Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge

04/26/2025

It's the big day, folks! 🥳

Tour and Explore tickets are closed online, but you can STILL BUY TICKETS IN-PERSON! Just come on by the Refuge and unwind with precious farm animals (and enough vegan food to satisfy anyone's cravings).

Hope to see you here! 👋

04/25/2025

Big, small, or somewhere in-between...it doesn't matter when you're friends 😊

04/22/2025

‼️‼️Calling All Refuge Supporters‼️‼️

We're a little low on volunteers for this week's Sunday Animal House Cleaning, and we need your help to make sure our animal residents are living in beautiful, clean homes! House Cleaning is a favorite tradition at the Refuge for a reason: it allows you to get up close and personal with our residents as you take care of essential tasks with a team of fellow animal lovers.

If you've been admiring the Refuge and its sweet residents, this is your chance to get involved and start your Sunday off with some of the most fulfilling work in the world! 😊

What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/volunteer

04/21/2025

It's National Keep off the Grass Day!!! 😲🌱
..We didn't tell our residents, though 😂

04/20/2025

Remembering a lovely lady: Fireball 🔥

She was one of our very first rescued chickens, and many people remember her for her sassy, outgoing, and lovable personality.

Sadly, she spent the first two years of her life in a cage so small she couldn't even spread her wings. She escaped the fate of most hens raised for eggs (slaughter after age 2) because the farmer miraculously decided to relinquish her along with 3,000 others to a rescue group in California. Fireball and her friends made national news when they flew on their own private jet and ended up in the safety of sanctuaries all over the country ✈️

When Fireball first arrived at the Refuge, she was too scared to venture outside as it was the first time in her life that she had seen grass and natural sunlight 🌤. Eventually she got used to her new surroundings and began to feel safe. We are so happy that she was able to enjoy years of love and care, scratching in the dirt, hunting for bugs, and adventuring through the woods - doing the things that chickens are meant to do.

But even though she was rescued, the egg industry ultimately took her life. Being bred to lay over 300 eggs per year, she eventually succumbed to a reproductive infection and, despite our best efforts, could not be saved. So many of the rescued chickens who have lived at the Refuge have had the same fate, as their bodies are simply not meant to produce such a high quantity of eggs. So this post is in memory of Fireball and so many others who we have loved and lost too soon.

People who eat eggs rarely realize how much suffering, exploitation, and death they're supporting. As a result of the meat and egg industries, so few chickens are able to enjoy lives of dignity and happiness. That's why we recommend trying some of the amazing vegan egg products now available on the market! 🌿

04/19/2025

Have you grabbed your tickets for our April Tour and Explore yet?

It's hard to believe that we're only a week away from second Tour and Explore of the year. We're still getting over how much fun March's was! 😁

Luckily, we have good reason to think that April's will be just as magical 😲

With two delicious vendors (Fresh AF Vegan Food Truck and Coley's Treats) and a gorgeous weather forecast, the Refuge will be THE place to be next Saturday.

Get your tickets now!

https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/events-calendar/april-2025-tour

04/19/2025

A week ago, we had our first potluck of the year at the Refuge! It was an awesome dinner, full of amazing people who brought their own unique recipes to create a diverse, delicious bounty of vegan recipes 🥗

There's nothing quite like enjoying food as a community in the fresh air, and we can't wait for the next one! 🍴💪

04/18/2025

Spring is in the Air at the Refuge! 💐🌸🌼

The frogs are singing, the flowers are blooming, and our residents are soaking up the warmth of these perfect 70 degree days. One of their favorite springtime activities? Sunbathing! ☀️

Over the past month, we’ve seen more and more of our residents fully stretched out, basking in the sunshine. While we love seeing them so relaxed, sometimes they give us quite a scare! Walking past an animal sprawled on their side, completely still in a state of pure bliss, can make our hearts skip a beat. As much as we hate to disturb their naps, we occasionally have to check just to be sure they’re simply enjoying the sunshine. It warms our hearts to know they feel so safe and comfortable here that they can truly let go and rest 😴

Thank you for helping us create a sanctuary where they can relax without a care in the world!

