Ellie’s Story

I remember the first time I spent significant time with a chicken and how I felt in that moment and the following moments. I met a “broiler” chicken named Ellen, who had been rescued from a testing facility. Watching her navigate her world with curiosity resonated with me, and on our way home from our sanctuary visit, my wife and I decided to sponsor Ellen (and her pig friend, Pippa). In the following months, we spent more and more time around the chickens, pondering how one day we might be able to rescue our own hens and roosters.

Fast-forward four years, I’ve co-founded Secondhand Stories, a chicken sanctuary in Ontario, Canada. What I’ve seen and learned over the years is that these tiny dinosaurs are compassionate souls who thrive in social settings. And, as much as they’ve learned to rely on me, I’ve also learned that I can depend on them. 

I’d like to introduce you to Ellie, my big, handsome blind rooster and greatest teacher—who taught me more about myself in the last two years than I ever could have thought. 

Ellie’s journey began when he was surrendered to us as a four-month-old blind “hen.” At the time, it was a scary thought. We had no experience with how to best go about providing the highest level of care possible while also trying to sort out how to make Ellie’s life as normal as possible. We quickly learned that Ellie was not a hen but a little rooster and, much to our surprise, a fairly quick learner. 

Through lots of trial and error, we found that, although Ellie enjoys the companionship of other chickens in his environment, he is too fearful of them. So, we have had to adapt Ellie’s environment to meet his needs. This was only possible by spending time with Ellie and allowing him to show us his needs.

Ellie has now found comfort in us, and we’ve found comfort in him. Ellie loves to snuggle and finds reassurance and security in being held. Our presence excites him, he enjoys being pet, and he loves when we bring him treats. One of Ellie’s favourite activities is sunbathing while lying in the hammock with us. These moments of bliss are calming, and I feel relaxed sharing these moments with him.

Though Ellie relies on us for many things, his unique needs and limitations have taught me invaluable lessons in care and understanding. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Ellie grow and his confidence blossom, and in turn, I’ve learnt a lot about compassion. 

Ellie's story deserves attention; chickens like him often lack hope, yet he's more than his disability—full of resilience and possibility. 

Chickens are sentient beings capable of showing pain, fear, happiness, and joy. The more time you spend with them, the more you’ll see them reveal their complex and exciting social structures. They form strong bonds with one another, care for each other, and experience sadness, loss, and mourning. Chickens have been known to recognize faces and names, and given the opportunity, will spoil us with their love and affection. 

Learning of their sentience furthers the importance of responsibility, reinforcing the bond between chicken and caretaker and the sense of duty to protect and nurture them. When we acknowledge their sentience and understand their behaviours, we can develop a more profound sense of compassion and responsibility towards all living beings and pave the way towards a more empathetic world.

Yet, amidst the joys I see in sanctuary life, when I think about the millions of chickens in less fortunate circumstances, it is a sobering reality. Organizations like Legal Impact for Chickens serve as a beacon of hope.