SAUGUS, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A tiny chick, named "Peanut," is now safe at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen after he was found wandering along Route 1 in Saugus last week.
Peanut is just three weeks old and is no bigger than a small apple. A passerby managed to spot the chick, and scoop him up before taking him straight to the MSPCA's Boston Adoption Center. The bird has since been taken to Nevins Farm.
It's not clear why Peanut tried to cross the road. The MSPCA said he could have been lost or might have been dumped there on purpose, but there is no way to know for sure.
"It still amazes us that he wasn’t hit by a car, especially since he’s nearly impossible to spot from behind the wheel,” MSPCA at Nevins Farm Equine and Farm Animal Supervisor Rachel Diersen said.
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Peanut has joined five chicks and 15 adult chicks who had recently been surrendered to the MSPCA.
"This is the time of year when we see an increase in bird surrenders, and that can be a challenge given the amount of space we have for these and other birds, such as waterfowl,” Diersen said. "Chicks, in particular, are quite fragile and need specialized care and, in order to comply with state-mandated testing, we must house them here—or place them in foster care—until they’re 16 weeks of age, after which we can verify their health status and place them for adoption."
The new arrivals that are less than 16 weeks old will be sent to "temporary foster homes so they can settle into a home-like environment," according to the MSPCA.
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(Photo courtesy of the MSPCA at Nevins Farm)