I haven't looked into whether this happens in other countries, but in Turkey, when kids ask for a cat or a dog, parents will often buy them a baby chick from a local market instead. Sadly, within a week or so, once the child loses interest, the chick is often gotten rid of somehow by the parents.
I heard they do it in Spain, too. Around Easter in particular. Sometimes the chicks are even painted.
Selling painted chicks is prohibited in the EU since several decades ago.