I hate these leg bands - Page 2

J.Pryce :

I used different colored zip ties due to not being able to get leg bands & they work great.

Yep zip ties works too if you only have a few birds. If you have alot or have different lines out of one breed, then that would be a different matter unless you have all kinds of colors of zip ties.

You do make a good point EweSheep...I see the sense in that.  However, I hardly wear my wedding rings because my fingers swell up in the summer heat and shrink in the winter cold.  (My DH says I'm hunting for his replacement! ) I remember reading a survival book many years back, it said to remove all metal from your body (earings, rings, necklaces) when you are faced with the winter cold because it draws so much heat away from you to keep it warm.  So...that has retained in my brain.  It carried over to how I maintain my flock.

I cannot find different colored zip ties here - black and white are my choices - the guys at the "improvement stores" and mom/pop stores looked at me like I had lost my mind when I asked.


I just do not think I can toe punch   Our area is harsh, no grass and the green growth we get has some nasty thorns/barbs - so I worry about their punches getting torn or a burr stuck.  (high desert, not for the faint of heart)


The wing band, it does interest me.

Here is a link to the Cutler Supply leg band size chart.  I found it works for hens but roosters need to go bigger. 

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=page&id=5&zenid=ca1lbh7mgofsebg8e35bi02bq7

I have not had that much of a problem getting them on or off, but it does require somd finger strength.  The way I do mine is to put a generational color on one leg, like last year's hatch wear orange on their left leg, then I use different colors or color combinations on their right legs for individuals, say a blue on one and a yellow and blue on another.  I do not have a tremendous number of chickens so this system works for me.

I use them and never have problems with them falling off. Sounds like the size is too big.

Wouldn't a large metal band around the leg contribute to a cold foot/leg for those of us in bad winter areas?
I use colored zip ties.  I've lots of birds and they all look the same to most people.
I have 3 diffent color zips.
they go in combinations ie:
RB = Right Blue = "Pretty Boy"
LBO = Left Blue Orange
get it?

I got my different colored zip ties at Ace hardware. If you have an Ace where you are they could special order it for you if they don't stock them. I also used craft beads of different colors attached to the zip tie for ID of the birds, as I had only 8 different colors of ties to choose from & multiple colors of beads, all of my 30 chickens have their own ID

No, it never seems to bother them. If you had them out in the snow, it could bother them.

J.Pryce :

I used different colored zip ties due to not being able to get leg bands & they work great.

This seems to be a good idea, and much cheaper also. 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=375044