The multicolored chicks

The chicks have been artificially dyed by breeders who inject eggs with a chemical to produce the kaleidoscope of colours, which last for the first few weeks of the chick's life.

The process was originally devised by scientists to observe the movement of birds in the wild.

Now the technique, claimed to be harmless, is becoming increasingly popular in Asia and the Middle East, where the chicks catch the eye of potential buyers at markets.

The birds come in pink, yellow and orange as well as bright green, blue, purple or red.

But the trend, which is unheard of in Britiain so far, has been attacked by the RSPCA, which claims it turns living animals into novelty items.