty must cease.
Thursday, 5 July 2012 at 3:07pm
Watching that video (which I wish I hadn,t viewed) of the horrendous cruelty inflicted on those innocent birds absolutely disgusted me and knowing the Australian Government is allowing this practise to continue. It's about time the Government stood up for all those innocent animals being slaughtered in ways we couldn,t imagine. Animals suffer from stress and feel pain like us so called
human beings and yet this cruelty is allowed to continue. It makes
me sick that this can happen in this day and age. No living being on earth should be treated with such cruelty. We call ourselves civilized humans, I don,t think so.
l
human beings and yet this cruelty is allowed to continue. It makes
me sick that this can happen in this day and age. No living being on earth should be treated with such cruelty. We call ourselves civilized humans, I don,t think so.
l
nicole hohnen:
what a beautiful girl
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 9:26pm
So sad but so glad...wish all these girls were able to be saved from their fates
lisa Philip:
Go veg!
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 11:52am
I am gladdened and yet sad saddened by stories like this. If only all 'Autumns' could be saved and shown love and kindness, like the compassionate people who are caring for Autumn now. Her eyes are beautiful, but I cry when I think of what they've seen. How does one go about in saving these poor creatures, and battery hens too?
Show 6 replies
Suzie:
chicken escapee
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 9:29am
Hello
I have a chicken just like this one.
She escaped from the abatoirs next door to my hubby's work.
Hubby brought her home and it took a little while for our other 4 chickens to accept her.
She doesn't lay at all, but she is now having the time of her life.
So glad she escaped........
Suzie
I have a chicken just like this one.
She escaped from the abatoirs next door to my hubby's work.
Hubby brought her home and it took a little while for our other 4 chickens to accept her.
She doesn't lay at all, but she is now having the time of her life.
So glad she escaped........
Suzie
Renée Sleeboom:
the human race
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 1:20am
It is with a lot of sadness I always see/read those reports on cruelties
on animals.why ???? we live in the 21st Century and not in the
middle ages, so why can people not be more humane?
[Edited by Admin]
on animals.why ???? we live in the 21st Century and not in the
middle ages, so why can people not be more humane?
[Edited by Admin]
Heather:
Vegetarian is the way to go!
Wednesday, 4 July 2012 at 12:02am
I turned vegetarian a few years ago, I helped my mum and one of my sisters turn vegetarian too. We feel so much better for it. We are healthier and don't have to live with any guilt of being selfish and eating animals. I wish I had become vegetarian sooner but at least I know that until I die I will not eat any poor animals like you Autumn. I have chickens as pets and love them so much. I let them sit on my lap, I hug them and kiss them.
Dana:
Beautiful chick
Tuesday, 3 July 2012 at 8:54pm
Thinking of you and others like you. I haven't eaten chicken for 24years. What makes it right to pick at the bones of a beautiful animal who suffers so much?
Show 1 reply
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