Dyeing Baby Chicks: OK or Oh No?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/04/03 16:10:14

Related Topics: Pets, Animals, chicks, Dyeing Baby Chicks, Easter, New York Times, New York, State, color, Rights, 2012, Dog, Nytimes.com, Law, Florida, Love, Poultry

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735 votes
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	OK	173 votes	24%
	Oh No!	562 votes	76%

Everybody loves baby chicks on Easter, but do they really need to be dyed in pastel colors to make them even cuter than they already are? Poultry farmers say it's harmless when nontoxic dye is used, but animal rights advocates are against the practice, which is banned in about half the states and some municipalities, The New York Times reports.

In fact, in Florida last month, the Legislature passed a bill to overturn a 45-year-old ban on dyeing animals. "Humane societies are overflowing with these animals after Easter every year," Don Anthony of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida told the Times. "This law has protected thousands of animals from neglect and abuse, and it shouldn’t be lifted on the whim of one dog groomer who wants to dye poodles purple."

As far as baby chicks go, the dye is either injected in the incubating egg or sprayed on the hatchling. The color lasts only a few weeks: it comes off as chicks shed their fluff and the feathers grow in a normal color, the Times reports. Animal rights advocates say the dyeing experience is stressful for the birds, and that baby chicks shouldn't be sold when they're under four weeks old. Do you think it's OK to dye baby chicks?

+27

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Chieki 2012/04/03 16:45:17

Oh No!

+18

This is cruel and evil! These people really need to find something else to do to celebrate Easter!
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More polls by SodaHead Living

Flowers to Teri- O... 2012/04/04 13:31:55

+1
those people make the choice to do that, it's not forced on their unwillingly. there is a difference

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Juliet to Flowers 2012/04/04 14:45:59

+1
the chicken doesn't give a cluck. it has no idea. for all it knows its normal

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Flowers to Juliet 2012/04/04 15:10:14

for all you know, do you speak chicken? I surely don't. I'm not an animal rights nut or anything I just think it's comical that people ASSUME they know the feelings of an animal. Animals are smarter then we give them credit for. just because we can't speak their language, or hear their thoughts, that doesn't automatically mean they aren't feeling anything.

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john doe to Flowers 2012/04/05 01:06:47

+1
I speak chicken.....they don't care, they just want to die in the processing plant like all the other chickens.

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Catnip 2012/04/04 06:30:01

Oh No!

+2
I dunno. They're gonna grow up to be on someone's plate or in a KFC extra value meal anyway.

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RoseyRhod 2012/04/04 06:18:21

Oh No!

+4
Regardless of whether the dye is harmful to them physically, most of these creatures are going to end up in a shelter being put down. It is wrong to breed the little chicks specifically for sale at Easter. Get your kid chocolate or a plush toy instead.

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Doreen 2012/04/04 06:17:07

Oh No!

+2
It is extremely stressful to these chicks and the chemicals in the dye is not safe. I would not believe the farmers if they said it was natural because natural is much harder to apply and much more expensive. The farmers want to make a quick buck and not spend money on natural products. Shooting dye of any kind into an egg is just plain dangerous to the chicks. Would you be alright with a human mother injecting dye into her womb while pregnant to have a colored baby? As a dog groomer I know that it is different because dogs are creatures that are used to being handled by people and the dyes used to color them ARE natural and plant based. It is just getting a bath and being bathed in some type of plant base with the desired color ( you do not bath chicks ). It is expensive which is why I know the farmers would not use the safe stuff. For the MOST part chickens are not pet material and the stress of being handled can kill them ( usually from a heart attack ).

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nothingbutthetruth 2012/04/04 06:16:00

OK

+1
If it's not harmful, it's OK, because they look cute and beautiful colorful.

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RoseyRhod to nothing... 2012/04/04 06:20:33

+5
Just because they look beautiful or cute does not make it okay.

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nothing... to RoseyRhod 2012/04/11 05:34:29

That could be true too(:

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Couri 2012/04/04 06:07:41

Oh No!

+2
They don't look cute, they look mutated. This is just another ploy that has nothing to do with Easter or it's meaning at all.

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Depsycho 2012/04/04 05:42:04

Oh No!

+3
It's cute... but should only be for fun. Not profit. And personally I think only on domestic pets, lovingly applied as well, not slapped on by some worker doing it just for cash anyway.

Otherwise, I'm for it. Nontoxic? Awesome! My dog would rock a lime-green mohawk anyway. :)

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/04/04 05:34:35

Oh No!

+2
I think it's cruel and I think it's cruel when people get pet chicks or rabbits around Easter that they have no intention of keeping.

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S* 2012/04/04 05:34:32 (edited)

OK

+2
A couple of weeks earlier in their life I would have had them over easy with a side of bacon and some Orange Juice.

