Roosters
Captain Jack
Captain Jack came to Blackbird Ranch in the spring of 2018 after being rescued from a landfill, where he and 18 other birds had been callously dumped. It’s difficult to imagine the fear and confusion these birds must have experienced, but thankfully, they were given a second chance.
We were able to find wonderful, loving homes for 15 of the 19 rescued birds. The remaining four, including Captain Jack, found their forever home here at Blackbird Ranch. They will never again have to wonder where they belong or whether they are safe.
Captain Jack is a gentle soul who especially enjoys having his neck lovingly rubbed. He also has a particular appreciation for fresh corn on the cob—one of his very favorite treats!
After such a heartbreaking beginning, we are so grateful that Captain Jack gets to spend his days surrounded by kindness, comfort, and the simple pleasures he loves. He deserves nothing less than a peaceful life filled with good food, gentle affection, and plenty of love.
Cedar
Our handsome boy, Cedar, came to Blackbird Ranch in 2023 after being rescued from a large-scale cockfighting confiscation. Our friends at Heartwood Haven Farm Sanctuary took the lead on the rescue, helping dozens of these frightened roosters find safe and loving homes. Cedar was one of the lucky ones, and that’s how he found his way to Blackbird Ranch.
When Cedar first arrived, he was understandably terrified. Everything about people had been frightening for him, and he had never had a reason to believe that humans could be kind. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for Cedar to realize that life at the sanctuary was different. He quickly settled into his new home and began learning that he was safe.
Cedar is still a little nervous about being handled, and we never force him to trust before he’s ready. After everything he experienced, it makes perfect sense that earning his trust takes time. But little by little, Cedar is becoming more comfortable around people, and every small step forward feels like a victory.
Cedar also has a very special lady in his life: Patricia. The two of them are quite the pair, and Cedar takes his job as Patricia’s protector very seriously. He is attentive, watchful, and wonderfully chivalrous. If there were such a thing as a chicken knight in shining feathers, we’re pretty sure Cedar would be it!
Of course, even a distinguished gentleman has his weaknesses—and Cedar’s happen to be mealworms, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. Offer him one of his favorite snacks and you may discover that the brave rooster who is suspicious of humans suddenly becomes very interested in making friends!
Today, Cedar gets to live the peaceful life he should have always known: safe, surrounded by love, caring for his favorite girl, and enjoying plenty of delicious treats. His journey is a beautiful reminder that even after a lifetime of fear, trust can slowly grow when an animal is finally given the time, patience, and kindness he deserves.
Marcelle
Marcelle is a very special rooster with an even more special story. He was rescued from an egg farm that closed in 2021, leaving all of the birds there at risk of euthanasia. As one of the farm’s few roosters, Marcelle had been kept for breeding. When we learned about their situation, we knew we had to help.
We ultimately rescued 59 birds from the farm and worked to find wonderful, loving homes for as many of them as possible. The birds who couldn’t be placed found a permanent home here at Blackbird Ranch, including Marcelle. We are so grateful that he never had to face an uncertain future and instead gets to spend his days safe, loved, and surrounded by friends.
Marcelle was born with deformities in both of his legs, which give him a very distinctive little hopping gait. His leg bones are twisted and face almost backwards, but Marcelle doesn’t let his unusual legs slow him down. He gets around just fine and, most importantly, he enjoys his life to the fullest. Watching him happily hop around doing his thing is guaranteed to make you smile.
Marcelle has two beautiful girlfriends, Odette and Amélie, who came from the same rescue. He is a wonderful companion to his ladies and takes his role as their protector very seriously. When snacks arrive, Marcelle is always sure to let his girls eat first before helping himself—a true gentleman!
And speaking of snacks, Marcelle loves just about everything! He is especially fond of watermelon and cherry tomatoes, and there is very little that he won’t enthusiastically investigate if he thinks it might be edible.
There is something incredibly special about Marcelle. Despite being born with challenges he has embraced life with a joyful spirit. He has his girls, his favorite snacks, and a safe place where he is free to simply be a rooster. Marcelle reminds us that sometimes the animals who are a little different are the ones who teach us the most about resilience, contentment, and enjoying the simple things in life.
Saul
Saul is a big, handsome rooster with an incredibly gentle heart. He came to Blackbird Ranch in the summer of 2026 after being rescued from a situation where he was being bullied by the other roosters in his flock.
