Banding/IDing is an important part of owning any poultry/fowl. They are used for a number of things from gender ID, to pen ID, to parentage to ownership. If the bird(s) happen to get loose and become lost an ID band with yout info on it can help those who find them return them.
We use them for multiple things.
Zip ties are NEVER removed prior to shipping the birds so owners can visually ID the new birds upon arrival. The new owners can remove them if they want. Using a combination of ID measures ensures we can track and identify birds easily for both our own use and for new customers as well. When we post birds for sale, we like to post a picture of the bird showing the entire body and legs (with zip ties in place) and also list the number from their permanent band (leg or wing). That way when birds are selected the new owner knows right away how to ID the birds and is assured the bird they select is the bird they get.
You may each of your birds very well and their personalities, but a new owner wont. So if you tell them the gander is wearing X color and likes this food/treat, or is afraid of ___ they will easily transition them to their new home.
Using permanent bands helps keep very detailed breeding records for the future. This way you are able to read over your previous season notes, know how many of each gender was produced from each group. It helps when you retain birds for future breeding as well to ensure you are keeping lines separate and inbreeding to severely.
There is no one perfect way to ID birds, but through the use of various systems available, or a combination of them you should be able to put in place an easy way to keep accurate records you can refer back to for years to come.
You can download the file by clicking below to save to your own computer
We use them for multiple things.
- Left legs are banded (zip ties blue & pink) to visually ID gender quickly when large numbers are free ranging together. This make splitting back up into breeding sets much quicker.
- Right legs and or wings are banded with numbered and embossed (farm name and phone #) for accurate record keeping.
- Left legs are banded (zip ties, any color other than blue/pink) to ID birds for new owners. This way we can allow the birds to free range together prior to shipping, but easily pick out the birds who need to be boxed together for shipping. It also allows us to tell new owners that their birds have Numbers X,Y,Z and are wearing zip tie color ___.
Zip ties are NEVER removed prior to shipping the birds so owners can visually ID the new birds upon arrival. The new owners can remove them if they want. Using a combination of ID measures ensures we can track and identify birds easily for both our own use and for new customers as well. When we post birds for sale, we like to post a picture of the bird showing the entire body and legs (with zip ties in place) and also list the number from their permanent band (leg or wing). That way when birds are selected the new owner knows right away how to ID the birds and is assured the bird they select is the bird they get.
You may each of your birds very well and their personalities, but a new owner wont. So if you tell them the gander is wearing X color and likes this food/treat, or is afraid of ___ they will easily transition them to their new home.
Using permanent bands helps keep very detailed breeding records for the future. This way you are able to read over your previous season notes, know how many of each gender was produced from each group. It helps when you retain birds for future breeding as well to ensure you are keeping lines separate and inbreeding to severely.
There is no one perfect way to ID birds, but through the use of various systems available, or a combination of them you should be able to put in place an easy way to keep accurate records you can refer back to for years to come.
You can download the file by clicking below to save to your own computer
