Trouble in Paradise

[Freedom]

Paradise Pets is the name of a pet store here in RI.

The owner ordered a dozen colored chicks for Easter. They are green, blue, orange and yellow and red, colored with food dye.

It is illegal to dye chicks in RI. the SPCA was notified by the post office, and confiscated the chicks, who are all doing well.

It is not illegal to dye chicks in Texas, where they came from.

The owner of the pet store said, "I didn't know."

Well, in his line of work, he should have known OR should have investigated if he didn't know! Just my opinion.

http://www.turnto10.com/northeast/jar/news.apx.-content-articles-JAR-2007-03-30-0016.html

[DrKym]

Hmmm wonder what the thought process is then on the painted cats and the dyed poodles.............................

[lvpets2002]

:( OMG they came from Texas.. I think it is illegal here.. The Pet Store Owner should have known ya think?? How so bad for those wittle babies.. Glad all doing ok..

[critter crazy]

Some people are just plain stupid!!! It just disgusts me!!! I love my chickens, and would never think that Dying would be cool!!:mad:

[Zippy]

That is horriable :( :mad:

[Blue_Frog]

The dying trend that makes me sad is dying fish -- mostly that is done by injecting the fish with dye with a needle, or by soaking them in acids so that their protective layer comes off and then dipping them in dye, or using lasers. Quite a lot of fish die this way, and many more die from the cancers they get later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_fish

[Zippy]

Blue_Frog I have heard about fish dying on my betta bourd and have seen a blood parrot cichlid dyed with a I *heart* u for Valintines day.

[buttercup132]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Isn't it just the same as dying a dog or cat? And like the owner said it just food colouring...as long as it dosent get in their eyes or on their beak.

[critter crazy]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Isn't it just the same as dying a dog or cat? And like the owner said it just food colouring...as long as it dosent get in their eyes or on their beak.As far as I can see, and pet store owner that purchases Birds like this are only out for the money! People see these, and just have to buy them for their kids, and then the birds suffer, and end up in shelters or die! Because it was an easter gift, and the fad soon fades!! And for the record, who the heck would dye any animal! Cat, Dog, Bird or Fish! There is no point! Poor babys!

[Scooter's Mom]

When we were kids (I was about 6, my brother about 8) the girl down the street gave my brother a pink chicken for Easter. (I think she liked him...) Anyway, the chicken seemed okay... we had a mean little nasty dog though that loved to chase her. My dad forgot to put the chicken in her cage before he picked me up from my half a day of kindergarten. I went to the backyard to play with Pinky and all I found were little pink feathers everywhere.

Had the silly thing not been dyed, daddy could have gone and gotten a new chickie and we'd have never known Ginger (the nasty little dog) ate the chickie. My brother didn't care all that much, but it traumatized me for a long time!

Point of my stupid little sad story is ... I think it may be legal in Texas, as that's where we grew up...

[Sophist]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Isn't it just the same as dying a dog or cat? And like the owner said it just food colouring...as long as it dosent get in their eyes or on their beak.
It would be a bigger deal/more likely to be illegal than coloring a dog or cat's fur because it actually is closer to dyed fish... while the embryo is still in the egg (usually towards the end of the second week after a live embryo can be seen by holding the egg up to a strong light source) it is INJECTED with dye. Break the shell, inject the embryo, slap on some iodine and back into the incubator. If you do it later than the second week after a viable embryo is detected, then multiple injections are required.


When I used to do flocks of chicks and ducklings that I showed in fairs and such, I would put little dabs of food dye on them to differentiate them. I see nothing wrong with coloring a chick at all.

But dyeing a chick requires compromising its' shell, injecting it with a foreign substance for cosmetic purposes, and pretty much assuring that it is going to be an impulse buy, probably for a small child's easter present, by someone who has not thought through the logistics of keeping chickens.

[Argranade]

I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Isn't it just the same as dying a dog or cat? And like the owner said it just food colouring...as long as it dosent get in their eyes or on their beak.
It can make them very sick because there so young, they probably won't last too long if that dye is not removed, those chicks will want to preen them selfs and in doing so they can inject food colouring into there system.

Food colouring can make birds very sick, that's also why you should never dye water red to attrack humming birds because it can make them very sick.

[lute]

That is just stupid! I can't believe someone would actually dye a chick! The poor things! This is one of the MANY reasons I don't like the Easter holiday! I'm glad they are away from the pet store owner and in good hands.

[Sophist]

It can make them very sick because there so young, they probably won't last too long if that dye is not removed, those chicks will want to preen them selfs and in doing so they can inject food colouring into there system.

Food colouring can make birds very sick, that's also why you should never dye water red to attrack humming birds because it can make them very sick.

