People who plan to give animals to children for Easter should consider the potential danger the animals pose to children.  The cute, cuddly looking creature could have disease carrying bacteria and or have aggressive behavior attacking anyone who attempts to touch it, warns Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin.
 
“Chickens and ducks generally do not make good pets for children, especially considering a child’s susceptibility to germs,” says Commissioner Irvin.  The birds often carry harmful Salmonella bacteria, and each spring some children become sick after receiving an Easter chick or duckling.
 
Expecting the chick or duckling to double as an Easter present and an egg-laying yard bird when it grows up can be a disappointment for both the adult and the child.  Chicks and ducklings often die at a young age or display aggressive temperaments as they mature.  Then, there is the possibility that rather than laying eggs, the chick turns out to be a rooster whose crowing and habits may not fit into the neighborhood or the local zoning laws and regulations.
 
Rabbits require special veterinary and owner care.  They are not low-care animals.  Also, they feel frightened when they are picked up and may kick, struggle, scratch or bite.  Sudden movements or loud noises also may incite biting or fleeing.
 
“Because of disease-tracking regulations, all of the chicks being sold in Georgia must have records kept by the dealer, so owners can be found in the case of a disease outbreak,” Commissioner Irvin says.  “Most of the baby chicks sold to the public come from hatcheries outside the state.  We have to keep a close watch on any diseases that may harm people or pose a threat to our poultry industry.”
 
Irvin also points out that the “Easter disappointments” often wind up at local animal shelters or with rescue groups who must deal with the heartbreak and cost of caring for, finding homes for, and sometimes having to euthanize the animals.