Six-hundred Silkie roosters were saved by Lancefield animal sanctuary Edgar’s Mission this month, as part of its mission Operation Mini.
The roosters, abandoned in their cages, were held in an “ammonia-riddled” shed after a business failure – while hens were readily adopted, the roosters were left behind.
Edgar’s Mission founder Pam Ahern said she “could not believe her eyes” when she first saw the suffering of the birds.
“If the tiny, barren wire cages weren’t cruel enough, the number of dead bodies, either in cages or littering the floor, most certainly was. There was filth and rodents everywhere,” she said.
“I challenge even the hardest of hearts to witness what we have seen and not be moved.
“One thing that struck us most when rescuing the birds was their sheer vulnerability. Yet we cann ot relay what joy it brings to us today, seeing them all free.”
Now, the sanctuary is putting the call out to people to put their hands up to the give roosters “forever homes” in areas where owning roosters is not restricted by local councils.
Co-founder of J&D’s Farm Sanctuary in Carag Carag Debbie Sims described Silkies as some of the friendliest chicken breeds.
“Bachelor flocks of the lads just do dandy,” she said.
Ms Ahern said he felt sad for the last rooster to be rescued from its cage, who has was finally freed on Wednesday, January 11.
“I have named him Minnesota, and he is the sweetest of roosters,” she said.
“Carrying him out of the shed and closing that door behind us for the last time was one of the greatest feelings I think I will ever have.”
Elsie Lange
