To be honest, after hearing about the abandoned chicks in that USPS truck in Delaware, I don’t think shipping live chicks by mail is all that safe. I mean, I get why a lot of farms and backyard hobby people do it—it’s the easiest way to get rare breeds, and most hatcheries have been doing it for ages. But come on, after seeing how badly things can go wrong, it just makes you nervous.

Some people say this was just a rare case, but I’ve seen a bunch of stories online where delays and hot weather end up killing birds. If you’re really into raising chickens or other birds for a hobby, I think you should try to find a local breeder or even just buy from someone at a farmers’ market. Sure, it might limit your options, but at least you know your animal isn’t stuck in a truck for three days! Plus, local chicks are way less stressed and usually healthier.

I actually got my first flock through the mail and even though it worked out, it was super nerve-wracking waiting for the box to show up. After what happened in Delaware, I’m way more interested in supporting small, local breeders instead. It just seems like a smarter and way kinder move.