In Florida, for instance, you can’t dye any type of fowl, no matter its age. [2] X Research source
If you have a food dye that’s stronger than a 2-3% solution, dilute it with a little water. You can use any color you want, but red, green, and blue typically show up the best.
After about 14 days, the chicks are taking up most of the room inside of the egg, so the color might not spread out over the whole bird.
If you see a blood ring, or a red circle inside the shell, the embryo might have died, and you should also dispose of the egg.
Use a 20-gauge hypodermic needle to inject the dye into the egg. In most states, you can purchase these needles at your local pharmacy without a prescription. Allow the egg and needle to dry. If you’ll be dyeing multiple eggs, sterilize the needle after each injection.
Do not insert the needle into the shell more than you need to in order to make the hole. This will be the same needle used to inject the dye.
If you go too fast, the dye might overflow and come back out of the hole, or it could even cause the shell to crack.
If you don’t have paraffin on hand, cover the hole with fast-drying cement or even a small piece of fabric from an adhesive bandage.
The dye lasts for 2-4 weeks, which is how long it takes for the chicks to start growing their adult feathers. [11] X Research source
Even non-toxic hair dyes may be harmful if your chicken ingests them while it’s grooming itself, so it’s safer to stick to food coloring.
Avoid getting dye on the chicken’s face, since it might panic or choke if you pour water over its head when it’s time to rinse. Don’t massage the feathers too roughly, and don’t brush the feathers backward. Either of these techniques could damage the chicken’s feathers. You may need to have someone else hold the chicken for you as you apply the color.
This will help keep the chicken from getting a chill. The color should last for several weeks.
