A thousand baby chicks recently took to the skies, flying from Alberta to Kelowna on a WestJet flight — and they landed chirping happily.
“They all look pretty happy — they had a nice flight in,” said Johnny Aantjes, owner of the Feedway in Penticton, B.C.
The Feedway is a pet and livestock feed business that also sells farm-fresh eggs, baby chicks and chickens.
With the threat of a Canada Post strike looming, Aantjes made the call to switch from ground transport to air — a decision that’s quickly becoming the new norm for the farm.
“Now that we’ve tried this out a couple times, we’ll probably do this all the time,” he said.
Canada Post told Global News that contingency plans are in place in the event of a strike.
“Canada Post is currently operating as usual,” reads the statement.
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“The Corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have signed memorandums of agreement (MOA) that cover contingency plans for the safety of live animals in the event of a service disruption resulting from a strike or lockout.”
But concerns remain. A recent U.S. incident — in which thousands of chicks were found dead in a postal truck after failing to reach their destination in Delaware — has left the Canadian farmer uneasy.
“It can happen anywhere, I’m sure,” Aantjes said. “But this just seems to be the better choice for us for now.”
The postal journey for the chicks would have taken upwards of 16 to 17 hours, compared to just one hour in the air.
“I’m not sure of the conditions in the vans, but in the summer, the shorter travel time the better,” he said.
After their high-flying journey, the chicks arrived safely, chirping contentedly as they were unboxed at their new home.
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