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4/10/2009 3:34 AM

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Whoever first thought that baby chicks, ducks or rabbits would make a great gift for children at Easter should have reconsidered. It's probably a bad idea for the animals, especially the fowl, and you should be aware that rabbits will require you to invest years in their care and feeding.

The National Center for Infectious Diseases says chicks and ducklings can even be a danger to their little owners. Young birds often carry salmonella, and children can be exposed by simply holding, cuddling or kissing the birds.

Because there is an increase in demand at Easter, chicks are often specially hatched in large quantities and shipped around the country. The process increases the stress on the birds, making them more prone to disease.

The birds themselves don't fare very well either. The American Humane Association reports that the majority of baby chicks given as Easter gifts suffer and die from lack of proper care within a few weeks. The adults who buy them don't realize the special feeding, care and handling the birds need.

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Small children also tend to squeeze and cuddle them, resulting in broken bones and internal injuries. Many chicks are killed or injured by family dogs or cats. Anyway, chickens are farm animals and are not intended to be household pets.

As for rabbits, prospective owners should first familiarize themselves with the animals' needs and realize that they have a life expectancy of between 8 and 12 years. Your child may be grown and off to college before that pet rabbit finally dies a natural death.

Sadly, the novelty of the cute Easter pet can wear off in a few weeks or months, and people often believe it can be released into the wild to fend for itself. But there's no way any animal raised in a domestic environment can survive on its own. Your beagle couldn't do it either. It will most likely become prey for a larger animal or die a slow death from starvation or disease.

It's one thing if you want to keep and care for a rabbit as a pet for many years, but if it's just an Easter novelty, don't do it.

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