Delaware officials recover thousands of abandoned chicks from USPS truck

Delaware officials are pleading for caretakers to rehabilitate thousands of baby birds that were abandoned in a U.S.

Delaware officials are pleading for caretakers to rehabilitate thousands of baby birds that were abandoned in a U.S. Postal Service truck earlier this month.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture received a call from a Delaware USPS distribution center on May 2 regarding the undeliverable shipment of chicks, according to a news release by state officials.

Officials said they discovered more than 10,000 birds, including chicks, turkeys, geese, quail, and chukars, according to the release. They added that 4,000 of the birds perished by the time of arrival, "due to an inadequate environment for an extended period."

The Bruzdzinski family adopt chicks at First State Animal Center and SPCA.Mingson Lau / AP"Our swift intervention ensured that the vulnerable animals were rescued," the DDA said in a statement. "The coordinated effort highlighted the department’s commitment to animal welfare."

The DDA said that they transferred the orphaned chicks to an animal shelter in the state, First State Animal Center.