Along with rabbits, sometimes live chicks are considered as a gift for Easter time. Some pet retailers have even capitalized on this interest by selling dyed chicks at Easter, a practice squarely aimed at children and their parents. Now, I have nothing against chickens, but do people who buy these chicks realize they don't stay cute fuzzy chicks for long? Anyway, many states have instituted regulations aimed at restricting the sales of chicks as pets, including states that ban the sales of dyed chicks. The Centers for Disease Control issued a warning (Morbity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 20, 2007) about obtaining or handling baby chicks for Easter. In this report, three Salmonella outbreaks associated with chicks were documented from 2006, and some of the hatcheries implicated in these outbreaks were associated with multiple outbreaks in past years. Many people are simply not aware of the risks of contracting Salmonella from chicks or other poultry such as ducklings. The CDC recommends that children less than five years of age not be allowed to handle chicks or other baby poultry, and that strict hygiene be followed by anyone handling these animals (thorough handwashing, not handling the chicks while eating or near food preparation areas, and throrough disinfection of all surfaces with which chicks may have come into contact). Good advice for anyone considering getting a chick (colorful or not) or anyone who gets a chance to handle chicks on display in other settings such as schools.