Why Vegan?

Eliminating your consumption and use of products derived from or produced by animals (AKA going vegan) is the single most powerful and impactful way to save lives, offset destruction to the planet, align your actions with your values, and reduce your risk of developing various chronic illnesses.

Rooster Haus Rescue exists largely due to the rising trend of backyard chicken-keeping and the irresponsible hatching of chicks. This page specifically highlights how going vegan helps our residents — mainly chickens and turkeys — and how you can make more compassionate choices to work towards removing their meat and eggs from your diet. For a more comprehensive guide to the benefits of a vegan lifestyle, check out Free From Harm or vegan.com.

Vegan for the chickens (and turkeys!)

Chickens are by far the most exploited animals on the planet, thanks to the meat and egg industries. In the United States alone, approximately 9 billion chickens are killed for their flesh every year, and over 300 million hens are used for their eggs. Chickens account for 88% of farmed land animals. Most chickens raised for their meat are slaughtered as babies at just 47 days of age. Layer hens suffer as egg-laying machines for 2-3 years until their spent bodies cannot produce eggs anymore, at which point they’re slaughtered and often used as pet food. Every year, millions of male chicks who have no value to the egg industry are suffocated or macerated at just days old. Contrary to popular belief, free-range chickens (warning: link contains graphic images) don’t have it much better, and backyard chicken-keeping isn’t ethical or humane.

Turkeys on factory farms are killed at 3-5 months of age. In the United States, approximately 245 million turkeys are raised for their flesh and killed every year: 46 million die for Thanksgiving and 22 million for Christmas, holidays where we’re supposed to give thanks and show compassion. Turkeys suffer many of the same atrocities as chickens raised for food. They live in filthy overcrowded conditions, develop health issues caused by selective breeding to make them grow as large and as quickly as possible, and not only are they debeaked, but they also have their toes and snoods cut off.

We often refer to our residents as “people” because individual animals experience the same love, fear, grief, and contentment as we do. If you have a companion cat or dog, you already know that. It’s no different for a pig, cow, chicken, or turkey. Eating them and using them for their bodies is wrong and unnecessary. When provided with a loving home, compassionate veterinary care, and the ability to engage in natural behavior, we know that farmed animals live long lives with rich, tender social relationships.

Vegan alternatives to chickens, turkeys, and eggs

Food companies have made it easier than ever to go vegan with plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste and texture of animal-based products, without the unimaginable cruelty.

Our three favorite plant-based chicken and turkey alternatives are Tofurkey Chick’n, Gardein Chick’n and Turk’y, and Daring Plant-Based Chicken.

There’s a whole market for turkeyless roasts for the holidays!

Here’s a great beginner’s guide for replacing eggs in baking. Spoiler alert: flax, applesauce, and bananas are all great egg replacers for baking!

For traditional savory egg dishes, try using Just Egg or tofu. Here’s a basic tofu scramble recipe.

Resources to help you transition to a vegan lifestyle

Find a vegan mentor to work with you one-on-one through the Challenge 22 program.

For daily videos and tips, sign up for Vegan Society’s 30-day guide to help you transition to a vegan lifestyle.

Check out some of our board members’ favorite vegan resources:

Cookbooks: Fuss Free Vegan, Chloe Flavor, Sweet Potato Soul, 30 Minute Vegan Dinners, and The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook

Podcasts: The Bearded Vegans, Food For Thought, The Disclosure Podcast, and The ChickPeeps

Documentaries: Dominion, Earthlings, Cowspiracy, What the Health, Forks Over Knives, The Game Changers, Eating Animals, and A Prayer for Compassion

Books: Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism, Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World, and Empty Cages: Facing the Challenge of Animal Rights

Join us in living in alignment with your compassion for animals!