Dying baby chicks for Easter? wrong?

[cluckcluck42]

They are strange looking, I would frankly be put off by the bad dye job and not be that interested. Maybe if it was pink with polka dots?

 

[CoopCrazy]

I think the reason folks see so many die is that when I was searching thru hatcheries it was mostly Cornish X Chicks and as we all know they wont live much past 8-10 weeks.. I have seen a few Bycers do this as an experiment and have never heard of higher mortality with dyed chicks...

 

[teach1rusl]

I don't think the issue is the dye itself. I mean, my chickens are fairly coddled pets. And other than looking at me like I've lost it, I don't think most folks would have a problem with me dyeing the feathers of one of my girls if I used a safe product (such as food coloring). Like others have said, the issue seems to be in marketing toward impulse buyers who are usually not prepared to accomodate the chick(en) for the long haul. It's like selling all those dalmation puppies when 101 Dalmations came out years ago (and many of those ended up in shelters).

 

[Southernbelle]

Quote:
Virginia bans colored chicks, so I've never seen colored chicks in any stores around here. Also, VA require a minimum purchase of 6 chicks in order to discourage those kind of people from buying chicks for Easter.

 

[StupidBird]

It may be illegal in many states to dye chicks, etc., for sale BUT wouldn't it be hilarious to go around town with a dyed Silkie? A big blue powder puff on my shoulder.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

I dyed a white adult silkie green for St Patrick's Day last year. Then I took him to school to show my kids' classmates what a naughty trick the leprechauns played. It was really funny--everyone loved it. I just used food coloring......took forever even with a bath to turn back white again though! This year my daughter was soooooooo disappointed when the leprechauns didn't do it again!

 

[horsejody]

It isn't the dye that kills them, it's the idiots that buy them.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
This is a hot topic, folks, so if it gets out of hand, we'll have to close it. I'm betting these chicks were at Brown's Feed in Blue Ridge, Ga. She has them right now.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Our local feed has them. Bought some years ago as a teenager. Always turned out to be a white leghorn cross roosters. Not much meat, but tasty.

 

[Lucy4]

Quote:
sigh. Isn't that the truth.

I loved hearing that VA has a 6 chick minimum purchase to discourage the "Easter chick gift" phenomenon. That's a great idea.