VACAVILLE —

The Animal Place in Vacaville took custody Friday of 500 chickens that were set to be euthanized.

“People don’t realize what goes into making that morning omelet,” Kim Sturla, Executive Director of Animal Place, said.

Beaks dropped in shock as the 500 chicken were released from their cages for the first time ever.

“Just watching them being chickens for the first time, it was really was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” Elizabeth Barna, an intern at Animal Place, told FOX40.

The animal rescue group says egg production has slowed for this batch of birds, making it cheaper for the farmer to euthanize the hens and get new ones.

The Animal Place refused to tell FOX40 which California farm the chickens came from, citing a confidentiality agreement.