Hello,
My name is Melissa Bird. For a science project I wish to colour chickens, I've been told that to do this you either feed young chickens food coloured water or inject them while they're still eggs. I've seen pictures on the internet of coloured chickens but no one is willing to tell me how this happens, please help!
2006-07-04 13:17:57 · 11 answers · asked by Mel B 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
i would think it would just color their poop like food coloring does with us
2006-07-04 13:22:27 · answer #1 · answered by Britness 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That would depend on how the chicken digests the food. I think injecting into the egg would just cause the feotus to either die or suffer so I really wouldnt reccomend that, the dye is - after all - not going to stay in the system of the feotus - it would be rejected or just kill it.
Some birds, like flamingos, get coloured feathers from their diet - however that's due to the way they digest the food they eat - specific to their genetics. It's not automatically going to make a chicken blue by feeding it blue colouring.
The only real way to do it is to just dye the feathers - like you would for your hair. But again, you're just going to stress the poor bird and possibly cause the other hens to pick on it.
Pictures on the Internet can be very easily faked, I have a pic of my ginger cat looking like I've dyed him Pink, it's very believable but its faked.
Ask an authorised breeder - AND a vet before undergoing anything else you could get fined if you mistreat your lil chickies!
2006-07-04 20:23:17 · answer #2 · answered by Some Geek 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feeding colored food will not alter the color of the chicks.
You should not inject the eggs with anything as that does not work either.
Years ago you could buy colored chicks at easter time.
They use yellow chick and dip them in a food coloring base dye and let them dry.
2006-07-04 21:47:37 · answer #3 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is pretty easy to dye chicks (the normal way, by putting the dye on the outside :) ) while they still have their coat of down. How old were the chickens in the pictures you've seen?
2006-07-04 20:22:46 · answer #4 · answered by 876 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah ! !
colored chickens (chicks actually), great project ! !
i do believe you are correct when coloring chicks, you do inject the egg with food coloring....
on one side of each egg is an air pouch, and I think, that is where the injection is given...
I forget what they did you cover the injection hole...
colored chicks... I love It !!
2006-07-04 20:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by goraiders 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i was in high-school we did a exsperiment in science ( just like you) where we injected the eggs w/ dye and the chicks did come out the color we injected them with... it was harmless to them and a fun exsperiment for us .... we used food coloring and a little water and a thin needle so we did not break the eggs...i hope this helps you! e-me and let me know how things turns out........pls and have lots of fun!!!!!
2006-07-04 20:26:14 · answer #6 · answered by k walker 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Feeding them dye will not color them. If you must dye them use FOOD coloring on their down after they hatch. When I was a kid we used to buy colored chicks at Easter and they were dipped in dye after they hatched. Even their little feet would be colored.
2006-07-04 20:48:50 · answer #7 · answered by myste 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are questions in the "Bird" category so hilarious? I almost cried when I read THIS one!
I'd like a teal colored chicken, if you have any luck. To match my bathroom...
2006-07-04 20:41:19 · answer #8 · answered by brenopa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw it before.Hey, don't torture the chickens please.As i know, the coloured chicken will not live any longer.
2006-07-04 20:19:39 · answer #9 · answered by kitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your hopeless u hav to stab it in there mel u love it i saw ya mum on tha corner again i think u need to talk to her bout that
2006-07-05 00:31:34 · answer #10 · answered by nina.goodger 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