Four Lives, Three Stories: Our Summer of Rescues

This summer has been a season of incredible rescues here at Clorofil. We've been welcoming four very special birds who needed second chances: three who are staying with us permanently, and one wild turkey who has returned to her natural home. Their stories remind us why we fell in love with these remarkable creatures in the first place and why every single life matters.

Carrie: The Street Survivor Who Stole Our Hearts

Picture this: a thin, lice-covered hen missing lots of feathers, wandering alone on a busy street in Silicon Valley. That's how Carrie's story began on June 8th, when our friends at @k9reunite spotted her and knew she needed help.

From the moment Carrie arrived in our laundry room quarantine, her personality blazed through. Within minutes, she had flown into the sink, knocked over everything on the windowsill, broken the orchid pot, and, well, let's just say she made it very clear what happens when a starving chicken suddenly gets a buffet! She looked extremely proud of herself through it all.

Carrie's integration story was a bold one. She immediately asserted dominance over our "Three Musketeers," who simply accepted their new pecking order. Rose let her know who was still second in command, and Sugar the queen didn't even need to lift a feather. Carrie got the message loud and clear.

The bedtime drama was pure chicken politics. Carrie wanted the top roost, but Sugar wasn't having it. So what did our clever girl do? She blocked the barn door to keep the Musketeers from coming in. Classic chicken revenge!

Today, just eight weeks later, Carrie is fully integrated and thriving. From a lost bird on a dangerous street to a confident flock member who knows exactly where she belongs.

Mika & Ziva: Rescued from the Slaughterhouse

On July 15th, during an animal rights witness action at a slaughterhouse, something beautiful happened. The manager allowed two hens to be saved, and Mika and Ziva found their way to our sanctuary.

These girls arrived needing everything: thorough health checks, warm baths, and gentle care. Ziva particularly enjoyed her blow-dry session, a moment of pampering these commercial birds had never experienced.

What touches our hearts most is watching them discover trust. They stick close together, taking cozy naps between their feeder and waterer, slowly learning that hands can offer grapes instead of harm. After completing their quarantine and treatment for coccidiosis, Mika and Ziva have graduated to our guest coop where they can safely meet the rest of the flock.

There's something magical about watching chickens discover the world. These girls are experiencing dust baths and the pleasure of exploring the outdoors for the first time.

Merida: The Arrow Survivor Who Defied All Odds

Sometimes a rescue story reads like a thriller. Merida's does.

For weeks, a wild turkey wandered a college campus with an arrow piercing completely through her chest (visible on both sides). People saw her. Everyone talked about "that poor turkey with the arrow." But our friend Jess decided talking wasn't enough.

The rescue took six people, three hours of searching, creative use of x-pens, and one very brave turkey. Using the campus baseball field's fence as an ally, the team finally corralled Merida into the dugout and safely into a crate.

At the Medical Center for Birds, the CT scan revealed what can only be called a miracle. The arrow had traveled through her chest, touching her heart, aorta, lung, and digestive tract but hitting none of them. The veterinarian slowly, carefully removed the arrow completely. Clean. No fragments left behind.

After spending three days at the Medical Center for Birds, Merida was discharged and returned to the campus where we first found her. When she spotted her turkey friends and was released nearby, her reaction was absolutely priceless: so many happy chirps! She's now back where she belongs, surrounded by her turkey family. From arrow through the chest to happy chirps with her flock, this is what miracles look like.

Why These Stories Matter

Chickens and turkeys are individuals with personalities, preferences, quirks, and an incredible will to live. Carrie's chaos-causing, Mika and Ziva's gradual trust-building, and Merida's weeks of survival against impossible odds aren't just rescue stories. They're testament to the resilience and character of these remarkable birds.

In a world that often sees chickens and turkeys as commodities, we see them as individuals.

Follow Carrie, Mika, Ziva, and Merida's continued journeys on our social media, and consider supporting future rescues here.