Adopt a Starved Central Valley Hen

If the tale of more than 50,000 chickens left to starve on a Central Valley ranch has got you down, break out the chicken feed: it's time for you to adopt one of the former food birds.

The Marin Humane Society in Novato will make available more than 400 of the hens found starving near Turlock last week, according to the Marin Independent Journal. Many of the 50,000 hens left unfed and uncared-for for more than two weeks were dead; many more had to be euthanized after their owner said he abandoned them because he could not afford the cost of feed.

Animal Place in Grass Valley took many of the birds, and offered the 400-plus to Marin to help dole them out for adoption.

The hens make fine pets as well as eggs, according to a spokeswoman for the agency.

The birds, 1-to-2 year old Rhode Island red hens and white leghorns, are still recovering, but can be adopted as soon as they fully recuperate for a $5 fee, the newspaper reported.