Live chick event at the Overgate sparks petition

Whatdo youthink?

AN online petition calling on Dundee’s Overgate to reconsider using live chicks has picked up more than 320 signatures.

Steven Wilson, the creator of the petition, said he started the campaign with the animals’ welfare i n mind.

We s t E n d resident Steven, 22, said: “It’s not acceptable to use live animals to educate when there are more ethical solutions.”

The Duncan of Jordanstone student said plastic 3D models showing chick development and virtual incubators were more considerate ways of helping people to learn about chicks.

He added: “I want the Overgate to recognise that this event should not go ahead. It is not something that has been t hought through properly. While it is great they want to educate children, they are going about it the wrong way.

“There are other means and tools which educate.”

Living Eggs Scotland, the firm bringing the event to the shopping centre, says chicks are rehomed at free range farms after being hatched.

However, Steven said the treatment of the chicks was “inhumane”, adding:“While I agree free-range farms are better than factory farms, I believe the Overgate has a responsibility to these animals to place them at hen sanctuaries where they’ll live a long fulfilling life.”

A statement from the Overgate said: “The eggs come from a governmentaccredited hatchery, which means they would normally be bought by large-scale producers and chicks would be reared indoors in large sheds.

“Chicks hatched in an incubator do not need the parent bird and are perfectly happy as long as they have other chicks for company and we always make sure this is the case.”