Birds

  • Bonnie and Clyde peacocks

    Bonnie & Clyde

    Bonnie and Clyde are royal pains! They are gregarious, demonstrative, needy, very loud, and they like destroying the roof. If we happen to be sleeping past 5am they will knock on the bedroom window until we open the curtains. Calling out to them does not work; that is not good enough. They have to see that the curtains are open, and that they have manipulated the household enough to know that people are actually up. Bonnie is constantly at the kitchen window peering in to see what she can thieve from the kitchen. They work in tandem. If Bonnie is at the kitchen window and the bedroom window is open,…

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  • The chicken crew at Big V sanctuary

    The Chicken Crew

    Chickens are intelligent and sensitive birds who may live up to 11 years in their natural environment. They love dust baths and the bathing helps to ward off parasites as well as maintain their feather insulation. Mother hens talk to their unborn babies, and they chirp back through their shells. Chickens know who’s boss. Just like us, they form social structures, known as “pecking orders”, and all chickens know their place on the ladder. They dream just like we do, experiencing REM (rapid eye movement) during sleep. These chickens at our sanctuary, who were rescued from imminent slaughter and in a terrible condition with very few feathers, now love to…

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  • The Gobby Geese at Big V

    The Gobby Geese

    Contrary to common misconceptions, most geese are friendly creatures. They are highly social birds and if they are raised around other animals, they usually get along well with them. Not only will they form lifelong bonds with their feathered partners, but they can be equally dedicated to human carers. They will naturally bond with the person who feeds them as a chick and remain dedicated to that person as their surrogate “parent” throughout their lives. Geese can live up to twenty years if well cared for. The geese living here at the sanctuary were saved from slaughter. You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping…

  • Photo of pigeon

    Blake Forrest

    Blake Forrest fell from a high windowsill while still very young – just a few days old. He has been hand-reared in the house at the Big V sanctuary and enjoys his new accommodation so much that he is now reluctant to leave despite the invitation of open windows on fine days!  One of his favourite activities is waking the family at sunrise to demand his breakfast. He has also been known to tap out a little tune on the piano in the middle of the night! You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for…

  • Alf and Rudolph at the Big V sanctuary

    Alf, Rudolph, Joy & Meg

    Alf, Rudolf, Joy and Meg were rescued from a Christmas Turkey Sale in December 2017. Amazingly, turkeys can fly very high. Soon after their arrival at our sanctuary we were very disconcerted when we couldn’t find Rudolf for some time. We eventually located him high in a tree! Intelligent and loyal creatures, the favourite pastime of this little foursome is trying to get into the house! You have our deepest gratitude for choosing to support our sanctuary and helping us to care for our precious residents. Thank you for being one of ‘the best people’!