The Chickens

Billy

Billy Joel was picked up by Animal Control after running stray for several weeks. His previous “owners” had put a crow collar on his neck to try to stop him from crowing, and unfortunately due to improper care, caused Billy several health issues. When Life with Pigs brought Billy home from the shelter, he had several wounds on his wings and feet, extensive feather loss, as well as being overweight. Billy is slowly learning to trust humans, and enjoys coming inside for cuddles on the couch, and likes to have his head pet and scratched. He gets daily bandage changes, and foot soaks a couple times a week for his feet. One of his favorite things to do is to watch cartoons while he soaks his feet! Healing is a slow process, but with time and care, Billy is showing us what an amazing rooster he is!

Billy currently resides in his own studio apartment in the turkey barn until he is settled in enough to integrate with the rest of the birds.

Elvis

Elvis was found stranded on a porch with other animals during hurricane Florence which flooded much of North Carolina. Fortunately, Elvis was rescued and given a temporary home until Life With Pigs moved into our new home. He arrived here with his friend Simi the rooster and the turkeys Quincy, Freddie, and Tia.

Elvis is now truly the king of the yard. With his majestic form seen perched upon the fence crowing out the most eloquent sounding crow, he is the image we all have when thinking of a rooster. And Elvis is a popular guy with the ladies. Fortunately, Quincy the turkey keeps him in line and makes sure that Elvis stays faithful to his ladies.

He now spends most of his time with his girlfriend Indy the hen, and pretending to fight with Elton the rooster (but only through a fence - when they are together in the yard they are back to being friends, so we suspect it is only for the benefit of any hens that may be watching).
Elvis resides in the Chicken Kingdom.

Talia

Best friends Talulah (who recently passed away) and Talia arrived at Life With Pigs on Super Bowl Sunday 2019. Both had previously lived in a factory farm in Colorado, but the owner had gone bankrupt and they among many other chickens were left to starve. Fortunately, a team of rescuers took as many chickens as they could and drove across the country finding homes.

Talia are never late for dinner. She will leap over small buildings and risk life and limb to get to food (which is the result of their breeding). And when not eating, Talia is found sunning with rooster pal Elton. And she loves to have cuddle time with her humans and will happily spend quality time in a welcoming lap.

Talia resides in the Chicken Kingdom.

Elton

Elton was on the wrong side of the tracks, at least if he was trying to come join our family. Someone apparently decided to dump him across the railroad tracks near us and a kid from the neighborhood thought he had escaped from our sanctuary. So, after a lot of chasing and a shirt flung over him, we were able to capture Elton and bring him back home. With his fluffy feathered feet and his bright boisterous colors, Elton seemed an appropriate name for this tiny guy with a big personality. Elton immediately felt at home and made no attempt to leave us once he realized that the hens Talia and Talulah were looking for a rooster to call their own.

Now Elton spends his days making a flamboyant crow, running whenever Elvis the rooster comes near, and riding around on the backs of his ladies who seem to hardly notice. And while he does his best to avoid being picked up, if you are lucky enough to catch him off guard, he instantly relaxes and loves to get pet and scratched under his feathers. Just don't let the other roosters see, he has to maintain his tough appearance...

Elton resides in the Chicken Kingdom.

Devorah

Devorah is the sweetest bird you will ever meet. She was rescued from slaughter during Kaporos 2018. Together with her sister Daisy, they arrived at Life with Pigs as tiny little babies. Devorah lost Daisy early on due to a heart condition. For a while, Devorah lived with two other Cornish Cross hens, but never really formed a bond with them. When Indy and Wish came to live at Life with Pigs, Devorah finally found her flock. She acts like the Aunt, teaching the two young birds what good snacks are and comforting them both. Devorah has mobility issues, and has a hard time standing and can not walk. She doesnt let it get her down, she still spends time with Indy and Wish, loves to sun herself or dig in soft dirt. Her favorite treats are strawberries and watermelon. She is a great ambassador and enjoys going with us to events to make people fall in love with chickens as much as we are!

Devorah resides in the Special Needs area of the Chicken Kingdom.

Wisteria (Wish) & Indigo (Indy)

Wisteria, or Wish as we affectionately call her, was deemed unsellable at just three days old due to a leg injury. She was placed in a bucket in the back of the store and might have died there if it hadn’t been for a kind employee who contacted Life with Pigs and asked if we would take her. The employee even took another chick and placed her with WIsh so she wouldn’t be lonely, and now Indy and Wish are inseparable. Wish is a shy girl, and prefers the company of her sister and Aunt Devorah over the company of humans. Despite being unable to use her leg, Wish gets around well, and follows Indy around in their private yard. She’s even somewhat of an escape artist and manages to get underneath fences! Wish is happy little bird who enjoys snuggling with her sister Indigo, eating blueberries, and guarding the eggs in the nest.

Indigo is one lucky bird! She was randomly chosen among dozens of chicks and placed in a bucket to keep an injured chick company. The two tiny babies formed an immediate bond, and from day one, Indy has treated Wish as if she was her big sister, always keeping a close eye on her smaller sister, preening her, and letting Wish snuggle beneath her wings at bedtime. Everyone is always in awe of Indy’s good looks, with her smokey black feathers that turn iridescent blue, green, and purple in the sunlight. But Indy doesn’t let it go to her head. Indy is a brave, curious girl who likes to seek out adventure around the yard, enjoys dirt baths, and watermelon, and is exceptionally intelligent. She’s always the first to try something new or to hop up on her human mama’s lap for some snuggles. She enjoys caring for her sister and their pal, Devorah in their special coop and run, and the occasional car ride to run errands with her human mama. Indy is a fantastic ambassador for chickens, and loves going to events to meet people and make them fall in love with chickens!

Wish and Indy reside in the Special Needs area of the Chicken Kingdom (though Indy has recently begun sharing time with her SR (Significant Rooster) Elvis, she never forgets about her bff Wish.