Stop Hatching Chicks at the Alabama National Fair

We who sign this petition would like to request that Auburn University stop the display of hatching chicks at the Alabama National Fair each year. It is inhumane, and the defects that chicks suffer after hatching do not need to be seen by the public, especially young children.

Many adults, along with even more children, walked past and saw the two chicks as they suffered. Parents hurried their children away, and there was much talk of that they would not bring them back to this area again in following years.

We express our concern for the welfare of the chicks, and suggest some of the following options to substitute for the exhibit, so that the cover-up of the chicks' death could ultimately be prevented and this would be a kind event for both the chicks and the public:

*Such as one of your other exhibits played a video of the birth of kittens, you could show a video of baby chicks hatching from their shells.

*Hand out colorful leaflets with the process of how a chick embryo grows, up until the time it hatches.

*Continue to set up an exhibit on chickens, filled with videos, pictures, and people that will stay there full time to discuss your program and the hatching process.

We thank you for your consideration and hope that you will apply our suggestions for upcoming years.