Via Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary.

A man recently sent 15 chicks in the mail to his ex-girlfriend’s D.C. home to make an awful joke. One has to wonder why these two broke up.

Here’s the story from the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, Md.:

We recently received 15 baby chicks from the Washington Humane Society, when they were delivered to a DC resident as a prank. The woman received a note from an ex-boyfriend with the package, saying something like, “There are lots of other chicks out there.” She told the postal worker she was planning to throw them in the trash, and he thankfully took them back and delivered them to WHS. Unbelievably it is legal to ship baby chicks in the regular mail, and often this results in injuries or death to the babies. One of the chicks has an injured leg, but is recovering. The rest are very active and healthy. Thanks to Peaceful Fields Sanctuary, who will be taking six of the chicks. The remainder will live here at Poplar Spring. They are currently being housed in a playpen with a heat lamp in our infirmary until their feathers grow in.

Yes, you can legally send day-old chicks through the United States Postal Service.

Now instead of being dinner or garbage, the chicks will live out their lives at two animal sanctuaries.