J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary

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Saxonburg, PA
J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary

J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

We provide care, comfort and compassion to abused, abandoned or otherwise unwanted farm animals, many of whom have special needs.

08/28/2026

Ben’s Buckets update!

Oh my gosh, you guys are amazing! I never got a chance to properly thank everyone. The day I posted the fundraiser was the same afternoon we lost BB. Our minds and hearts were elsewhere at the time.

Thanks to your generous financial and in-kind donations, we now have a stack of buckets on deck for when Ben inevitably causes more chaos, plus some extra funds, because something tells me we’re going to need them. We have a variety of 5 gallon buckets for water and a few big, 7.5 gallon buckets for feed. I’ve never been so excited to see buckets in my life!

And of course, Ben remains committed to his role as Chief Bucket Destroyer. He’s already eyeing the new lineup like it’s a personal challenge. Whether he’s cracking, flipping, or relocating them to mysterious corners of the pasture, we know it’s only a matter of time before “Ben’s Buckets” becomes an ongoing saga. Thank you all for supporting both the Sanctuary and Ben’s antics. Your kindness keeps our animals cared for and our sense of humor intact. 😁💕

08/27/2026

Every time I see Poppy in the baby pool, having the time of her life, I can’t help but smile. Poppy was surrendered to us a few years ago with a couple of other ducks. She was the only crested variety in the bunch.

As is so common with crested breeds, Poppy suffers from a host of neurological problems. The genetic mutation which produces the crest affects the duck’s skull structure. The crest itself is a mass of fat and connective tissue that grows where there are holes in the skull. This abnormality can create direct connections to the brain, leading to seizures, coordination issues, and wry neck. Poor Poppy suffers from all three.

Poppy spends the chilliest of winter days inside with us, since she struggles to regulate her temperature in extreme heat or cold. One day, she was splashing around in about an inch of water in the bathtub when suddenly everything went quiet. I rushed to the bathroom to find Poppy in the middle of a seizure, drowning in the shallow water. I jumped into action, performing CPR and praying for a miracle the entire time. My prayers were answered. Poppy came back to life.

I’m not going to lie, I was terrified that night. I was certain we were going to lose her. We purposely never gave her what I thought was enough water to drown in should she experience a neurological episode in the tub. What’s that old adage? You can drown in a teaspoon of water. It was a freak accident, and I’m so thankful I was within earshot of the bathroom.

Now, years later, when I see her happy and healthy, splashing around in the baby pool like a perfectly normal duck would, I smile knowing how close she was to never experiencing this simple joy again. I’m just grateful she’s here, alive, safe and able to enjoy her little pool party moments. ❤

08/26/2026

Does everyone remember Bobbi, the poor chicken who was surrendered to us in June after she was brutally attacked by her flockmates? Bobbi’s prior crew ripped her comb clear off head, pecked her one eye so severely the eyelid was torn and missing and damaged the remaining eye to the point it was swollen shut. We weren’t sure if Bobbi were going to be permanently blinded after such a horrible encounter, but we never gave up.

We’re thrilled to share, through extensive care and a bit of a miracle, not only can Bobbi see, she’s been able to join the rest of our big flock. We had her in our special needs run for a few weeks so she could acclimate safely. During that time, she made friends with one of our roosters through the fence. He showed a real interest in her, so we opted to let her free range one day… and the rest is history. She spends most of her afternoons hanging with her new beau, scratching for bugs, grazing on plants and taking dust baths next to the barn.

We so excited Bobbi not only healed her body, but her mind, as well. She’s found companionship and belonging here at the Sanctuary. Mission accomplished.

I added the photos from Bobbi’s intake so you can see just how far she’s come. What a difference! 💕

08/25/2026

I was walking past the apiary when I noticed a bunch of bees hanging out in muddy hoof prints left behind by the horses. I thought you might be interested in why the bees are choosing to spend their time lapping up dirty water over the comparatively clean option of the creek. It all comes down to nutrients.

Mud contains essential vitamins, minerals and organic matter the bees need to feed to their growing larvae. Calcium, magnesium and potassium obtained through stagnant water support various physiological functions, including enzyme activity and muscle function. Organic compounds aid in digestion and overall hive health.

Bees can actually pinpoint these nutrients using their incredible sense of smell, detecting subtle differences in the aroma of various water sources. It’s absolutely amazing when you think about it.

Save the bees! No bees, no food! 🐝

08/24/2026

Our volunteer, Cindy, took this photo while sitting out in the middle of the pasture. First, it’s beautifully stunning. The angle of the image truly encapsulates just how large these gentle giants are.

Second, Ben’s curious nature is absolutely showcased. There’s something new in the pasture? He’s the first one there, checking it out. When the other horses are taking a step back, Ben is already charging forward.

Third, where the heck is Ben’s fly mask?? The poor guy only has one eye, so we’re extra adamant about keeping it protected from UV rays and biting flies. Ben’s antics, on the other hand, always seem to result in his losing his mask. Every day there’s a hunt for his fly mask. It could be in the barn, the back of the pasture, stuck on a fence post. Rarely is it ever in the same place twice, because of course it isn’t - it’s Ben. He really does keep us on our toes. 😃

08/21/2026

Of all the soft, warm places in the house, he chose the dirty, smelly muck boot. Classic Velcro. I’m not even sure he officially fits, but, alas, he sits. He slept like this for hours! Velcro insists the boot is perfect, and who am I to argue? Cats… 😁

08/20/2026

It may be drizzling now, but this evening’s forecast is looking lovely. Come out to see us tonight during Mingle on Main in Saxonburg from 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm. We’ll be set up behind Saxonburg Heritage Wine Cellars.

