WWYD? Colored Chicks....

[CajunChick]

I mentioned to someone that I'm hatching eggs at home. They asked if I would hatch some colored chicks for them. Apparently, you can "dye" the chicks while in the egg with food coloring. What would you do? I don't want to harm them.

 

[kelseygirl707]

From what I have heard, you will not harm them, but to me it is just un-natural, I wouldn't do it, something about it just seems wrong to me, LOL.

 

[DTchickens]

Up to you, i wouldn't myself.. I think legally you need permits or something (or at least you probably would). I'd tell them just order from Ideal. As for it being "right" i have seen some grown up and never have seen any negative effects from the dye and the coloring wears off after a few weeks, so i don't really see a problem with it.

-Daniel.

 

[kathyinmo]

I don't know what you use for sure, but I think it's just food grade coloring or something. Since it has been done alot in the past, I am guessing it must be safe, but I don't really know!

I wouldn't do it, just because I'm not interested in it. If others want to, and it is safe, then ... to each his own!

 

[mstricer]

I dont get what you do. How does the dye get in the egg?

 

[chickeypeep101]

I don't know, you have to inject it in just the right place or else... I have never done it .

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
If i remember correctly you just get food coloring dye and inject it into the egg. Whether it is the egg or the air pocket I'm not completely sure since i haven't looked it up and heard both stories, i think the air sac would be most truthful though, since injecting it into the egg itself may cause problems with incubation even if it were a little pinhole.

-Daniel.

ETA: And think, you order a chicken that has had coloring injected into the egg during incubation, so it forms with the dye in the egg... Comes processing day and voila- green meat!

 

[SteveH]

I just assumed they were dyed after hatching and thought even that was " not quite right " . An alternative would be some EE eggs , colored eggs going in , colored chicks coming out .

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
Thats what I assumed, aren't cracks in an egg all bad? Wont the needle or whatever you have use cause a hole?

 

[DTchickens]

Here's a link - http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/resources/egg_to_chick/coloring.html