Did I Just Hear a Rooster?
Woman in the Middle | April 12, 2012I have mentioned in the past that my new city is a suburban kind of place. Some folks like to use the word “rural” when describing parts of our city. I decided to look up the word “rural.” According to Dictionary. com ”rural” is an adjective that means:
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the country, country life, or country people; rustic.
2. living in the country.
3. of or pertaining to agriculture.
OK, so according to this definition, you don’t have to live in the middle of nowhere to lead a rural lifestyle, you just have to adopt the characteristics of country living in order to live the rural life. That would explain, then, why every time I go to my local post office I hear roosters. No, not out in the parking lot. I mean every time I go INTO the post office I hear roosters crowing from back in the back where they deal with the mail. What? You didn’t know you can mail chickens? Apparently someone in my area receives multiple shipments a week of chickens and roosters though the U.S. Mail.
Sure enough, if you go to the U.S. Postal Service website they have a whole section in their regulations concerning “Mailable Live Animals.” In addition to chickens, you can mail turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, geese, and swans when properly packaged. You can also mail scorpions, but only if they are to used for medical purposes, such as making antivenom. Well, that is a comfort, I guess. Small cold-blooded animals, but not snakes, turtles, or turtle eggs, are also welcome by the USPS. Well, who would have guessed?
Apparently the other private carriers do not deliver live animals. So, the next time someone suggests eliminating the USPS consider how are you going to get your chickens and roosters delivered, so you too can lead a rural lifestyle?
My mom and sister have both had chickens, chicks to be precise, delivered through the mail with good results. The rural life is closer than it appears.
I wonder how the animals are packaged.
Thank you for that fascinating nugget of information. I had no idea you could mail a chicken or any of those other animals. You learn something new everyday.