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John Storz 2012/04/04 05:24:50

OK

*meh* it's just a chick

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Flowers to John Storz 2012/04/04 13:33:38

so, would you be okay with being painted with a clown face everyday? Even if you decide you don't want to, oh well you have to anyways.

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John Storz to Flowers 2012/04/04 14:17:31 (edited)

+2
The difference being that is a chick ever really "ok" with anything that happens to it? Is it really hopping out of the nest and saying to itself "I don't want to be pink today"?

You're comparing apples and oranges, chicks just don't have the same level of self awareness as us people... now if we were dying chimps for Easter I'd say you might have a point.

So, *meh* it's just a chick.

However, to answer your question, it depends... I suppose if my job was being a clown, I might not want to do it every day, but I'd have to regardless of my feelings... it would be my job.

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Greenbay 2012/04/04 05:24:29

Oh No!

Isn't that deadly

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gregaj7 2012/04/04 05:23:43

Oh No!

+2
For me, that qualifies for cruelty to animals.

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♥Gabs1697♥ 2012/04/04 05:14:13

OK

+1
As long its safe....

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ScarletSpeedsta 2012/04/04 05:09:15

OK

+1
I mean it's pointless and terrible, but if it doesn't actually harm the chicks it isn't the end of the world. What I am more confused about is this whole 'Everybody loves baby chicks on Easter' is this an American thing because I honestly know no one who just has chicks around simply because it's easter...

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Sebastian 2012/04/04 05:07:46

Oh No!

+5
Not against the dyeing so much as I am against the parents that buy these for kids but then don't realize that they're gonna grow up into a messy, noisy chicken. They're only cute when they're young.

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Kitty 2012/04/04 04:55:21

OK

+1
ennh, it's just a topic where people go all crazy. As long as dyeing the chicks doesn't hurt them... I mean what can a person who is against it do? People color their dog's fur as well, what does it matter?
Some people see domesticated animals mostly as property and to an extent they are.
Humans over time have made them our own living property as long as you aren’t harming the animal, no one can really do anything about it. ..except steal your chicks and set them free lawlz.

I personally wouldn't dye my dog's fur or some baby chicks..fluff. :D

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XSummerX Tokio Hotel Freak(= 2012/04/04 04:41:27

OK

As long as they use something non-toxic to the chicks and it can wash off. I think it's harmless.

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Paul 2012/04/04 04:36:44

Oh No!

I don't know if it’s good or bad but can't we all just get along?

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Fef 2012/04/04 04:17:50

OK

+2
just use edible food coloring.... just joking!

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LAAD Gu... to Fef 2012/04/04 04:18:57

+1
hahaha

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barby k... to Fef 2012/04/04 08:50:04

Dyed chicken'

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LAAD Gunner - USMC 2012/04/04 04:12:03

OK

+4
my gosh bfd people, it's harmless

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Spider20 2012/04/04 03:55:00

Oh No!

+2
I wouldn't do it...it's not natural.....

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Cricket 2012/04/04 03:35:04

Oh No!

+1
It's not good for the chicks and of course they haven't a say so in the matter. I consider it animal cruelty. Let me guess, it's an idea that took off from a Hollywood idiot?

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Alex to Cricket 2012/04/04 08:41:13

+4
Of course they're not going to have a say in the matter, they're chicks!

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Juliet to Cricket 2012/04/04 14:55:05

do dogs have a say in the matter of who they get sold to?

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Cricket to Juliet 2012/04/04 14:58:24

What kind of question is that! Duh! What I said above was tongue and cheek sarcasm. No animal has a say so OBviously. That's the whole point of it being abuse too. Abusing and neglecting the ones who haven't a voice.

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Peewee 2012/04/04 03:31:08

Oh No!

+2
They're wrong about the 4 week thing, when I order chicks from the hatchery they are just a few days old. It's shipped overnight with special handling and they are just fine, never a dead chick or baby turkey. The thing is, they grow up! Not too many places allow poultry. They're noisy and messy. It sends a message of disposability of pets to children. Shame on anyone who allows sells chicks for this. Many die from over handling. Dying poodles purple is not the same as cheapening the responsibilty of an animal caretaker.

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RoseyRhod to Peewee 2012/04/04 06:22:16

+2
Exactly. Thank you.

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5150chic 2012/04/04 03:30:43

Oh No!

+1
this is just WRONG!!!

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Soylent Green is people!!! 2012/04/04 03:29:56

Oh No!

+1
Inhumane and disgusting!!!

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JERSEYDUDE 2012/04/04 03:23:05 (edited)

Oh No!

+1
aw theyre so cute! but yeah no im not into dyeing chickens(or eating them), dogs, or anything else

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Melissa Nesbitt 2012/04/04 03:19:37