Current Press Releases

Mail Order Birds Become Helpless Victims of Quick Money Schemes Gone Awry

Farm Sanctuary Rescues Over 130 Chicks and Turkey Peeps from Botched Online and Mail Order Sales

Watkins Glen, NY - August 2, 2005 - Farm Sanctuary, the nation's leading farm animal shelter and advocacy organization recently rescued 130 chicks and turkey peeps from two separate incidences involving online and mail order shipments of live birds. In this country it is legal to ship live birds through the United States Postal Service.

"The risk involved with mail order delivery birds is just unconscionable," said Farm Sanctuary Shelter Director, Susie Coston. "To think about newly-hatched baby birds being shipped to various parts of the United States, enclosed in packaging with no regard for temperature, food and adequate ventilation shows absolutely no respect or consideration for these birds as feeling beings."

Over 100 live chicks were shipped in a box and at least half of them died upon arrival at a Pennsylvania post office, likely from suffocation and dehydration. A caring postal worker refused to return the surviving chicks "back to sender," for fear that they would die en route as well, and contacted the local SPCA. As they do not have facilities for farm animals, the SPCA contacted Farm Sanctuary. The surviving 55 chicks were brought to Farm Sanctuary's Emergency Rescue & Rehabilitation Center at the New York Shelter, where they are now being brought back to health.

In an attempt to turn a quick profit, several young people purchased 200 turkey eggs online and hatched them to sell, likely for Thanksgiving dinners, only to find that once the birds were hatched, the buyers backed out. Newspaper ads to sell the babies proved fruitless, as well. Compassionate citizens convinced the seller to surrender 88 of the sick birds and allow them to come to shelter. The chicks are all underweight and suffering from feather loss. Several of the chicks have enlarged joints and curled toes, signs of malnourishment. They are being treated with vitamins and electrolytes, and Farm Sanctuary caregivers are closely monitoring their leg and foot disabilities, as it is likely that some will require surgery.

Adoptive homes are being sought for many of the chicks and turkey peeps through Farm Sanctuary's Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN). All applicants must be willing to undergo a rigorous review process in order to become a FAAN member. Pre-requisites include appropriate housing, land and fencing, veterinary references and a commitment to a vegetarian lifestyle. Anyone interested in joining FAAN can find out more at http://www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt/index_faan.htm.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.