Neon Chicks?

[Alleyoops25]

I was browsing around the ideal hatechery web site. And they had these neon colored baby chicks that are sold around easter time? What is the deal with this? What do they color these babies with, is it safe, and my assuming that these babies all are probably roo's. THis is totally crazy, I never seen anything like it. It seems wrong to me. But maybe I am wrong.

 

[Judymae]

My main prob with this is that people buy these 'cute' chicks and don't really want them. They don't have a place to put them or even food to give them. They just say oh how 'cute'! Poor chickies.

 

[jackiedon]

Here is a website

http://lancaster.unl.edu/4h/Embryology/TheAnswer1.htm

I agree with Judy that many people think they are cute then the chick suffers.

They also do it to identify the different breeds.

Around here you can't hardly buy baby chick any other time except during Easter time. Those of us who likes chickens want them at different times of the year.

jackie

 

[Alleyoops25]

Thats what I was afraid of. I always thought that they were cute enough so I didnt like the idea of coloring them anyway.

 

[joannamarie]

i have seen them on sites i think its disgusting really unatural they inject the eggs with dye apparently so they hatch bright purple or yellow or whatever colour.

 

[mudhen]

Hey everyone, check out these threads.
BYC started a campaign to pass out flyers and cards to try and educate people on how to care for these chicks, who more often than not, live short sad lives. un

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1822

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2443

There are more, just do a search on 'dyed chicks' and theyll come up....

 

[Alleyoops25]

It just suprises me that hatcheries will do it just to make money. I wouldnt be suprised if some of these hatcheries dont actually color the chicks until after they hatched and then dyed all the males. I dont know if they do this or not but it would seem like it would be something they would do.

 

[silkiechicken]

I'm pretty sure most hatcheries dye chicks post hatch, pre hatch requires more time and money.

 

[farmgirl2477]

I will have to admit, my first peepers were the colored ones. But I can count myself as different. I had the land for them, and had been tossing the idea around for awhile. But I could easily see lots of people buying these little fur balls on a whime and not be able to give them good lives.