EASTER PETS NOT GOOD IDEA!

With Easter right around the corner, pet stores are stocking up on bunnies, ducks, and chicks.
Many parents are tempted to buy these adorable critters as children's Easter gifts. This is NOT
a good idea. People don't always realize that these cute, cuddly baby animals grow up into large, not so cute and cuddly adults. Little bunnies grow into 10 lb rabbits. Downy chicks and ducklings sprout "ugly" feathers.

Rabbits, chicks, and ducks are not "low-maintenance" pets. They require constant temperatures, special housing, excellent nutrition, and daily care. The responsibility of caring for them is far too great for a child or busy adult.

Cute little ducks and chicks can pose health risks. Ducks and chickens can be carriers of salmonellosis - an intestinal disease that can be transferred to humans. Salmonellosis is especially dangerous in children and people with weakened immune systems (such the elderly).

Baby animals are very fragile.

They can be accidentally killed or permanently injured if handled too roughly. This is a very common cause of death in Easter pets.

These animals require a long commitment. The average life span of a rabbit is 5-10 years, and 12+ is not uncommon. The average backyard chicken lives between 7-8 years. Ducks can live up to 15 years.

Most chicks, ducks, and bunnies given as Easter gifts die within a few weeks of the holiday.


BUNNIES & RABBITS
- Rabbits require as much work as a dog or cat and can live 10-15 years.

- They do NOT make good pets for children (they can inflict painful bites and scratches). Due to fragile bones and backs, they must also be picked up and supported in a specific way that is difficult for children.

- Rabbits must be provided with large quantities of timothy hay and vegetables (mostly dark leafy greens), and limited quantities of commercial rabbit pellets.

- They also eat their own feces (called 'cecal pellets') in order to extract all of the necessary
nutrients from their high-fiber, hard-to-digest diet.

- Rabbits should be kept indoors if possible. Outdoor housing is not recommended because outdoor conditions can be very dangerous to a rabbit's health due to outdoor predators, weather extremes, boredom, loneliness, and depression.

- Cages with solid flooring are always preferred to those with wire mesh floors, due to the fact that the wire is hard on rabbits' feet and nails. If a wire mesh bottomed cage is used, it is necessary to provide a solid place for the rabbit to rest on (such as a grass mat).

- Cages should have enough room to allow the rabbit to lay down across the width of the cage,
to sit up on its hind legs without its ears touching the top of the cage, and to lay on the floor
outside of its hiding place. Most pet stores stock only cages of an appropriate size for very small
rabbits. Larger breeds require multi-floor cages, such as those designed for ferrets or chinchillas.

- Cages should have: a place to hide, a food dish, a litter box, a water bottle, toys, and a hay
box.

- Rabbits need at least 4 hrs a day outside of their cages for exercise.

- Rabbits must be spayed or neutered or they will mark your house with feces and urine.

- According to the House Rabbit Society, rabbits "are suffering the same fate as our other
companion animals -- abandonment. It's a sad fact that no matter where you live, you are
within 10 miles of a rabbit who needs a home".


DUCKLINGS & DUCKS
- Without the protective oils produced by their mother, a duckling's down soaks up water like a sponge. They will tire quickly and drown if left unattended by water.

- A duckling is a fully grown duck in about 30 days.

- Ducks are not suitable pets for children. They can pinch and peck aggressively if provoked.

- Contrary to popular belief, bread and crackers are not a good staple food for ducks. They need
a well balanced, varied diet, from pelleted mash, vegetable trimmings, algae, plants, snails,
meal worms, night crawlers, coy food, feeder goldfish, and grass.

- Ducks require a constant supply of fresh, clean water for drinking, swimming, eating, and
cleaning themselves.

- Ducks do not have the physical anatomy required (a sphincter muscle) to be potty trained.
They are very messy.

- Domestic ducks will NOT survive in the wild. Unlike their wild duck cousins, domestic ducks
cannot fly to safety when predators attack. They cannot migrate to food when existing food
sources disappear in the winter. Without human intervention, they often starve to death or are
euthanized by animal control workers.

- Even in the city, predators are a major threat. Dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, cats, rats, and snakes are all possible predators.

- Pet ducks should never be caged once they are full grown. If you can't allow your duck to roam your entire yard, give them an area of their own that is clean, safe from predators, and accessible for daily maintenance and feeding. They also require some sort of shelter (a dog kennel, etc.) from the elements. Wire bottom cages are NOT suitable as they can cause severe foot injuries.


CHICKS & CHICKENS
- The largest, most experienced chicken hatcheries only guarantee about 90% sexing accuracy - that means you might end up with a constantly crowing, nasty tempered rooster!

- Roosters, and even some hens, can become very aggressive.

- Keeping chickens is illegal in some cities.

- Chickens can make a great deal of noise, especially after laying eggs.

- Chickens need to be outdoors at least part of the day. They love to scratch in dirt, take dust
baths, eat tender new shoots (remember that some house plants can be poisonous), and lay
sprawled out in the sun.

- Chicken houses need perches at varying levels and a laying box.

- Even in the city, predators are a major threat. Dogs, coyotes, raccoons, and opossums can be
devastating. Young chicks can be killed by cats, rats, and snakes.


NO LIVE GIFTS FOR EASTER
Spread the word that live animals do not make good gifts for Easter. Instead of live animals, give children (and adults) critter shaped chocolate and marshmallow treats. Stuffed animals are also great gifts for animal lovers.

Have a safe and happy Easter,
Tut