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🎉 Animal Appreciation Day

International Respect for Chickens Day

Celebrated on Tuesday, May 4, 2027

We're celebrating International Respect for Chickens Day at 3 Palms Zoo & Education Center in Townsend, Delaware — and these are the rescues in the spotlight. Come meet them in person.

Chickens

Chickens

Living Dinosaurs: Modern birds, including chickens, are living avian dinosaurs that share common evolutionary theropod ancestry with prehistoric giants like the T-Rex. Pecking Order: They have a complex social hierarchy where higher-ranking birds eat first; this is where the term “pecking order” originated. REM Sleep: Chickens experience Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which means they dream. Tidbitting Courtship: When a rooster finds a tasty treat, he bobs his head, picks…

Meet the Chickens →

About International Respect for Chickens Day

International Respect for Chickens Day, marked every May 4, asks people to see chickens as somebody, not something. At 3 Palms that is just how it works: our chickens are rescues with names, opinions and favorite snacks, and they live out their full lives here. Come meet them and see why chickens deserve a little respect.

In Pictures

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Happy Mother’s Day to every Mom everywhere!⠀ ⠀ #3palmszoo
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Broiler chickens are a domesticated fowl, bred and raised specifically for meat production. Commercial broilers are artificially selected and bred for large-scale meat production and although they are the same species, grow much faster than egg laying hens. They are noted for having very fast growth rates, a high feed conversion ratio, and low levels of activity. Modern commercial broilers are bred to reach a slaughter-weight of about 10 lbs. in only 35 days! Due to artificial selection and the husbandry used to sustain this, broilers are susceptible to several ailments, particularly skeletal malformation and dysfunction, and congestive heart conditions. They also fall off of trucks while being transported for slaughter.⠀ ⠀ Tricia the broiler chicken was brought to us by a good Samaritan who found her on Rt.15 after falling off of a truck; an extremely common occurrence here in Delaware. She was the sole survivor of four fallen chickens. Upon admission she was weak, dehydrated, and suffering from a fractured wing. We estimated her age to be approximately three weeks old, and she already weighs about 10 lbs.! After a day of rest, an anti-inflammatory, and a solid quality meal, Tricia got up and began to walk! It is clear now we will be able give her a good quality of life for some time, a life her brethren never had the opportunity to experience. Unfortunately Tricia will not be with us long term due to the genetic pre-disposition of broiler chickens. Special thanks to the young lady who saved Tricia and brought her to us, you gave her dignity!⠀ ⠀ #3palmszoo
When you wake up from hibernation and it gets cold at night, you find a Mother Hen to keep you warm!
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#chickens Chickens
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#chickens Chickens
#chickens Chickens

Plan Your Visit

Admission is just $6.00 and directly supports the daily care of every rescue here.

Fall Hours | Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (weather permitting)

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