Many kids send out requests at Easter for a bunny or chicks. Indeed these animals are cute, but they should not be Easter gifts.
Chicks
Easter Chicks are often sold either naturally or colored. They are usually no more than a week old. This is fine when they are going to a knowledgeable home since chicks do not require their mother to feed them. However most people who buy these cute chicks are not knowledgeable and are not even capable of keeping the animals alive or as pets. If you had Easter chicks when you were a child, go ahead and ask your parents what happened to them. Chances are they died in a matter of days.
Chicks need to be fed chick starter and kept in a warm place, such as a brooder. In a home they can be kept under a lamp for raising chicks. If hung too low the chicks will over heat, they will tend to move away from the light. If raised too high the chicks will be chilled and try to huddle under the light for warmth. Of course they need fresh water to drink from.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/samgarmon/2356580682/
Chicks are tiny and prone to stress… yet what is the first thing they often face? A delighted child who simply lacks the ability to hold them gently or respect the fact they are scared.
Chicks grow up into chickens. Many areas do not allow the keeping of chickens and often not roosters. Unless the chicks were properly sexed chances are some will be roosters. If sold as easter chicks, chances are all are roosters since roosters are of almost no value otherwise. The female chicks would have been sold through livestock stores to farmers and people willing to pay more specifically for females.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arandall/461022403/
Above we see a proper set up for chicks.
An alternative to buying Easter chicks is to find an event that has chicks on display for Easter or visiting a petting zoo, or petting farm.
Bunnies
Bunnies are often sold by unscrupulous sellers as Easter pets with no regard to whether or not they will be cared for after Easter.
These pets are often acquired on a whim and soon done away with because little thought or planning went into making a decision on getting a pet, and making a lifetime commitment to that pet.
Every year about a month or so after Easter, animal shelters get a large number of rabbits surrendered into their care. In some areas city parks suddenly explode with abandoned pets. Such is the fate of many Easter bunnies.
Rabbits are not rodents they are lagomorphs. They need proper food and housing. They also need regular time out of their cage. In the wild it would be able to hop around and stretch its legs much more than most cages allow for.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/3431275844/
Rabbits are often prone to neglect, left for days without being taken out of their cage. While they can live in hutches outdoors this is certainly a boring life for them when they are not properly cared for, and they will be at risk for Fly Strike if cleaning is neglected.
Rabbits need to be feed rabbit food and fresh vegetables, such as carrots. They can also be given alfalfa hay. A rabbit will enjoy eating dandelions as long as they were not sprayed with chemicals. Rabbits can be litter trained and many people allow them loose in their homes like a cat. They will, however, nibble electrical cords.
A good alternative to buying a rabbit is to visit the ones for adoption at a local animal shelter.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akbuthod/3376162569/
Pets and Easter
Pets are a real commitment, not a whim, or a spur of the moment idea as related to a holiday.
If you have not considered getting chickens as pets, or rabbits as pets, outside from the holiday season, you should not be getting them at all. These are living animals who depend on you to provide them with a good home. They are not toys for children and should never be viewed as such.
Holidays are one of the worst times to get new pets if a person is busy. The pet will not get cared for and will be stressed as a result of the activity. If you are wanting either chicks or rabbits for Easter, wait a month. If you still want chicks go to a livestock feed store, if you still want a bunny, go to a shelter, there will be plenty for adoption, and some will even come with free cages and supplies.
Unwanted Chickens and Rabbits
In most areas it is illegal (animal abandonment) to turn an unwanted pet loose. If you have found you got a pet and regretted it later, be sure to take the animal to the local animal shelter or SPCA. Returning it to the breeder is another option, but most will refuse to take it back knowing they cannot sell it at this time.
Related Links on Chickens and Rabbits
Bantam Chickens – the Smallest Chickens
Liked it
PR Mace
On March 21, 2010 at 10:52 am
Thank you for this article. I know so many people who do this and the poor animal dies later from lack of proper care. I hope you open some eyes with this one.
Darla Cooke
On March 21, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I don’t know anything about raising baby bunnies, but we have raised baby chicks and it’s not an easy thing to do.
Joanne Teh
On March 21, 2010 at 10:15 pm
GOOD GOOD GOOD article!! i Like tis!! Never treat any animal as a gift or what, they have life, should not be sell like a gift. I know children like animals and they will treat them good, but how long the time will their care be giving to the animals??? What will happen at the animal after the kid forget them, or maybe the kid meet a new pet?? Good article for people to think about it!
papaleng
On March 22, 2010 at 10:37 am
Another fine write. Thanks for the very nice info. But I may say, you’re more lucky than us because, chicks (colored ) are being sold rampantly in our places. At times, I fell bad because I have seen these helpless animals died in just a few days. The owners who usually are children don’t know what to feed them and the parents care not.
ronthoughts
On March 23, 2010 at 2:24 am
A very timely piece for Easter, a thoughtful awareness on this tradition!
Very true, as my dear friend Papaleng said, days old chicks (colored differently to attract children to buy) are sold in many places, market places, schools, and churches.
Again, a very thoughtful write!
Ruby Hawk
On March 24, 2010 at 8:50 pm
No young child should ever have a young chick. All they know to do is love the little thing to death. It’s a bug no no.
Lee Ness
On March 26, 2010 at 9:13 am
Bravo too. Very nice. I went through this phase with my children too. One eneded up going into 4-H club because she like animals soo much
Lee ness
CA Johnson
On March 30, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I have never had a bunny or a chicken, but this is a great article for people who have them or are thinking about getting them.
deep blue
On April 3, 2010 at 3:36 pm
I didn’t know that Easter could be a time for gift giving. Well I supposed that was the spirit since the savior gave his life for us.
Farmfresh
On April 25, 2010 at 10:36 pm
A good informative article!
If you are a person who knows someone that DID buy an Easter chick (or perhaps that person was you) there is some good information out there on how to PROPERLY care for your chicks. uBuilderPlans.com has a lot of information for beginners and an article specifically to help those Easter chicks. Check it out! http://www.ubuilderplans.com/node/28