Colored Easter Chicks

[quintinp]

oh, well, ok, try to see if it is illegal in oklahoma i can't seem to find it

 

[Sumatra503]

Couldn't find it. Just don't sell the chicks colored. Regular chicks sell just fine at Easter time without the dye.

 

[quintinp]

yeah i dont wanna kill some chicks either too

 

[CDennis]

Wow, I had not idea that was how it was done. Sounds horrid.

 

[Sumatra503]

It's perfectly fine. The chicks are normal chicks and the dye is non toxic.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

this is probably a mistake, but I'm posting this so there is no doubt how its done, accurate information is better than conjecture, no harm is done to the chick. I've had folks say that no turner in an incubator is animal crulity too. To each his own, PLEASE do not get feisty, if you do not like it don't do it. This info is on the Internet and found easily. If it gets out of control I will report it to the mods.


The main purposes in coloring embryos are to provide a practical method of identifying chicks from different groups of eggs and so you can watch their movements after they leave the nest. In wildlife management studies, where identification and observation of ducks are difficult, identification and observation are made easy by coloring the embryos with bright dyes. It can also be used to provide colored Easter chicks for kids. The color is just on their fluff and only lasts a few weeks until their feathers grow in.

Coloring chick embryos provides the practice necessary to become skilled in the coloring technique while acquainting you with the tools and supplies students, researchers, and professional people use.

Equipment and Supplies

1 large beaker (1000 ml) or pan
2 small beaker (250 ml) or water glass
1 hypodermic syringe
1 No. 20 gauge hypodermic needle
1 No. 3 dental drill or similar drill device
1 ounce bottle of tincture of merthiolate
1 ounce of paraffin
1 small bottle of each dye used in coloring the chicks. Certified food dyes of two to three percent concentration are available in most grocery stores.
Fertile eggs incubated 16 or 17 days (preferably a "white" breed, which take the color better, such as White Leghorns for egg layers or Cornish Rocks for meat birds)

Procedure
Put water in the large beaker or pan and place it over heat. Loosen tops of bottles containing dye and place them upright in the small beaker or glass. The tops are loosened so the bottles of dye will not explode when heated. Put syringe, needles, and drill in same container with the bottles of dye. Add about an inch and a half of distilled water to the small container, and place in the larger container until the water in the larger container has boiled for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour the water out of the small container, and allow the contents to air dry as they cool.

At a spot about ½ inch from the small end of the egg, daub an area about 1 inch in diameter with merthiolate. Dip the tip of the dental drill in merthiolate. Rotate the drill between your fingers while gently pressing the tip against the shell in the center of the daubed area. Rotate only until you make a hole in the shell.

Assemble the syringe and needle. Be sure they do not become contaminated by contact with foreign objects. Dip the needle in the merthiolate, and withdraw ½ cc. (cubic centimeter) or .5 ml. (milliliter) of dye. Insert only the tip of the needle in the hole and through the shell membranes. To prevent overflow, gently and slowly inject the dye. Remove the needle, seal the hole with paraffin, and return the egg to the incubator. Clean the syringe and needle by flushing them with distilled water each time you use a different color dye.

 

[kvmommy]

I can't say I agree with it but am fascinated by it, sounds very scientific.

 

[thebirdguy]

I don't know that I will ever do this but tonight just for the experience, I dyed some infertile eggs that I pulled from the incubator to toss.. It actually wasn't that hard. I would still be nervous about hurting the chick in a viable egg and I would feel horrible if I screwed up so I don't think I would ever do this on hatchable eggs.. It was interesting to do when I knew I couldn't hurt anything though... I think I'll stick with the koolaid and foam brush idea if I ever need a colored chick..

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Yes, it certainly is.

 

[robnms]

I didn't start this to dye chicks and I won't dye chicks to sell or for myself. I understand that it may seem like a good idea at the time for parents to buy some cute little colored chicks for the kids but they'll be dead or on Craigslist when the novelty is gone. It probably should be against the law in every state to prevent this.

On the other hand, you might be able to find some really cheap chicks after Easter or you can put a sign at the store that sells them informing the buyers that you will take all the chicks if it doesn't work out.