Dear friend,

It’s International Respect for Chickens Month, and I wanted to share with you an easy way to speak up for these deserving birds.

Cinnamon was hatched in an New York state elementary school classroom while dozens of students looked on with wide-eyed wonder. But what wasn’t a part of the curriculum was the cruel fate that awaited Cinnamon and the other chicks once the lesson was over.

Students and teachers want to believe that the chicks they raise in the classroom go on to live happy lives on a farm. Unfortunately, chicks used in hatching projects are commonly killed and made to suffer once the lesson is complete.

Lucky for Cinnamon, a group of students grew attached to him and brought him to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY, to live out his life. Today, Cinnamon is quite charming. He is a smaller breed and only weighs 2 pounds, yet he is fiercely protective of the hens (even though they are five times his size!). But Cinnamon’s story is the exception, and most chicks hatched and used by schools meet a cruel end.

Now, we have a chance to help other chickens like Cinnamon. New York State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal has introduced legislation to prevent irresponsible school hatching projects.

Please write and urge your own NYS Assembly member to support Assembly Bill A06905. If passed, this measure will prevent the exploitation and mistreatment of chicks in schools throughout New York state, and it could set a precedent for other states as well.

P.S. When done compassionately, connecting students with animals can be a life-changing experience. That’s why Farm Sanctuary brings the experience of interacting with animals to the classroom through our virtual tour. Learn more here.

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