Colored Easter Chicks

[robnms]

I was wondering if anyone hatches chicks to color them for Easter and how do you get them colored without getting it in their eyes/feet/beak? I see them every year so where do they come from?

 

[heksa]

I think it's done by injecting the color into the egg. The color stays until the chick grows new feathers.

 

[robnms]

Quote:
So if I inject salt and pepper with a dash of Tobasco, I should be good to go for breakfast?

 

[sonjab314]

Quote:
So if I inject salt and pepper with a dash of Tobasco, I should be good to go for breakfast?

 

[heksa]

Quote:
I don't know about your breakfast, but here is how it's done. If that's what you wanted to know.

 

[melodie_a]

wow... I had no idea this was how that was done.

 

[robnms]

I thought you were being funny, I'm sorry. I still can't believe you can inject dye into an egg that's in the bator, I would think it would effect the hatch rate. I would think it would be easier to put the dye in a spray bottle and paint'em up. Mardi Gras is coming, I might have some KOOL looking chicks to show off!!!

 

[ranchhand]

Can't name which ones, but in some states I *think* it's now illegal.

 

[Chickenpoor]

Quote:
I don't know about your breakfast, but here is how it's done. If that's what you wanted to know.

That site is probably not correct I have a copy of The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow and it shows and tells how to do it. It says to do it 1/2" from the pointy end but the site says to do it at the big end. In the book its talking about it as a way to identify chicks but it is the same thing as dying them for easter.

By the way I suggest that if anyone doesnt own this book but you own chickens that you add it to your collection because it is full of lots of great info.

 

[robnms]

I started this just to see if some of us actually do this to make a few bucks, I never thought that you could inject dye in a egg still developing in the bator. Did you notice what day it would be to do the coloring?