Chicks feeding at a local farm store ready for adoption.
LOGAN – Chicks, ducklings and rabbits are adorable but they are bad Easter presents.
Dr. Jane Kelly, a Utah State University professor – who is also president of the Utah Veterinary Medical Association – said these animals are often returned or abandoned quickly when children lose interest. Families often don’t anticipate the time needed to care for them.
“Having an animal of any kind is a big commitment, a years-long commitment,” Dr. Kelly said. “Maybe people don’t realize that ducklings grow into ducks that can live 8-10 years, in some cases. Giving a duckling, unless you know that the recipient has that commitment for that time period, is not a great idea.”
She said biting and scratching can also be issues, especially in the uncomfortable grip of a young child.
“They’re very fragile and if you get just one duckling or one chick they’re flock animals and they can become lonely, and distressed,” she added. “And they’re also quite fragile so they can be inadvertently hurt by handling from small children even though, of course, they don’t mean to hurt the duckling or the chick or the baby bunny.”
Another caution from Dr. Kelly: don’t put these little animals close to your face.
“Yes, because of disease transmission in case they come in for a peck, we don’t want to be kissing our ducklings, chicks or bunnies, no matter how cute,” Dr. Kelly warned. “Even though we’re all tempted, particularly young children.”