Poppy

Poppy, a cherished member of her flock, was abandoned at FOTF along with her group as tiny chicks shortly after Easter in 2022. The situation presented a challenge, as we didn’t yet have predator-proof enclosures or a proper coop.

Fortunately, a successful fundraiser made it possible to provide them a loving home at Farm of the Free. In the meantime, a dedicated volunteer, Julia, and her mother, Anne, graciously cared for the chicks at their home.

Poppy was named after the beautiful flower by the Azulay family, who participated in the special naming fundraiser by becoming one of the first five monthly donors for the chicks’ care.

Poppy is the most reserved of her flock. She’s a sweet yet strong-willed hen who doesn’t tolerate anything that makes her uncomfortable. She enjoys all the activities that free chickens love, scratching for treats, foraging, sunbathing, and dust bathing, safe within her predator-proof enclosure with her lifelong flock mates.

It should be emphasized that she and her flock mates have known nothing but togetherness since the day they set foot at FOTF. In a world that often tears animal families and friends apart without a second thought, their story is a rare and tender glimpse into what love looks like when it’s allowed to last.

These are the moments we work tirelessly to create in a sanctuary setting, not by chance, but by choice. Because every being deserves more than survival. They deserve respect, protection, and the freedom to just be.

By Carmen Pope

Farm of the Free Co-Founder

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