Once again, the dye is ALREADY injected into their system. So ingestion by preening would be pretty inconsequential.

[crow_noir]

Not to get too off track, but i wanted to bring to light something a little bizarre. Keep in mind the pets mentioned in these books had only vegetable dye used on them. The plus side is that I have found an earth friendly way to dye my own hair. I have wanted to, but haven't due to harsh chemicals.

My thought is that the way this is done is harmless, unlike what is done to the chicks. I still think the people are a bit nuts :rolleyes: :eek: Some of the prices these people pay to have this done!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Paint-Cats-Ethics-Aesthetics/dp/1580082718

I highly suggest seeing if your local library has this book. For me one of the most memorable "paintings" was of the neons (fish) (done on cats.) There were two or three stories in the whole book where i didn't think the person was a bit nuts for having it done to their cat. Some of the stories are a bit sniffly... others outrageous, and others will just have you rolling your eyes. Some are even thought provoking.


And for the record, who the heck would dye any animal! Cat, Dog, Bird or Fish! There is no point! Poor babys!

[Argranade]

Once again, the dye is ALREADY injected into their system. So ingestion by preening would be pretty inconsequential.

Colouring any new born animal is WRONG either way, I already know it can get threw there skin and into there bodies but not everyone understands that, some people think they won't get sick from eating it .. like idiots who die water red to attrack humming birds! Again when preening them selfs there just injecting more dye onto there system ON TOP of that they have already been infected from dye traveling threw there skin..

[buttercup132]

It would be a bigger deal/more likely to be illegal than coloring a dog or cat's fur because it actually is closer to dyed fish... while the embryo is still in the egg (usually towards the end of the second week after a live embryo can be seen by holding the egg up to a strong light source) it is INJECTED with dye. Break the shell, inject the embryo, slap on some iodine and back into the incubator. If you do it later than the second week after a viable embryo is detected, then multiple injections are required.


When I used to do flocks of chicks and ducklings that I showed in fairs and such, I would put little dabs of food dye on them to differentiate them. I see nothing wrong with coloring a chick at all.

But dyeing a chick requires compromising its' shell, injecting it with a foreign substance for cosmetic purposes, and pretty much assuring that it is going to be an impulse buy, probably for a small child's easter present, by someone who has not thought through the logistics of keeping chickens.THAT is wrong.


And for the record, who the heck would dye any animal! Cat, Dog, Bird or Fish! I would. Not a bird or fish though and not as a new born or a baby.

[Suki Wingy]

I would only dye something full grown and only with nontoxic dyes. My dog had a blue and pink stripe for 4th of July 2006.

[Marigold2]

Well said
As far as I can see, and pet store owner that purchases Birds like this are only out for the money! People see these, and just have to buy them for their kids, and then the birds suffer, and end up in shelters or die! Because it was an easter gift, and the fad soon fades!! And for the record, who the heck would dye any animal! Cat, Dog, Bird or Fish! There is no point! Poor babys!

[Sophist]

I already know it can get threw there skin and into there bodies but not everyone understands that, some people think they won't get sick from eating it .. like idiots who die water red to attrack humming birds! Again when preening them selfs there just injecting more dye onto there system ON TOP of that they have already been infected from dye traveling threw there skin..

Um, you still aren't getting it.

It isn't being absorbed through their skin. It is put into a needle, the needle then punches a hole in the eggshell injects the embryo.

This isn't a topical treatment, typically. It is an injection or series of injections done while they are still in the egg.

[Argranade]

Um, you still aren't getting it.

It isn't being absorbed through their skin. It is put into a needle, the needle then punches a hole in the eggshell injects the embryo.

This isn't a topical treatment, typically. It is an injection or series of injections done while they are still in the egg.

WTF OMG,

I thought you ment it was done after they hatched! sorry lol.

Thats even more crewl! no chick should be touched before or even at the begining of hatching. :mad:

[CathyBogart]

Sophist, if you read this article. it says the chicks were sprayed with dye.

[Sophist]

I did not see that in the link I went to at the beginning of this thread, so I assumed it was by the 'normal' method, explained here:

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


http://chickscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/resources/egg_to_chick/coloring.html

[Sophist]

Hmmm the reporter says they were 'apparently sprayed with dye'. Maybe, but it doesn't how he reached that conclusion. Actually, the way it is worded, it sounds like the reporter just assumed they were sprayed or had it topically applied, like most people would assume. That is not the common method for dyeing chicks, so I still remain skeptical.

And if we are talking about dyed chicks in general, especially in terms of painted cats and dogs, etc., I still stand by my assertions ;) .

Even so, I still think it is dooming these chicks to be impulse buys by people with no long-term plans who will be done with their new pets before they even get in their un-dyed adult feathers.

