Stroll into Tractor Supply and you’ll see tubs of chicks. So cute, aren’t they?

Please do not buy chicks for your kids’ Easter baskets, unless you plan to keep them, or you’ve lined up a good home in advance. Chicks are adorable for about one week (or less) and then they turn into teenage birds that only a chicken mother could love. At this point, they are messy, a little loud, and you may not know what they need for heat, light, bedding, vitamins, feed, etc.

The dyed chicks are the worst, in my opinion. Imagine taking a human baby, dunking it in purple dye, and sticking it in a basket as a decoration. No one would think of doing that to a human, so why a chicken? These are living, breathing animals that deserve our respect and care. Even if (or, especially if) you plan to eat your chickens, they should be treated with respect while they live.