Animal Activists Fight Against Dyed Easter Chicks

Who doesn't want a colorful Easter egg on Easter Sunday? The real problem, says The New York Times, are the colorful Easter chicks that abound on the holiday, making animal activists red with fury.

The New York Times reports that hatcheries across the country will sell colorful Easter chicks, despite it being illegal in 45 states. Why the ban? In order to give the chicks a colorful hue, the incubated eggs are injected with dye or sprayed while in the hatchling. Although dyeing animals is illegal in most states, but Florida is mulling a bill that would overturn the current law — which could up dyed Easter chicks' popularity.

Most farmers and hatcheries claim the process is safe if the dyes are nontoxic, but the process has gone underground in order to appease animal activists. Avoid the dyed animals and just stick to the dyed Easter eggs for your festivities — and turn the leftover hard-boiled eggs into a delicious recipe.