Chicken Heaven On Earth is a website containing only the best, latest and up to date as possible information about chicken care for backyard flocks, house pet chickens, rescue chickens, and commercial poultry operations with my main focus being to help people take good care of their chickens and to help re-home their chickens if they need too. As of November 2019 I have successfully re-homed more than 4000 chickens. I created this site originally because I wanted to make people aware of the abuses that chickens were enduring in the commercial meat and egg industry before 2012 when the laws changed to allow them some amenities, as well as, abuses and neglect suffered at the hands of some backyard chicken keepers. Soon after, the purpose of it changed and I turned it into a backyard chicken farm. Chicken Heaven On Earth soon evolved into a rescue sanctuary for abused, abandoned, and unwanted Easter pets as backyard chicken keepers found themselves fighting city ordinances, deciding they no longer wanted to keep chickens, or ended up with too many roosters. Animal shelters wouldn't take them so many chickens were left abandoned if no home could be found for them. I knew I had to do something to protect the chickens so I started publishing articles on abandoned chickens and the abuses in the commercial meat and egg industry in an effort to get help for the birds.
I have always felt that caging unwanted pets in overcrowded, tiny cages or stinky kennels is so wrong, and the horrors factory raised chickens were facing daily was too heartbreaking to even comprehend. I spent much of my time making people aware, then in 2012 laws changed for commercial raised poultry allowing the birds a bit more room and somewhat healthier standards of living. After much studying on the commercial egg and meat industry I discovered that it would be nearly impossible for commercial egg and meat producers to provide a completely free range environment for the thousands and millions of birds they house due to the fact that they would be exposing the birds to health risks from predators and sickness from being exposed to wild birds who often carry disease, not to mention the fact that the chickens would spend most of their time hunting for eggs across wide expanses of property and then they wouldn't be able to assure consumers that their eggs were fresh, I felt satisfied that the birds would have scratch pads, nesting boxes, a few hours outdoors each day, and at least some room to walk around.
As time went by so many people were starting to raise backyard chickens that I was deluged with people calling, messaging, and asking me for advice on how to best take care of them. I responded based on my experiences with chickens, and on information I researched from poultry and livestock studies and veterinarian manuals to find the best solutions. Once found and tested, I shared them on my website. When the sanctuary was in full operation Chicken Heaven On Earth housed more than 400 birds and animals on a 2 acre property with various type chicken coops and a main coop was a 3 bedroom trailer house renovated into a huge chicken coop at any given time. All of the chickens were allowed to free range during the day on 2 acres and locked in a sheltered safe coop at night. I quickly discovered what happens to free range chickens. Predators hunt chickens day and night. Hawks swoop down and take chickens (right in front of you too)!
Most illnesses chickens face is from dirty green water, moldy or mishandled feed, and all to often chickens contract diseases from wild birds and animals who have access to the chickens feed, water, or coop. I was in a constant battle with rodents, snakes, raccoons, other predators, parasites and severe weather conditions on top of everything else. It seemed as if every predatory creature on earth wanted to eat or chew on my chickens and their eggs. I found myself in a desperate fight to protect my chicken babies. My protective instincts and love for my chickens is as strong as the love of a parent for their child. I was exhausted spending 24 hours a day on patrol and knew I had to find a way to keep them safe and healthy so I could get some rest and not have to worry so much. If a chicken cried out, I ran to protect them. I installed cameras, traps, alarms, predator lights, Bird X ultrasonic predator repellent systems, electric fences, built better more secure coops but still my birds were at risk, not so much from predators any more but they were then at risk from diseases that they could catch from wild birds. simply because I felt I had to free range them in order for them to be happy. Finally, I decided that for their safety and my sanity building movable coops with covered secure runs was the best option to protect them and still allow them to have access to fresh green foliage and insects. Moving the coops monthly literally eliminated rodent infestations in the coop. I found easier ways to provide healthy feed, easier ways to water the chickens and easier ways to keep their coops and runs clean, protect them from weather elements, while still allowing them plenty of room to roam and hunt greens and insects. By controlling their indoor housing and outdoor play I found that the chickens stayed healthy, were happy, active, and lived longer, not too mention my stress levels significantly decreased as I did not have to work as hard or worry as much.
As time progressed, I realized that many people were searching for accurate and dependable information about chicken care, just like I was when I first started rescuing and raising chickens. I quickly realized that much of the old time chicken raising information in historical records really did not apply to the chickens people are raising today. In the old days people primarily raised chickens for food, the chicken breeds may have seemed hardier and stronger in the old days because nobody ever heard of a sick chicken, however, that is most likely because farmers culled chickens who were sick or inured so they did not have a need for information about how to help a sick or injured chicken. Chicken farmers in history did not try to heal a sick chicken, they simply killed it or cooked it. Folks who raise chickens as pets are horrified by this concept and need more information to provide for their pet chickens just as they would for any other pet. During the process of years of research, finding and studying chicken health and behavior much new information has emerged and given opportunity for changes and health benefits to chickens raised in backyard and commercial operations.
