Shoppers weigh in on animals as Easter gifts
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps may be all the rage for Easter gift baskets, but some West Tennesseans warn you may want to think twice before giving real chickens and bunnies as Easter gifts. Staff at R&J Feed Supply said they’ve sold hundreds of furballs this week. “A lot of people buy their grandkids or kids chickens for Easter,” Ginger Kemp said. Staff said while chickens, bunnies and ducks can make good gifts, they also require a commitment. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that,” Jordan Roland said. Roland said he actually gave his wife a duck one Easter and has raised them for the past five years. The real-life peeps aren’t the only Easter icons finding their way into gift baskets. Barbara Jeffers said she has promised her granddaughter a bunny for almost a year. She said she put off the purchase because she wanted to make sure her granddaughter was ready for the responsibility. Staff said rabbits, chickens and ducks can live up to ten years or more. “Some people, they don’t realize what they’re getting into when they come in, but we try to be sure and tell them that they’re going to get bigger,” Kemp said. Roland said ducks can be a handful. “They use the bathroom a lot,” he said. “They’ll fill up anything you got. They stink. It’s a lot of keeping up.” Ducks become full grown in about a month while chickens may take up to six months to reach their full size.
