Sanctuary For Hens and Humans

This beautiful video shows Robert Grillo of Free From Harm with some quiet, quality time with his feathered family.

Two years ago Robert Grillo came to adopt and raise four beautiful hens. Doris is the star at the beginning of the film. She was rescued from a class egg hatching project. The gorgeous white leghorn is Sweet Pea. The elegant black with white speckled feathers bird is Danita. And the one seen on his lap at the end is the lovely Sandye who sadly just passed the last day of October. You can learn more about these precious chickens as well as Robert's insightful observations at the links on the bottom and side bar of those pages.


I can add very little to what is shown on this touching video - Except to say that when I first adopted Chicklett and Eunice I didn't have any prior knowledge of chickens either... I didn't expect a bond or a relationship with them. Shamefully, I didn't know chickens could respond to affection. Like most... I was taught not to know this.

But in just a bit of time I had the sweetest realization of how little I really knew about chickens. How gentle they could be - How curious - Patient - Brave - And even stubborn at times. Every quality that I knew existed in cats and dogs and in my own species could be found in chickens too!  

I have a friend who lives too far away to share these backyard outings and revelations with, but on the phone she asked if chickens were different from one another. Meaning I suppose, did they have "personalities". But of course if she took my answer as "yes indeed!" - She'd also have to accept their right to their own lives as well. She wasn't ready for that truth then. Perhaps now she'll watch Mr. Grillo's video and have the courage to acknowledge that chickens, just as all other beings desire and deserve the full measure of the lives that belong to them. And to them alone!

As Robert concludes: If chickens were simply put on this earth to feed us, as some would have us believe, then why were they blessed with these highly-evolved social, emotional and cognitive abilities? What use would these abilities serve an animal whose purpose was just to be a human commodity? Our fabricated perception of chickens is a big lie we tell ourselves every time we sit down to eat chicken and see “meat” instead of an individual who had a rich and complex life. For only by perpetuating this lie can we justify eating them.

So please, if you are rationalizing why it's okay to commodify, confine and kill birds for what you can seize from their bodies - Just stop. Please. Opt for vegan choices and keep everyone Free From Harm. 

Direct link to My Urban Hen Sanctuary