People often dismiss chickens as less-than, simple creatures with no ability to think or feel. But if you spend even an hour at our sanctuary, you’ll see the truth: they have complex social lives, distinct personalities, and even their own version of dining etiquette. The Real "Pecking Order" Chickens are social animals with complex hierarchies. The term pecking order isn't just a metaphor: it’s how the flock establishes who gets first access to food, the best roosting spot,

What does it take to rescue chickens? It's a question we get often and it's the hardest to answer. The short version would go something like "Everything. It takes everything, plus some. It's like being responsible for 21 toddlers at once, but ones who can't speak your language." The long version is our operations manual. We first published our manual in 2021, and since then, it has undergone yearly revisions. As we've grown, we've improved and updated sections. It's a 24-page

The start of 2026 has been a whirlwind and we can hardly believe spring is already here. As we look back on the past three months, it's felt very much like a season of planting seeds. We've been making progress on our 2026 goals , with many underway! You may have noticed our website has been updated with a new section dedicated to learning . We also welcomed new animal care volunteers and a new board member , who have helped us work towards our mission. Our mission is to ins

Secondhand Stories' mission is to inspire compassion for chickens through rescue, advocacy, and education. This upcoming year, we have 15 big goals. We're dreaming bigger than we ever have before, but it's a dream we know we can make a reality with your support. Read on to learn more about what we have planned and what it will take to get there: Animal Care & Infrastructure Recruit & Train Caretakers:  Successfully recruit and fully train 2-3 new animal caretakers (via Canad

2025 marked the fifth anniversary of Secondhand Stories, and we still get the question "Why Chickens?" all the time . Over the years, our response has grown and changed. (See our full answer to why chickens here !) As we accept more rescues, learn new treatment options, and discover new personality traits, we come to understand the unique place our society has imposed on chickens. While many people see them as commodities, we see them as companions, and in 2025, we continued

$2,500 raised in the Winter Online Auction We're only $405 away from our goal of raising $2,500 in our Winter Online Auction. With 99 items donated by over 20 incredible businesses and supporters. So... what does $2,500 mean to us? It helps cover the $800 vet bill from Snowflake & Rolo's recent vet visits and ear infection medications. The remaining funds will be saved for (inevitable) future vet bills. Chickpea & Tofu are Gifted a Playhouse If you've ever visited the sanctu

Food plays a central role in cultural traditions worldwide, with holiday celebrations often marked by a communal meal. For many Canadian families, this means a turkey dinner and a long weekend. But for Indigenous peoples, this day often serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing impacts of colonialism. I distinctly remember the false narrative taught in elementary school about Samuel de Champlain sharing a friendly meal with First Nations - a story likely borrowed from the e

📍 Location: On Site, 10 Minutes from Perth, ON (K0G 1L0) ⏳ Commitment:  Flexible, estimated 3 hours every other week Role Overview Are you passionate about animal care and interested in making a direct impact on the lives of rescued chickens? Secondhand Stories Chicken Sanctuary is looking for a dedicated volunteer to assist with the care and well-being of our rescued hens and roosters. This on-site volunteer position involves cleaning coops, preparing enrichment activities

This July marked three years since moving to our property and inheriting the 7 hens left behind on the property: Betsie, Cora, Georgie, Margaret, Maggie, Peggy, and Sophie. The special date passed without any celebration. We were too busy preparing for our 2nd Annual Open House and updating our 6th coop. Now that the leaves are falling, we've been looking back on summers that have passed, and it's a reminder of how much we've grown since that first summer. Our mission is to

At Secondhand Stories, we provide a lifelong sanctuary where 22 rescue chickens  can live their natural lives in peace and freedom. Offering a compassionate home for chickens requires a commitment to their health and well-being. Our operations are guided by a detailed Sanctuary Operations Manual, which outlines best practices for everything from shelter and feeding to veterinary care. This ensures the highest standards of animal welfare for our flock. One of the most importan

Three years in, and we’re still answering the question " Why chickens?" It comes in variations, but always leads back to the idea that chickens aren't seen as animals worth rescuing. That's why our mission changed from just focusing on rescuing animals. Our mission is to inspire compassion for chickens through rescue, advocacy, and education. The question also led us to publish this blog on how sanctuaries make an impact  far beyond just the individual lives (that we love ver

Biosecurity is a critical part of our operations as a chicken sanctuary.  But what does that really mean? Biosecurity refers to “procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents.” For those in animal rescue, biosecurity is second nature, but we recognize that the reasoning can be confusing if you’re not fluent in the language of zoonosis (infectious disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans). Chickens, in particula

Chickens deserve protection. They deserve a life free from harm, neglect, and abandonment. That’s why we’ve taken a strong stance against the proposed backyard chicken* bylaw in Smiths Falls. Sanctuary means speaking up when we know better. It means saying the hard thing with compassion: Backyard chickens aren’t a harmless hobby. They come at a cost. The current proposed bylaw excludes critical safeguards: No licensing and registration required No site inspections No proacti

We’re heartbroken to share that Potato’s post-mortem results confirmed a diagnosis of Marek’s disease.  What is Marek’s? Marek’s disease is a highly contagious viral illness caused by a herpesvirus. It primarily affects chickens’ nervous systems and can cause paralysis, tumors, or sudden death. While there is no way to prevent Marek's,  the good news is that many chickens can carry the virus for life without ever showing symptoms.  None of the other chickens at Secondhand Sto

Every year, billions of animals are killed for food. For most people, grasping what this means is incomprehensible, and the numbers become abstract. Farm sanctuaries play a crucial role in helping people connect with the individuals who have survived exploitation. Each of our twenty rescued chickens is a tangible reminder of the personalities hidden within the abstract statistics of animal agriculture.  While it’s true that sanctuaries may not appear to “maximize lives saved

Compassion for chickens is at the root of everything we do. It's the guiding value in all of our decisions. How can we ensure we're acting compassionately? If you've been staying updated via our newsletters or social media, you'll know we've had to consider this question very carefully as we've navigated medical emergencies and end-of-life care for some of our rescued flock. We always come back to the simple belief that chickens deserve to be treated like family . While ther

Ellie was surrendered to the sanctuary at just 16 weeks old. A couple contacted us who had a blind hen who was being picked on by the rest of their flock. We had only started the sanctuary a few months prior and knew nothing about caring for a disabled chicken. Yet, we knew that we would figure it out and do whatever she needed. We asked for feedback from other sanctuaries, checked in with our vet on what special needs Ellie might have, and got ready for her arrival. So, on N

Secondhand Stories provides a loving forever home to 22 rescued chickens, many of which have unique special needs. Our mission is to inspire compassion for chickens through rescue, advocacy, and education. One of the ways that help us continue providing excellent care for our residents and sustainably grow our operations is by creating plans that challenge us to succeed. In 2025, we have established the following goals, which we are excited to share with y’all: Animal Care &

February 27, 2025, is election day in Ontario, Canada. Secondhand Stories is located in the electoral district of Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston (051) , where, since the riding was established, the elected official has been a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.  As a registered Canadian non-profit, we are legally required to remain non-partisan in our advocacy efforts. Our mission is not political but ethical: to inspire compassion for chickens through rescue, educatio

What is the value of a chicken? It's an important question to consider before trusting what you see shared on the internet. Unfortunately, nearly 1 billion chickens are killed annually for meat in Canada . This doesn't account for hens forced to live in egg farms their whole lives or the over 14 million who are exported alive. Because of this, chickens are often seen as commodities. Chicks can be purchased at farming stores for a toonie, and the number of unwanted chickens b