Rusty’s Rooster Rescue

The runs were supposed to be moved with the coops. The truck was rented, the kennel panels from the original run loaded. Then, so sadly, everything had to be demolished. Volunteers worked into the darkness in wind and way below freezing temps, sawing the big, beautiful run away from the coops. There was no time left to even break down the 16ft panels to fit them into the 15ft truck. I lost my chance to move their warm, protected spaces with them. My heart broke. The new coop isn't set up to be exposed to the elements, with tiny spaces for each boy and four pop doors. It's a five hour round trip to Ahimsa, and I get there once a week, staying overnight to put two days of work in trying to get them closer to ready for winter. Cari at Ahimsa Safe Haven has been out in the cold day after day supervising the boys so they can have some outdoor time, and working hard herself to get predator protection up. The cattle panel the boys are standing under here is waiting for a tarp which will hopefully lessen the amount of cold wind and snow that blows in the pop doors. It's hard to be patient. I want them to have their lives back yesterday. In reality though, I know how beyond blessed they are that Ahimsa so generously offered to take them in. Every sanctuary is beyond full and to take everyone on, to keep them together, has been such a gift. Spring will come. New runs will be built. They will get through this. For now, we embrace the little wins. Like Harry deciding he wants to be an honorary Pineapple! Look at this! If this integration (that the boys chose, not the humans) sticks, it means the Pineapples will have access to their loft again and so much more space in the coop! So, 🤞🏻❤️ for this!

An unexplainably large part of my heart left Wednesday. Bb and I drove two and a half hours, ending on beautiful, winding country roads, to meet his new family at
A&A Misfit cats and friends.
Not only were they excited to meet Bb- On setting Bb down in the yard he immediately ran up to the teeniest little rooster and started quite a spicy conversation! As I walked away to tour the rest of the sanctuary, I called Bb to come join me.
"Too many chickens too meet! I got it from here mom!"
I was worried about Bb's sleeping crate being in the middle of where many of the cats congregate. Bb cannot stand cats. Sure enough on bringing him inside to the room with his crate, countless gorgeous, curious cats swarmed us! Bb buried his head as deep as he could into my chest, grumbling in protest. The time had come to get back to Rusty's and put everyone to bed before dark. Though I couldn't be more grateful for Bb spending the rest of his days in such loving care, I could feel my heart breaking pulling out of the drive.
Then Angie started sending me pictures of Bb just loving it up and getting all kinds of special love, and.... chilling in a cat pile!
I'm disappointed that I can't seem to tag &A misfit cats and friends. Angie Woodard Bade and Astrid are two truly amazing people pouring so much love and technical skill into everyone in their care.
Please copy and paste, and follow Bb's journey there ❤️

Flo is working those brows! Flo and I had been working together on building trust. Right in the middle of it I have to force pills on him twice a day. He's confused by my behavior, but has been as good as a young, feisty, super slippery young lad can be! He's really the sweetest boy. Very skeptical and very protective of the flock. Growing into quite the roo❤️