Have you ever wanted to adopt a baby animal in the springtime...a bunny, a chick or maybe a duckling?

If your mom and dad are thinking about letting you adopt one of these cute little creatures, there are some important things your whole family should know before you do.  The one thing you should always remember before asking for a pet is that pets aren't all fun and games, there's a lot of responsibility that goes with a pet, including feeding, grooming, and cleaning up after them.  In addition, pets need love and attention, year after year after year, even after the novelty has worn off.

For more tips, read on: (chicks and ducklings come first, bunnies are at the bottom of the page.)

Here are some important tips to keep in mind if you adopt one of these animals.

• Avoid contact with poultry manure. Adults should clean cages frequently.
  
  
• Carefully and thoroughly wash hands with soap and warm water after handling anything in the chick’s environment.
  
  
• Do not nuzzle or kiss your chick.
  
  
• Keep live poultry outside, especially out of areas where food is prepared.
  
  
• Supervise children when handling poultry, and ensure they wash their hands after contact. Children under 5 years old and people with weakened immune systems should not handle poultry.

• When you are finding a place for them to live, remember young ducklings will swim a little but they prefer to spend most of their time in a warm dry place. The pen you select should be large enough so the ducklings and chicks will have room to grow.
  
  
• When it comes time to feed your chicks and ducklings, you should put a pan under the water dish as the ducklings will play in the water and get the bedding wet if there isn't a pan beneath it. A chick feeder will be a good source for the feed. The feed should be a commercial feed that supplies the right amount of energy, proteins, and vitamins.
  
  
• Baby chicks and ducklings will need heat for the first few weeks. A 100 or 150-watt bulb will provide enough heat for a few chicks or ducklings. It is a good idea to have two separate heat lamps in the pen in case one of the bulbs burns out in the night. You can raise the heat lamp in a few weeks as the birds get larger and require less heat.
  
  
• Baby chicks and ducklings need a hard surface to lay and walk on for the first week that they are born. You can switch to crushed corn cobs or pine wood shavings after that. The corn cobs or wood pine shavings will give an appropriate surface for the chicks and ducklings as well as soak up any water that they may have spilled.
  
  
• Finally, always handle your chicks or ducklings with care. Birds in general have hollow bones. Hollow bones are much lighter than regular bones and help birds fly, but they are also very fragile, meaning they break easily. Accordingly, you must never squeeze or hug your baby chicks and ducks.

• Bunnies can be kept outdoors, but you need to take some special precautions. As summer temperatures rise, the bunny's fur coat becomes a problem. The heat will make the bunny very warm.

• There needs to be enough shade and good ventilation to keep the bunny's hutch at a good temperature. Bunnies do not do well if it is too cold or too hot (below 40 degrees or above 85 degrees Fahrenheit). Be sure the hutch has a good water-tight roof. Wire floors are usually best but be sure the wire is smooth and check the bunny's feet once in a while for sores. It would also help to paint the hutch white to reflect some of the sun's rays. Be sure the hutch is in a place protected from dogs, cats and other bunny enemies.

• Bunnies normally consume twice as much water as feed. Water is the single most important nutrient to rabbits. On days that are very hot, a bunny may consume four times as much water as feed. You can buy balanced rabbit diets from a pet store.
  
  
• Handle bunnies with special care. Be sure to hold them snuggly and support their hind legs so they can't kick and injure themselves. Bunnies have small bones that will easily break, so never squeeze or hug them.

• Don't forget your pet will need veterinary care from time to time. Be sure to check the bunny's toenails and teeth periodically.

For more information on baby bunnies, and bunnies in general, check out these two sites:

• Newborn Bunny Facts
• Bunny FAQ