Meet Ronny, Hank and several of our other animal ambassadors. Feeling lucky? Take a turn at our duck pond game where everyone is a winner. We’ll also have branded t-shirts and sweatshirts, crocheted keychains, coloring books featuring our Sanctuary residents, honey, spreads and other handmade goodies for sale. Every dollar directly supports the animals who call the Sanctuary home. We hope to see you there! 😃

08/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our Fairy Garden Workshop. The creativity on display was incredible. Every single fairy garden was unique, imaginative, and full of personality. Watching each of you build your own tiny world and then take it home to enjoy made the evening feel so special.

A heartfelt thank you to CedarWoods for kindly hosting the class and bringing the most beautiful plants, lush moss, and an entire assortment of tiny figurines. We had gnomes, skeletons, woodland creatures, and even tiny sasquatches tucked into creations all across the tables. Their generosity and artistry brought so much magic to the night.

We loved seeing everyone laugh, relax, and create something peaceful and fun. Thank you for supporting the Sanctuary and for filling our space with joy. Check out the photos of some of the incredible fairy worlds. 💕

08/18/2026

Does everyone remember Nikki, the Muscovy mallard cross who found herself stranded and starving at Nick Chevrolet in the middle of freezing February weather? We are happy to share that she has settled into Sanctuary life beautifully. We were all taking bets on whether she would bond with our ducks or our Muscovy crew. Her communication style does not line up perfectly with either species. Her voice is not quite duck, not quite Muscovy, and her mannerisms lean more duck than anything else. She doesn’t display the classic head bobbing or tail wagging of the Muscovies.

As it turns out, Nikki has chosen the ducks as her flock. You can often spot her free ranging with them, scouring the grass for bugs and taking dips in the creek. Watching her find her place has been such a joy, and we are grateful every day she was saved and is thriving in her new life at the Sanctuary. 💕

08/17/2026

I’ve been mulling it over for the last few days, trying to come up with the perfect words to say this, but they keep eluding me, so I’ll just be direct: we lost BB on Friday afternoon. My heart is shattered. I am struggling to accept reality. BB was such a huge part of our Sanctuary family.

Last Monday, BB was being her normal “coop supervisor” self, monitoring the weekly coop cleanings, plopping herself down in the middle of everything, insisting on love and attention. There was no indication anything was amiss. Wednesday was a different story. She was hunkered down in a corner of the run with her head tucked in, quiet and reluctant to stand. We immediately brought her in for observation, then contacted our vet.

We settled on a diagnosis and treatment plan. BB was on a host of anti-inflammatories, pain medications and anthelmintics. We did everything we could to keep her comfortable. She had easy access to food and water and the radio tuned to her favorite station. We watched her around the clock, hoping she would be able to pull through. The odds were stacked against her. Broad breasted turkeys usually only have a lifespan of 2 - 3 years. BB was 3 or 4 years old, a super senior for her breed. Despite our best efforts, BB took her least breath shortly after noon on Friday. I was beside myself.

Many of you know BB due to her being such a wonderful animal ambassador. She’s locally famous as “that turkey who walks on a leash.” The whole leash thing came about as a complete accident. We had taken BB to an event with us where our booth happened to be set up a few spots down from a kettle corn stand. Every chance she got, BB took off down the street, following the alluring smell of sweet and salty goodness. Dumbfounded and determined to find a way to get her to stay, we ran to the truck where we had a dog harness and a lime green leash that said “I ❤️ My Dog.” We put the harness on BB. Instead of sitting still and staying put, she did the exact opposite. Most birds take some time to get used to a harness. Instead, BB saw this as her ticket to freedom. She could walk wherever she wanted…and we would follow!

BB truly embraced her animal ambassador role. She loved people and loved exploring but most of all, she LOVED music. We attended many local events featuring live music. It could be a children’s choir or a rock and roll cover band, if there were a melody, BB was there. That turkey ended up on stage with the band more than any groupie I’ve ever met. It was amazing! BB even had her very own radio donated to her for the chicken coop. The first day we hung it in the run, she spent the entire afternoon parked underneath it, belting out every tune. She knew the words to each song.

The Sanctuary is going to be so much quieter without BB’s glowing personality. I’m not sure we’ll know where to put the bedding in the coops without her expert supervision. I’m going to miss her excited pops and trills when she found something tasty. A part of my heart will forever be missing. This is the hardest part of rescue. Saying goodbye never gets easier.

BB, I hope there’s a massive boom box on the other side of the rainbow bridge waiting for you, blasting your favorite melodies so you can sing along. I promise we’ll sing karaoke together when we meet again. Save a song for me. 💔

If you have any pictures of BB, please share them in the comments. It would warm my heart to see all the lives she’s touched over the years.

Address

939 Ekastown Road
Saxonburg, PA
16056

Website

https://jandjfarmsanimalsanctuary.org/

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