04/14/2025

Lunch is around the corner, so we figured it was safe to post this...👀

Meeting happy farm animals is ALWAYS a fun time, but it's even better when delicious food is involved. That's why we've partnered with two next-level vegan food vendors for our April Tour and Explore 😋

That's right: Fresh AF Vegan Food Truck AND Coley's Vegan Treats will be joining us on Saturday, April 26 to make sure you have all the nutrients you need to pet some beautiful animals 🦆🐄🐑🐐🐓🦃. Start off with Fresh AF's bursting-with-flavor backyard bites, then grab yourself some melt-in-your mouth comfort baked goods courtesy of Coley's Vegan Treats. Think of them as the yin and yang of plant-based goodness ☯️

Grab tickets now!

https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/events-calendar/april-2025-tour

04/13/2025

Ever wonder why a chicken would need shoes? 🤔👟

It's due to an infection called "bumblefoot" that occurs when bacteria enters the feet of an animal through a wound (the scientific term for this is pododermatitis 😮). It's an incredibly serious condition that can result in amputation or even death. There are a multitude of causes, but one of the most common is a chicken putting too much strain on its legs, often due to obesity.

Unsurprisingly, the meat industry has made this a whole lot worse. Because there is now a desire for chickens that grow unnaturally large, it's common for chickens raised in factories to gain 50 grams a day. According to the Humane League, the average weight of a chicken raised in a factory can be close to nine pounds at just two months old.

Here at the Refuge, we do everything we can to prevent and treat these problems. We closely monitor the diets of our residents to make sure they're at a healthy weight, and we work with vets to provide the best care possible when a resident does have bumblefoot. We even have special shoes for some of our residents, such as Mantis, so that they can avoid putting painful pressure on their feet 🥰

04/12/2025

We CAN'T WAIT for the return of Camp Compassion this summer 🌈☀️

If you want to help share the gift of farm animals with young people, this is your chance to apply to be a volunteer! Whether you have a special skill to share with the kids, want to help facilitate activities with the animal residents, or can clean up and set up art activities--all helping hands are welcome and appreciated!

Apply below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_ic0FVoDvX0C2izdICRfPjK8qWFRGOjznVNkhODHIS39OOQ/viewform

04/12/2025

Teddy knows how to work the camera! 📸

Come get some shots of your own during our Tour and Explore on Saturday the 26th!

https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/events-calendar/april-2025-tour

04/11/2025

Hope y'all can find some shelter to stay out of the rain ☔🐑

04/10/2025

It's national sibling day❗️❗️❗️

Our post about Luther yesterday got us thinking about how our sheep have grown from being sweet lambs, and we found these great baby pictures of some beautiful Refuge-born siblings: Molly and Oliver! They were born here in 2016, and they've been living together with their mother, Esme, ever since. The family can be shy at times, but they love spending time together. We're so lucky to know this incredible brother-and-sister pair! 🫶

04/10/2025

It's amazing to be featured in North Carolina Weekend!

Shake off the cabin fever and welcome spring with these fun activities and destinations.

04/09/2025

MTV Cribs: Bantam Hen Edition 🏠🐔

We built a miniature shelter for our smallest chicken, Peep! Peep is a bantam hen who had a fractured leg when we found her, but she's been thriving recently. Even though she stands out from her fellow chickens in the larger chicken house, we managed to build her a little shelter where she can be comfortable and enjoy her food and drink.

These pictures should give you a sense of Peep's bold sense of decor 😂

04/08/2025

Are you an animal lover who's concerned about the state of the planet? Would you like to make a difference and spread the word about veganism while having fun?

Well, good news! We're going to be tabling at the 2025 Earth Day Festival in Durham Central Park on Sunday, April 27! 🌍 We'll be handing out vegan food samples, telling folks about the Refuge, and explaining how veganism is good for the environment and all living creatures.

We need volunteers to help us pass out food and give information! There are two shifts to sign up for, so use the link below to sign up. This is your chance to get involved, put your beliefs into action, and spend some nice time outside with other people who care about our relationship to nature!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49AAAA2EA4FF2-55799344-durham #/

04/07/2025

We're one week out from our Spring Potluck! 😋

We've always loved having potlucks here at the Refuge. They provide a chance to unwind with delicious food and amazing people in a place where animals are loved and protected. Even if you're just curious about vegan cooking, we'd love to have you! This is a welcoming space with board games and a relaxed atmosphere.

Oh, and did we mention it's free? 😌

RSVP Here: https://www.piedmontrefuge.org/events-calendar/spring-potluck