The strain has turned the animal care center into a 24/7 operation & necessitated a staffing increase. Money remains the biggest concern for the donation-reliant nonprofit. Employees have begun spending their money to support ops.

Among the #birds were young #turkeys, #geese & #quail, but the vast majority were #FreedomRanger #chicks. One concern for the shelter, Parana explained, was the increasing demand for space & feed, as Freedom Rangers take about 10 wks to reach maturity.

#AnimalCruelty

Over 12,000 live baby birds including quail, young turkeys, geese but mostly #FreedomRanger breed baby hens were found abandoned for days in a #DJT era #USPS trailer, some 2000+ survivors await adoption at a now overwhelmed #Delaware #SPCA shelter and no one knows for sure who is picking up the tab for the mistake.

https://apnews.com/article/usps-abandon-chicks-thousands-nokill-814a2694d2aad29a7ebb6dbf0a1cebe3

Thousands of chickens survive USPS shipment snafu

More than 12,000 chicks at a Delaware distribution center were found left in a USPS truck for more than three days. Trapped in a warm enclosure without food and water, thousands of the young birds died before they were discovered and delivered to a shelter equipped to care for them. The involved parties are still awaiting answers as to how the chicks were abandoned within a Delaware mail distribution center. The United States Postal Service said in an email that it was aware of a process breakdown and was actively investigating. Pennsylvania-based Freedom Ranger Hatchery raised the chicks for distribution to clients across the country but said it cannot take them back due to biosecurity concerns.

AP News