How Chicken Heaven On Earth Sanctuary Began
After I started the website to raise awareness of chicken abuse and to help people fighting their cities to allow them to keep backyard chickens, a new door opened. The decision to start a rescue sanctuary came to me after two events that prompted me to open my doors to take in these precious chickens. One hot 100 degree day, I came home from work and as I was unlocking my door I heard peeping sounds so I started looking around to see where they were coming from. To my surprise and horror I found two tiny baby chicks sitting under the lid of my bbq grill in the front yard. Laying next to them covered in tiny chicken poops was a note that said, "Please help us." Of course, I knew the peeps needed water fast and rushed them into my house to take care of them. Then I headed to the feed store to get things they needed. The chicks survived and thrived. A week or so later another incident occurred. One of my neighbors would walk down the street pushing a stroller with her Grandchild in it almost every day. She would always stop to chat with me as I was usually out front watching the baby chicks play while drinking my coffee. One day, she asked me if I could help her neighbor, a stray rooster had decided to take up residency on the woman's patio. The woman started feeding the rooster who would come up to her patio doors but the mess the bird was making was too much for the older woman and she wanted me to come and catch the rooster for her. Of course, I did and the rooster came home with me. I realized that people were fighting the city to keep their chickens and losing, animal control was writing tickets to people who tried to keep their chickens, I knew the birds needed a safe haven so they wouldn't be abandoned like the baby chicks and the rooster and so Chicken Heaven On Earth Sanctuary was hatched. Chicken Heaven On Earth originally started as a rescue sanctuary for unwanted, abused, neglected, and abandoned chickens but quickly advanced to, rabbits, ducks, donkeys, cats, and dogs. Soon the operation was too big to remain inside city limits, facing threats of huge fines, I bought 1.88 acres outside city limits and moved the sanctuary there. People came for many years, bringing their chickens and other pets they could no longer take care of for one reason or another. I put everything I had into taking care of them, I tried to raise money for them but it was never enough. Finally, the day came that I knew after 14 years of loving and taking care of them that I simply was no longer up to the challenge. My health is failing, my finances low, the workload demands of the sanctuary to much for me to continue to do by myself, I tried to reach out to my viewers to get volunteers but nobody did. A few people sent contributions but it wasn't enough. My love for the birds and animals was enough to know I was in over my head and needed help but couldn't get it so as of May 15, 2019 my rescue sanctuary is no longer operating due to the fact that I can no longer efficiently take care of the birds and animals the way they deserve to be, due to health issues and financial difficulties so all of the rescued chickens and other animals have been re-homed. The chickens and ducks now reside on a beautiful 18 acre farm with two ponds called Still Waters Farm. However, this website will still continue to provide helpful, valuable information and insights for people who raise chickens The following is a video I made of a few of the rescued chickens, not long after I opened Chicken Heaven On Earth Rescue Sanctuary.
How I am helping chickens find new homes now...
When my age, health and finances would not allow me to go further with the actual Chicken Heaven On Earth Rescue Sanctuary, after 14 years in operation I made the heartbreaking decision to close the sanctuary due to my health issues and financial difficulties. All of the birds have been re-homed at Still Waters Farm in Olden TX. and all of the other animals have been re-homed in various places. My love for chickens does not stop there, I want to help other people who are raising chickens and help people find homes for their chickens if they can no longer take care of them and I found a way to do that. I created a group called "The Chicken Trading Post" where folks can buy, sell, trade, and re-home chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other poultry, and even livestock. Membership is free. If you would like to join this group go here:
Copy and paste into search browser: https://mewe.com/join/thechickentradingpostchickenheavenonearth
I will continue to study and research every bit of accurate and tested information I can find so I can share it with you on Chicken Heaven On Earth website, so you can keep your chickens safe, happy, and healthy.
I pray the information found in this website is beneficial to you and your chickens in some way. May God bless you and your chickens.
