“She’s transformed so much ❤️”
Sisters Kelly and Sophie Burgess, volunteers at Fresh Start For Hens, were on a mission at a commercial farm, searching for sickly chickens in need of rescue. Amidst the flock, they spotted a chicken in desperate need of their assistance. This chicken had nearly no feathers, a pale comb, and a melancholic gaze in her eyes.
The toll of incessant egg-laying had weakened her body. Most of her feathers were missing, a consequence of both her poor health and the stress-induced feather-plucking common among caged chickens.
At Fresh Start For Hens, a UK-based nonprofit dedicated to giving ex-commercial chickens a second chance at life, volunteers prioritize the most vulnerable birds, nursing them back to health in their own homes.
Kelly and Sophie immediately took Cookie under their wing. They provided her with the tender, loving care she desperately needed. For Cookie, who had never experienced life beyond the confines of a commercial cage, every moment was a revelation. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to watch them explore the grass and experience the world for the first time,” Kelly shared with The Dodo.
For three months, the Burgess sisters housed Cookie indoors, shielding her from the biting cold of the UK winter. With nutrient-rich food, water fortified with vitamins, and abundant affection, they nurtured her back to health.
“It’s astonishing how quickly they revert to their natural behaviors,” Kelly remarked.
Within weeks, Cookie’s transformation was evident. Now, just months after her rescue, she is hardly recognizable.
As her health improved, Cookie’s vibrant personality emerged.
“Cookie is a bit of a character… She’s always by your side, and food is her greatest obsession. She’ll do anything to reach her meals,” Kelly chuckled.
Cookie also had the opportunity to explore new culinary delights she had never encountered before. According to the Burgess sisters, her newfound favorite treat is blueberries.
While Fresh Start For Hens typically facilitates adoptions for rehabilitated hens, the Burgess sisters found themselves deeply attached to Cookie and couldn’t bear to part with her. Thus, the Burgess household has become Cookie’s permanent sanctuary.
“We’ll call it a ‘failed adoption’,” Kelly joked affectionately.