Despite his large size, Saul simply wasn’t the type of rooster who wanted to fight. He didn’t know how to defend himself, and he was regularly beaten up by the other roosters. He lived in fear, never knowing when the next attack would come. He was also being pushed out of the way when it came time to eat, leaving him struggling to get enough food. His life had become stressful, frightening, and simply unsustainable.
When Saul arrived at Blackbird Ranch, everything changed. He was given his very own flock of ladies, and for the first time, he was the only rooster in the group. Saul seems to have decided that he quite likes being the man of the house!
He takes his job as protector of his girls very seriously. Saul is gentle and attentive with his ladies, but he is always keeping an eye on his surroundings. If he spots something he thinks might be dangerous, he doesn’t hesitate to sound the alarm and let everyone know that their rooster is on duty. His girls adore him, and it’s easy to see why.
After spending so much time being afraid for his own safety, Saul can finally relax. He gets to enjoy the simple pleasures of life—taking luxurious dust baths, foraging for bugs, wandering around with his ladies, and, of course, pecking away at his favorite snack: cucumbers!
Saul’s story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the gentlest animals just need a safe place where they can be themselves. Today, this big, sweet boy no longer has to spend his days looking over his shoulder. He has a flock to protect, ladies who adore him, and a peaceful home where he can finally live without fear.
And we absolutely adore our big, gentle rooster, too.
Sir Cluckles
Sir Cluckles began his life as a tiny, fertile egg in a school classroom in the spring of 2026. He was part of a classroom hatching project designed to teach children about egg and chick development. Sadly, these classroom experiments don’t always include a plan for what happens to the babies once the lesson is over.
Sir Cluckles was one of a dozen chicks who hatched as part of the project, and suddenly his teacher was faced with a dozen growing babies and no long-term plan for their care. When she realized that this particular little chick was a rooster rather than a hen, she reached out to us in a panic.
Roosters can be especially difficult to place. Many cities prohibit keeping roosters because of their loud crowing and local noise ordinances, which means finding them a safe home can be a real challenge. Unfortunately, Sir Cluckles’ future became especially urgent when his teacher told us that, if we couldn’t take him, she would turn him into soup.
Thankfully, we had room at Blackbird Ranch, and Sir Cluckles got to trade the possibility of becoming dinner for a lifetime sanctuary home. We were more than happy to welcome this little roo and give him the chance to grow up.
And boy, has he grown into quite the character!
These days, Sir Cluckles is maturing into a confident, extremely talkative, and very opinionated young rooster. He has plenty to say about pretty much everything, and he is not shy about making sure everyone hears his thoughts. One of his favorite places to express those opinions is from the top of his house, where he proudly stands tall and sings the song of his people.
When he isn’t busy giving us his daily rooster concert, Sir Cluckles enjoys some of life’s finest pleasures: corn on the cob, green peas, and keeping an eye on everything happening around the ranch.
From a classroom science experiment to a beloved Blackbird Ranch resident, Sir Cluckles got a second chance simply because someone was willing to make room for him. We’re so happy this little rooster’s story didn’t end in a soup pot. Instead, he gets to spend his days growing up, making lots of noise, enjoying his favorite snacks, and being unapologetically Sir Cluckles.
Hens
Ameile
Ameile came to Blackbird Ranch in 2021 after the egg farm where she lived closed down, leaving all of the birds at risk of euthanasia. We couldn’t let that happen, so we rescued 59 birds from the farm and worked hard to find wonderful, loving homes for as many of them as possible. The birds who couldn’t be placed became permanent residents at Blackbird Ranch—and Ameile was one of those lucky girls!
Ameile gets to spend her days with two of her favorite people from her old life: her boyfriend, Marcelle, and her bestie, Odette. All three were rescued together, and we love that they get to continue their friendship here at the sanctuary. Apparently, some friendships are simply too good to leave behind!
Ameile is a professional sunbather. On a nice day, you can usually find her stretched out in a sunny spot, soaking up the rays and enjoying life. She has also developed a serious appreciation for melon. Put a juicy piece of melon in front of her and suddenly she has somewhere very important to be!
After starting life on an egg farm, Ameile now gets to spend her days doing exactly what a chicken should be doing—basking in the sunshine, enjoying delicious treats, hanging out with her friends, and taking life at her own pace.
We think Ameile has perfected the sanctuary lifestyle: sunshine, snacks, best friends, and absolutely no alarm clock.
