Chick giveaway draws a flock, some squawks

The longest line in Roswell on Saturday morning wasn’t for brunch —- it was for chickens.

About 30 people waited at 8 a.m. for the “Chicken Stimulus Package” organized by “Chicken Outlaw” Andy Wordes.

Wordes, who was cited by the city for raising 13 chickens on his suburban land, wanted to support backyard agriculture by giving away 900 chicks the day before Easter.

The Humane Society of the United States opposes giving chicks to children on Easter —- many of the animals aren’t well cared for and die quickly —- and had criticized the giveaway and its timing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reminds parents this time of year that young birds often carry salmonella bacteria and that children are especially susceptible by touching a bird and putting a hand in their mouth.

Wordes said the chicks, donated by hatcheries, were intended to be pets and he wouldn’t give them to people who wouldn’t care for them. Volunteers set up information stands and examples of broods, coops and show chickens. Sandy Springs “Chicken Whisperer” radio host Andy Schneider was on hand to answer questions.

“If anyone here wants Easter chicks, they’re in the wrong place,” Wordes said.

When they finished around 1:30 p.m., they had given away 600 chicks to 130 people who donated to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Florida. The remaining 300 chicks will go to local feed stores that bought them with donations to the center. Families filled cardboard boxes and strawberry containers with up to four 3-day-old Silver Laced Wyandottes, New Hampshire Reds, White Leghorns and Americanas.

Tim Daust, 27, of Cumming, got an Easter chick as a child, but it died quickly. With some convincing from his girlfriend, Katie Condon, 24, “I’m looking forward to keeping these alive,” he said.

Roswell cited Erick Sepulveda, 48, for his rooster and two chickens March 30. He came to “join the fight” and add a few new chicks.

Stuart Barton, 42, and wife Amy, 33, saw the giveaway in the news and decided to support Wordes, surprise their three kids with new pets and add more eggs to their diet.

Sarah Hersey, 29, of Clarkston, her husband and four kids had long wanted to get chickens as pets. When they looked into it recently, they heard there was a shortage. The giveaway solved the problem, and the family left with two Americanas and a Barred Rock —- for the yard, she said.

For Easter baskets, she’s got chocolate bunnies.