Thousands of abandoned chicks were discovered in a U.S. Postal Service truck left unattended for three days at a mail distribution center in Delaware. With high temperatures and no food or water, the conditions proved fatal for many of the 12,000 chicks originally shipped.
Overwhelmed Shelter Steps In
The First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden, Delaware, took in over 5,000 surviving abandoned chicks, along with some turkeys and quails. For more than two weeks, the shelter provided care, despite being overwhelmed.
“We are a no-kill facility,” said Executive Director John Parana. “We made sure adopters were not seeking the birds for meat. Many adopters wanted egg-laying hens or simply took them in as pets.”
Community and Families Help Rehome Abandoned Chicks
Local families, farms, and rescue groups rallied to help. Stephanie Bruzdzinski was among the adopters, moved by her daughter’s concern.
“She was very upset and wanted to help out,” Bruzdzinski said. “She doesn’t like when things aren’t getting taken care of.”
Some adopters took hundreds of abandoned chicks at once, aiming to raise them responsibly.
Postal Service Investigates Breakdown
The U.S. Postal Service confirmed it is investigating what it called a “process breakdown.” The chicks were part of a weekly shipment from Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Pennsylvania, which cannot accept returns due to biosecurity protocols.
Abandoned Chicks Final Adoptions Complete
By Thursday morning, the last of the abandoned chicks had found new homes, bringing relief to the shelter. While the outcome was tragic for many, thousands of birds were saved through rapid community support and action.
