Thousands of chicks adopted after abandoned in truck

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Thousands of chicks adopted after abandoned in truck

Thousands of chicks found abandoned inside a US postal truck for three days have gone to new homes, according to the Delaware shelter that had cared for them.

All the surviving birds, estimated as more than 5000 chickens – it was too hard to get a specific count – plus some others such as turkeys and quails, were primarily adopted by local families, rescues and farms, according to First State Animal Center and SPCA.

The chicks were part of a 12,000-bird shipment left unattended in a truck at a Delaware mail distribution centre.

Trapped in high temperatures without food or hydration, thousands died, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The US Postal Service says it is investigating the “process breakdown” that occurred.

For more than two weeks, the surviving birds had been cared for at an overwhelmed First State Animal Center and SPCA, said John Parana, executive director.

As a no-kill operation, the shelter would not take adopters planning to use the birds for meat, Parana said.

Some of the adopters took hundreds at a time, hoping for egg-laying hens, while others took them as pets.

Stephanie Bruzdzinski adopted a handful of chicks after her daughter learned about their situation.

“She was very upset and wanted to help out,” said Bruzdzinski, who was similarly shocked when she heard the news.

“She doesn’t like when things aren’t getting taken care of.”

The birds originated from Pennsylvania-based Freedom Ranger Hatchery’s weekly bird shipment to clients around the country, and due to biosecurity concerns, the hatchery could not take the chicks back, the company said.

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