USPS Truck Abandons Thousands of Chicks, Overwhelms Local Animal Shelter

A Delaware animal shelter is struggling to care for and rehome thousands of chicks that survived being left in a United States Postal Service (USPS) truck for three days. The chicks, which were trapped in a warm enclosure without food and water, had already succumbed to their conditions before they were discovered.

According to the USPS, it is still investigating what occurred, but the company has acknowledged that there was a "process breakdown" involved. Freedom Ranger Hatchery, based in Pennsylvania, raised the chicks for distribution to clients across the country. Due to biosecurity concerns, the hatchery cannot take the chicks back.

"It would have been best if USPS had completed delivery as the recipients would have been adequately equipped to handle the birds – even malnourished ones," said a spokesperson for the company.

The surviving chicks have been nursed and cared for at First State Animal Center and SPCA, where they are being offered for adoption. However, only a few hundred out of thousands have been picked up so far, leaving more than two thousand available for adoption.

"The strain has turned the animal care center into a 24/7 operation and necessitated a staffing increase," said John Parana, executive director. "Money remains the biggest concern for us, as we are a donation-reliant nonprofit." Some employees have even begun spending their own money to support the operations.

Among the birds were young turkeys, geese, and quail, but the vast majority were Freedom Ranger chicks. One concern for the shelter is the increasing demand for space and feed over time, as Freedom Rangers take about ten weeks to reach maturity.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture directed the animals to the shelter after a call from USPS. The department said it is responsible for assisting the shelter with funds – for chickens, the rate was $5 each per day – but negotiations are ongoing and no funding has been allocated so far.

"They said that they're gonna try to go after the post office to get recoupment," Parana said. "That doesn't help us in the meantime."