With Warmest Regards,
Rev. Penny Dean
I have always felt that caging unwanted pets in overcrowded, tiny cages or stinky kennels is so wrong, and the horrors factory raised chickens were facing daily was too heartbreaking to even comprehend. I spent much of my time making people aware, then in 2012 laws changed for commercial raised poultry allowing the birds a bit more room and somewhat healthier standards of living. After much studying on the commercial egg and meat industry I discovered that it would be nearly impossible for commercial egg and meat producers to provide a completely free range environment for the thousands and millions of birds they house due to the fact that they would be exposing the birds to health risks from predators and sickness from being exposed to wild birds who often carry disease, not to mention the fact that the chickens would spend most of their time hunting for eggs across wide expanses of property and then they wouldn't be able to assure consumers that their eggs were fresh, I felt satisfied that the birds would have scratch pads, nesting boxes, a few hours outdoors each day, and at least some room to walk around.
As time went by so many people were starting to raise backyard chickens that I was deluged with people calling, messaging, and asking me for advice on how to best take care of them. I responded based on my experiences with chickens, and on information I researched from poultry and livestock studies and veterinarian manuals to find the best solutions. Once found and tested, I shared them on my website. When the sanctuary was in full operation Chicken Heaven On Earth housed more than 400 birds and animals on a 2 acre property with various type chicken coops and a main coop was a 3 bedroom trailer house renovated into a huge chicken coop at any given time. All of the chickens were allowed to free range during the day on 2 acres and locked in a sheltered safe coop at night. I quickly discovered what happens to free range chickens. Predators hunt chickens day and night. Hawks swoop down and take chickens (right in front of you too)!
Most illnesses chickens face is from dirty green water, moldy or mishandled feed, and all to often chickens contract diseases from wild birds and animals who have access to the chickens feed, water, or coop. I was in a constant battle with rodents, snakes, raccoons, other predators, parasites and severe weather conditions on top of everything else. It seemed as if every predatory creature on earth wanted to eat or chew on my chickens and their eggs. I found myself in a desperate fight to protect my chicken babies. My protective instincts and love for my chickens is as strong as the love of a parent for their child. I was exhausted spending 24 hours a day on patrol and knew I had to find a way to keep them safe and healthy so I could get some rest and not have to worry so much. If a chicken cried out, I ran to protect them. I installed cameras, traps, alarms, predator lights, Bird X ultrasonic predator repellent systems, electric fences, built better more secure coops but still my birds were at risk, not so much from predators any more but they were then at risk from diseases that they could catch from wild birds. simply because I felt I had to free range them in order for them to be happy. Finally, I decided that for their safety and my sanity building movable coops with covered secure runs was the best option to protect them and still allow them to have access to fresh green foliage and insects. Moving the coops monthly literally eliminated rodent infestations in the coop. I found easier ways to provide healthy feed, easier ways to water the chickens and easier ways to keep their coops and runs clean, protect them from weather elements, while still allowing them plenty of room to roam and hunt greens and insects. By controlling their indoor housing and outdoor play I found that the chickens stayed healthy, were happy, active, and lived longer, not too mention my stress levels significantly decreased as I did not have to work as hard or worry as much.
As time progressed, I realized that many people were searching for accurate and dependable information about chicken care, just like I was when I first started rescuing and raising chickens. I quickly realized that much of the old time chicken raising information in historical records really did not apply to the chickens people are raising today. In the old days people primarily raised chickens for food, the chicken breeds may have seemed hardier and stronger in the old days because nobody ever heard of a sick chicken, however, that is most likely because farmers culled chickens who were sick or inured so they did not have a need for information about how to help a sick or injured chicken. Chicken farmers in history did not try to heal a sick chicken, they simply killed it or cooked it. Folks who raise chickens as pets are horrified by this concept and need more information to provide for their pet chickens just as they would for any other pet. During the process of years of research, finding and studying chicken health and behavior much new information has emerged and given opportunity for changes and health benefits to chickens raised in backyard and commercial operations.
