El Chapo came to RASTA as a chick with his mother Melody and 7 siblings. They were found abandoned right here on Vancouver Island and came to RASTA thanks to the efforts of our friends at A Home For Hooves.

El Chapo wears a black band, because of the 8 chicks, 5 turned out to be roosters and 4 of them had such similar colours that for a long time telling them apart was hard to do!

Watching a mother hen raise her chicks (something both hens and chicks are denied in almost all animal agriculture) has been wonderful.  When she sensed danger, or when the weather wasn't warm enough, she would shelter all 8 beneath her wings.  The rest of the time they would wander the property and she'd teach them everything from how to take dust baths, to foraging skills, to recognizing potetial dangers and staying safe.

We believe all families deserve to be together, and are extrememly grateful that that will be the case for this one.