Why Dyed Easter Chicks Aren’t Healthy

Dyeing chicks for Easter became very popular in the 1960s and 1970s, but it’s a practice that is believed to have been around since the 1880s. Chicks can be dyed in various bright colors like blue, green, and purple for the entertainment of children and in the name of being “festive.” Sometimes, you may even see these colorful chicks at a carnival or fair as a prize given for winning games.

But the practice of dyeing chicks is not healthy for baby chicks and should not be performed at any time. Today, dyed chicks are less popular since the practice has become illegal in many countries and states within the U.S.

Why Do People Dye Chicks?

It’s believed the tradition of dyeing Easter eggs inspired the practice of dyeing chicks. Chicks and eggs symbolize new life and are commonly associated with Easter.

The bright and vivid colors of the dyed chicks can be eye-catching to children, who may mistake a colored chick for a toy. Often, children will beg for a brightly colored chick, which can cause people to buy them impulsively without having the proper supplies or knowledge to take care of them. After all, chicks quickly grow up into adult chickens, which require specific care, including a chicken coop and other chicken supplies.

Many chicks will end up abandoned once they molt and lose their bright feathers, which overloads shelters and even causes chickens to struggle to survive independently. 

Chicks, whether dyed or non-dyed, can also spread salmonella. Many children and immunocompromised individuals will become infected after handling. The CDC recommends not allowing children under 5 years old to touch chicks and other poultry. 

How Are Chicks Dyed?

In general, their are two ways chicks are dyed:

1. Injecting dye into the egg: The process of injecting dye into an egg is invasive and dangerous. Around the 16–18 days of incubation, the egg is punctured and dye is injected. Typically, wax is used to seal the hole created, and the egg is then placed back into the incubator.

2. Spraying the chick with dye: After the chick is born, a colored dye may be sprayed onto the chicks. Dyes are not regulated, so the contents used to dye the chicks are often unknown and may contain toxins. 

Is Dyeing Chicks Illegal?

Dyeing chicks is illegal in many countries and in most of the United States. Unfortunately, dyed chicks are sold in the illegal pet trade, imported from countries where the practice is still legal.

The laws set to protect chicks from being dyed vary from state to state, as does the punishment. Three states consider the dyeing of, sale, exchange, and possession a misdemeanor. In New York, breaking their law around dyed chicks is punishable with up to one year in prison. These laws are put in place not only to help reduce animal cruelty and abandonment but also to protect the public’s health from illness outbreaks spread by mass-produced chicks.

Forty-five states in the U.S., plus the District of Colombia, have laws to protect chicks from being dyed, whether at a state or county level.

How Dyeing Chicks Affects Their Health

Dyeing chicks can cause harm to a chick's health based on the method used to dye them. These health problems can have long-term effects that can shorten the chick's lifespan.

Since the dye used is not regulated, it can contain substances that can be toxic to the chick and even humans. If you have a chick/chicken that has been dyed, you should never consume eggs or meat from them.

Injecting eggs with dye is dangerous because the protective shell is compromised by creating the opening. Bacteria can enter through the hole in the egg, infecting the embryo. Studies have shown that up to 53% of embryos can die within five days of being infected by bacteria. Chicks that do hatch typically die very quickly.

Many times, while injecting the dye, the embryo itself can be injured. If the embryo is injured, it may not survive and hatch. Injured embryos may also be born with deformities that can make it so the chick cannot get out of the egg on their own and lead to death.

Spraying chicks with dye can lead to various health issues, but it is also highly stressful to the chick. Stress can weaken the immune system and make the chick more susceptible to illness. The spray can get in the chick's nose, eyes, and mouth and cause eye problems and even respiratory issues. Sometimes, the dye may harden on the chick, which can interfere with feather growth. 

Dyed chicks are also often exposed to poor husbandry due to being mostly purchased impulsively; this can cause the chick to suffer from various diseases that may not even be due to the dye. It is essential to ALWAYS do research before purchasing a pet, both for the animal's safety and for you as an individual.