Molly
Molly was a wayward chicken who found herself wandering the streets of downtown Pullman before being rescued in 2022. While Molly is certainly a tough and confident gal, the city streets are no place for a chicken. Busy traffic and predators such as foxes and coyotes, which have become increasingly comfortable within the city limits, made her situation especially dangerous.
Today, Molly is safe and thriving. She is a small, sweet hen with a fluffy little crown of feathers atop her head and a personality as charming as her appearance. Molly lays beautiful blue eggs and enjoys spending sunny days giving herself luxurious dust baths.
Naturally curious and always hoping for a tasty treat, Molly can often be found following closely behind our volunteers as they go about their work. Her favorite snacks include sunflower seeds, watermelon, and cherry tomatoes.
Despite her adventurous beginnings, Molly now has a safe and loving home where she can live life on her own terms—far away from busy streets and city predators.
Murphy
Murphy was rescued in the Spring of 2022 after being brutally attacked by a dog. She was about 4 hours away, in Oregon, when we received the call that she needed emergency care, and there were no veterinary hospitals nearby to see her in the middle of the night, when the call came in. When we arrived to pick her up, she was in such bad shape, we didn’t think there was any chance she would survive the long drive back. Her pelvic bone was fractured and sticking out of her skin, her neck and crop had been torn open, and she had multiple deep wounds on her head. We gave her a dose of pain meds and drove her back to the sanctuary as fast as possible. First thing in the morning, we got her in for an emergency appointment at the veterinary hospital. The veterinarian was in disbelief that she was still alive after all she had endured. She remained at the hospital for several days to get supportive care and appropriate pain management, then was discharged where we continued with her recovery care. Her open wounds were closed, deep wounds were treated, and we took one day at a time with her recovery. Eventually, Murphy’s personality started to return, and she started feeling better. She made a remarkable full recovery but was left with a permanent severe limp. Murphy is one of the toughest animals we have ever met, she was so full of fight and desire to live, that we were not going to give up on her. She is such a sweet girl and we love her deeply. Murphy loves to spend her days taking dirt baths in the sun, and snacking on oranges, grapes, and corn, which are her favorites.
Odette
Odette came to Blackbird Ranch in 2021 after the egg farm where she lived closed down, leaving all of the birds at risk of euthanasia. We knew we had to help, so we rescued 59 birds from the farm and worked hard to find wonderful, loving homes for as many of them as possible. The birds who couldn’t be placed became permanent residents at Blackbird Ranch—and Odette was one of those special girls who stayed.
Odette gets to share her sanctuary life with two very important chickens from her past: her boyfriend, Marcelle, and her bestie, Ameile. All three were rescued together, and they’ve been able to stick together through their big transition from farm life to sanctuary life. We like to think they have their own little chicken friendship club!
Odette is especially good at enjoying the simple pleasures in life. On warm days, she can usually be found tucked underneath her little house, enjoying the shade and keeping cool. And when she’s not relaxing in the shade, she’s probably busy taking a fabulous dirt bath. Odette knows that a proper chicken dirt bath is serious business!
These days, Odette gets to spend her time doing all the important things chickens love—sunbathing, dust bathing, hanging out with her besties, enjoying tasty treats, and generally doing whatever she pleases.
After once facing an uncertain future, Odette now has something every chicken deserves: a safe home, good friends, and the freedom to simply be herself.
Patricia
Patricia is our sweet and gentle cross-beak chicken. She was born with a beak deformity that causes her upper and lower beak to grow out of alignment, crossing almost perpendicularly rather than meeting normally. Birds with deformities like Patricia’s can sometimes struggle to eat and may require special assistance or hand-feeding. Fortunately, Patricia has never let her unique beak slow her down and is able to eat perfectly well on her own.
Patricia is a docile, affectionate, and friendly hen who seems to genuinely enjoy being snuggled. She shares her life with her devoted boyfriend, Cedar, who clearly adores her and takes very good care of her.
Patricia came to Blackbird Ranch when her previous caregiver had to move out of state and was unable to take her along. She adjusted quickly to sanctuary life and wasted no time making herself completely at home.
These days, Patricia enjoys sleeping in late, basking in the sunshine, and spending time with Cedar. Her favorite treats are juicy orange slices and sweet grapes. With her gentle nature, charming personality, and determination to live life without limitations, Patricia is a wonderful reminder that being different doesn’t mean being any less capable of thriving.
