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EASTER IMPULSE Before you buy a feathered friend for your Easter basket, do your homework Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 25, 2016 at 6:43 PM Updated Mar 25, 2016 at 6:47 PM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 25, 2016 at 6:43 PM Updated Mar 25, 2016 at 6:47 PM --> Research before you buy According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website, thousands of bunnies and farm animals are abandoned each year because o... » Read more X Research before you buy According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website, thousands of bunnies and farm animals are abandoned each year because of adoptions gone awry. Here are some tips to consider before purchase: Research animals — and even specific breeds — before adopting an animal as part of an Easter gift. Some chickens and ducks are heavy egg layers, while others are more ornamental. Baby birds require increased care before their feathers come in. Ducks require a water source to cool off during hot summers. When adopting baby bunnies, ensure children who will have access to the animals are old enough to be gentle with fragile bones and sharp nails. Research proper feed types to ensure good health and minimize veterinary care, which is more expensive than for more common cats and dogs.  With birds or bunnies, considering buying more than one to prevent loneliness. — Source: https://www.aspca.org/ » Social News Wandering past the galvanized steel tubs at the Central Point Grange Co-Op on Friday, Medford 6-year-old Rylie Burlison couldn't help but sneak a look at the dozens of tiny, week-old chicks and ducklings peeping under the warming lamps. Grinning from ear-to-year, Rylie cradled a fuzzy black Cayuga duck in her own tiny hands. "They're really, really cute!" Rylie told her mom, Ashley Burlison. As they do every year, chicks and baby bunnies have arrived at Rogue Valley feed stores and on Craigslist ads just in time for Easter presents. They can be enjoyable as pets as long as families do their homework on the responsibilities that come with them, animal advocates say. Too often, chickens and bunnies are given away or improperly cared for after the novelty of the Easter basket wears off, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Chickens and rabbits can live a decade or longer and sometimes require more involved care than dogs or cats. Ashley Burlison said she's well aware of the work involved and that she and Rylie would stick with two cats and a dog, for now. "We had ducks when we were growing up. We raised ducks and turkeys at one point when we were probably 10 or 12 years old," she said. "Her aunt has a farm and she's been out there and seen all the work that it takes. She's seen and she knows it's a lot. . . . but yeah, they are really, really cute!" Kathy Thomas, assistant store manager at the Central Point Grange Co-op, answered questions for customers and helped tend to the new baby birds, hatched just last week. She said education about adopting chicks at Easter seems to have resulted in fewer unwise, impulse purchases in recent years. Thomas said care for baby birds, while a daily commitment, isn't difficult or expensive. A basic pen — galvanized steel and plastic tubs work equally well — heat lamps and quality feed and grit are all that are required to take baby birds home. "These guys have to be under warming lights and in a safe place until they're completely feathered and can go outside in a coop," she said of the chicks. "And they have to be in a secure place and be able to go inside at night because of predators. Even raccoons can reach through the pen, so you have to put a lot of thought into how to keep them safe once they're outside." The upside of chickens and ducks, she noted, is companionship and fresh eggs. As far as bunnies, the same rules apply: Plan for a fully grown animal, said Eagle Point resident Christina Allen. Bunnies require a hutch with bedding or shavings, quality feed and fresh produce. Offering a variety of grown bunnies on Craigslist this week, Allen said the animals are enjoyable but a lot of work without the promise of fresh eggs. Allen invested in a trio of bunnies last year, and now she and her 10-year-old daughter care for more than 20 as part of a 4-H group. "We first got them thinking they were cute and then got into showing them and ended up with more and more," Allen said. "For someone who just wants a pet for a little while, once you get them they're hard to get rid of. Everyone wants the babies but you can't give an adult rabbit away." Currently encouraged by plans to reduce her herd of bunnies to seven or eight rabbits, Allen touts the critters as affordable and enjoyable. "Rabbits are really hardy as long as they have a roof and ventilation and they're not expensive to take care of. They just require a time commitment," she said. "You have to feed and water them every day and depending on which breeds you get, some require more upkeep than others. Our Lionheads, they have wool, have to be brushed regularly," she noted. "Basically, there is care involved just like with a kitten or puppy. And just like with a kitten or puppy, they're cute when you get them but they do grow up!" Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 25, 2016 at 6:43 PM Updated Mar 25, 2016 at 6:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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