USPS leaves 12,000 baby chicks meant to go to Florida, Ohio, and Texas in a mail truck for days
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A major mail mix-up at a U.S. Postal Service distribution center in Delaware left 12,000 chicks stranded in a truck for more than three days. The chicks were supposed to be delivered to customers in Texas, Ohio, Florida, and beyond. Instead, they ended up in a nightmare scenario caused by a series of disconnects at the USPS.
The USPS confirmed it’s investigating what it called a ‘process breakdown’
The shipment bounced between facilities before mistakenly landing in Delaware. Thousands died before anyone discovered them on May 2. No food, no water, and a sealed, warm environment proved fatal.
The USPS has partnered with hatcheries for over a century to ship live chicks through the mail. Each year, it delivers thousands of these chirping packages. According to its guidelines, postal workers can safely transport newly hatched chicks without food or water for up to 72 hours. Including food or water in the box can damage the packaging and put the chicks’ health at risk.
These chicks came from Pennsylvania-based Freedom Ranger Hatchery, CBS News shared. The hatchery said they can’t take them back due to biosecurity rules. They added that customers would’ve been better prepared to handle the weakened birds if USPS had simply completed delivery.
The survivors, including young turkeys, geese, and quail, now live at First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden, Delaware. Shelter staff have been scrambling to keep up. They’re feeding, cleaning, and trying to rehome thousands of birds. It’s a full-blown, around-the-clock operation.
Adoption started last Tuesday, but only a few hundred birds have been placed
Some tried to buy them for meat, but the shelter has a strict no-kill policy. Staff say they’re overwhelmed, and donations haven’t kept pace with the sudden spike in expenses. Some employees are even using their own money.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture stepped in, directing the birds to the shelter. It initially promised $5 per bird per day in aid, but now says that rate isn’t realistic. Talks with USPS are still ongoing, but the shelter says it hasn’t seen any money yet. Meanwhile, thousands of chirping mouths still need care and more permanent homes.