How Chicken Heaven On Earth Sanctuary Began
After I started the website to raise awareness of chicken abuse and to help people fighting their cities to allow them to keep backyard chickens, a new door opened. The decision to start a rescue sanctuary came to me after two events that prompted me to open my doors to take in these precious chickens. One hot 100 degree day, I came home from work and as I was unlocking my door I heard peeping sounds so I started looking around to see where they were coming from. To my surprise and horror I found two tiny baby chicks sitting under the lid of my bbq grill in the front yard. Laying next to them covered in tiny chicken poops was a note that said, "Please help us." Of course, I knew the peeps needed water fast and rushed them into my house to take care of them. Then I headed to the feed store to get things they needed. The chicks survived and thrived. A week or so later another incident occurred. One of my neighbors would walk down the street pushing a stroller with her Grandchild in it almost every day. She would always stop to chat with me as I was usually out front watching the baby chicks play while drinking my coffee. One day, she asked me if I could help her neighbor, a stray rooster had decided to take up residency on the woman's patio. The woman started feeding the rooster who would come up to her patio doors but the mess the bird was making was too much for the older woman and she wanted me to come and catch the rooster for her. Of course, I did and the rooster came home with me. I realized that people were fighting the city to keep their chickens and losing, animal control was writing tickets to people who tried to keep their chickens, I knew the birds needed a safe haven so they wouldn't be abandoned like the baby chicks and the rooster and so Chicken Heaven On Earth Sanctuary was hatched. Chicken Heaven On Earth originally started as a rescue sanctuary for unwanted, abused, neglected, and abandoned chickens but quickly advanced to, rabbits, ducks, donkeys, cats, and dogs. Soon the operation was too big to remain inside city limits, facing threats of huge fines, I bought 1.88 acres outside city limits and moved the sanctuary there. People came for many years, bringing their chickens and other pets they could no longer take care of for one reason or another. I put everything I had into taking care of them, I tried to raise money for them but it was never enough. Finally, the day came that I knew after 14 years of loving and taking care of them that I simply was no longer up to the challenge. My health is failing, my finances low, the workload demands of the sanctuary to much for me to continue to do by myself, I tried to reach out to my viewers to get volunteers but nobody did. A few people sent contributions but it wasn't enough. My love for the birds and animals was enough to know I was in over my head and needed help but couldn't get it so as of May 15, 2019 my rescue sanctuary is no longer operating due to the fact that I can no longer efficiently take care of the birds and animals the way they deserve to be, due to health issues and financial difficulties so all of the rescued chickens and other animals have been re-homed. The chickens and ducks now reside on a beautiful 18 acre farm with two ponds called Still Waters Farm. However, this website will still continue to provide helpful, valuable information and insights for people who raise chickens The following is a video I made of a few of the rescued chickens, not long after I opened Chicken Heaven On Earth Rescue Sanctuary.
How I am helping chickens find new homes now...
When my age, health and finances would not allow me to go further with the actual Chicken Heaven On Earth Rescue Sanctuary, after 14 years in operation I made the heartbreaking decision to close the sanctuary due to my health issues and financial difficulties. All of the birds have been re-homed at Still Waters Farm in Olden TX. and all of the other animals have been re-homed in various places. My love for chickens does not stop there, I want to help other people who are raising chickens and help people find homes for their chickens if they can no longer take care of them and I found a way to do that. I created a group called "The Chicken Trading Post" where folks can buy, sell, trade, and re-home chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other poultry, and even livestock. Membership is free. If you would like to join this group go here:
Copy and paste into search browser: https://mewe.com/join/thechickentradingpostchickenheavenonearth
I will continue to study and research every bit of accurate and tested information I can find so I can share it with you on Chicken Heaven On Earth website, so you can keep your chickens safe, happy, and healthy.
I pray the information found in this website is beneficial to you and your chickens in some way. May God bless you and your chickens.
With Warmest Regards,
Rev. Penny Dean
Our past:
We've come a long way from the early days when we were trying to learn how to take care of chickens, struggling to get help for battery hens used in commercial egg production, taking in unwanted roosters (being the first of our kind in chicken rescue sanctuaries), fighting the city to allow us to remain inside city limits and forging petitions to allow everyone the right to keep chickens as pets.
Not only were we the first no kill chicken rescue facility of our kind in the United States but we did manage to purchase a new Chicken Heaven On Earth sanctuary outside of city limits which was once a small trailer park and gleaned much experience and developed mutual friendships with many chickens who stole my heart. Having had to deal with numerous health issues which the rescued chickens arrived with Chicken Heaven On Earth has become one of the largest and most dependable sites for information about chicken care as a result, Chicken Heaven On Earth truly is the "Go to" place for information about chicken care, chicken breeds, chicken sickness treatments, pet chicken care, and just about anything that has to do with raising chickens in your backyard.
We've come a long way from the early days when we were trying to learn how to take care of chickens, struggling to get help for battery hens used in commercial egg production, taking in unwanted roosters (being the first of our kind in chicken rescue sanctuaries), fighting the city to allow us to remain inside city limits and forging petitions to allow everyone the right to keep chickens as pets.
Not only were we the first no kill chicken rescue facility of our kind in the United States but we did manage to purchase a new Chicken Heaven On Earth sanctuary outside of city limits which was once a small trailer park and gleaned much experience and developed mutual friendships with many chickens who stole my heart. Having had to deal with numerous health issues which the rescued chickens arrived with Chicken Heaven On Earth has become one of the largest and most dependable sites for information about chicken care as a result, Chicken Heaven On Earth truly is the "Go to" place for information about chicken care, chicken breeds, chicken sickness treatments, pet chicken care, and just about anything that has to do with raising chickens in your backyard.