[Zippy]

Still it is horriable.It is done so people will buy them for the childern. :(
I don't agree with giving ducks,chicks and bunnies for easter.

[animalluv34]

First of all, let me tell you, no one in the world loves animals more than me, and it wouldn't be a pretty site if I came face to face with someone who hurt them.

Now, to get down to the good stuff.

If this were dangerous to the chicks health, then scientists wouldn't do this to birds of endangered species to track the beginning of their life in the wild.
And the harmless vegetable dye isn't injected into the bird embryo itself. It is injected into the yolk so it can be absorbed by the developing fur. It isn't absorbed into the skin itself, if it were, then the skin of the bird would stay that color for the rest of its life, but it doesn't. The color disappears when then first feathers fall out. So I definately wouldn't say this is dangerous to the chicks. I am perfectly fine with scientists doing this so that they can study early bird life in the wild. :D I'm all about saving wildlife!!!!!!!!!!! :p :) :D

I only have a problem with it when people dye them for money or if they dye them in a manner harmful to the chick. :mad: :(

I myself am about to start incubating my own chicken eggs for the experience and I would like to dye the chicks because they would look cool. But, I already have good homes that they will go to with people who have a farm with chickens already. And, I am going to raise them for a while first, so by the time I give them away, not sell them, their colors will be gone. I see absoultely no harm in dying them because I'm going to use a teeny tiny sterile needle to do it and I'm going to properly sterilize the egg before and after. Then I will seal the almost microscopic hole it will make. :)

If you still disagree with dying chicks the way I mentioned here and for the same reasons I mentioned here then I would like to know why, so please post a response to this if you disagree. :confused:

[Whisk_Luva]

Uh excuse me. We all love animals, I dont think its right to say you love them all more than us.

[Miss Z]

I myself am about to start incubating my own chicken eggs for the experience and I would like to dye the chicks because they would look cool.

I find your response interesting and I have learned a lot from it. The only aspect I can't understand is this particular statement, I would have thought that your well-backed up opinion on this matter could constitute a reason for dying the chicks a little more convincing than that. But at least I can see that you are doing it with animals' interests at heart.

Personally, I think all creatures are perfect in the colours they were created with. ;)

[buttercup132]

Uh excuse me. We all love animals, I dont think its right to say you love them all more than us.Ya no kidding...

I just thought of something I wanted to say though. Someone (I can't remember who) said if god wanted odd coloured (pink,green,blue etc) animals he would make them those colours. So dose that mean you (who ever said that) don't agree with people dying their hair those colours? It's the same thing.


If this were dangerous to the chicks health, then scientists wouldn't do this to birds of endangered species to track the beginning of their life in the wild. Please tell me your kidding..What makes you think scientist wouldn't do that? They put animals through torture in testing labs. They could care less if it defects or harms the animal.


I myself am about to start incubating my own chicken eggs for the experience and I would like to dye the chicks because they would look cool. That it's self says your not a big animal lover like you claim... because it's cool???

[Argranade]

animalluv34, First of all let me tell YOU,

Dying any chick while it's still in the egg could defenitly harm the chick. Disturbing the integrity of the shell and potentially the membrane inside around the chick would not be good at all. Also, it is going to be extremely difficult to put a hole in the shell without cracking the entire shell or puncturing the actual chick inside. I would not try risking a living things life .. would you?

Would you inject food coloring into a baby while it's still the mothers womb?

I dout, so why try it on chicks? because there not human? that's a stupid reason.

In addition, poking holes in the egg shell allows infections to get into the baby chick. (No, it doesn't matter how small the whole is.)

[Sophist]

I have not heard of scientists dyeing wild endangered chicks for the sake of tracking. What would this possibly teach them that simple observation would not? Also, wouldn't dyeing them interefere with the camoflouge effect of many species' baby down? Could you possibly show me some info about these studies? I am genuinely curious as this simply doesn't make sense to me. I would like to know more about it if this is something that is actually beinig utilized.

As far as my reasons for not liking it... I dunno, call me crazy, but in general I am not going to be on board with tampering with fetuses and embryos simply for the sake of coolness. Just one of my silly little hang-ups. :p

[animalluv34]

ok guys, i'm not actually going to color the chicks i'm going to incubate, I just wanted to see if everyones views on the subject were still the same after the info I presented.

And i didn't mean it to be belittling to you guys about me saying that I love animals more than anyone else, I was just trying to say that I love them very much and would never want anything to happen to them that would be hazardous to their health. :( :confused:

Sophist, I'll try to find some info for you on the internet about the utilization of the studies.

[Sophist]

I would appreciate that, thanks.

I know also that you didn't mean any offense with your comment about loving your animals.