Has anyone seen this? I'm curious to know the reactions/thoughts of experienced chicken keepers. Pair-housed hens in cages are obviously not the same as flocks in coops and runs or free-ranging. I'm not trying to stir up trouble; I'm genuinely curious. I was planning to put leg bands on my chicks to more easily tell them apart, and I had put bands (zip ties) on some of my previous flock when they were adults and I didn't notice any problems. I found this interesting and a bit surprising. (This study also used metal leg bands.)
https://academic.oup.com/ps/article/87/6/1052/1588223
Some highlights:
"Although leg banding is a less invasive marking method than wing banding or tagging systems, here we have shown that they have the greatest effect on the physiology of the bird. Our findings also illustrate the welfare concerns with the use of wing and leg banding systems in pair-housed hens because they increase the stress of the bird. Livestock marker and neck tags provide a more well-being-friendly alternative for hens tested in pair-caged systems. "
"Feather pecking tended to increase in wing-banded birds compared with control birds (21 ± 3.6 compared with 13 ± 3.8 feather pecks per bird per hour; P < 0.10; n = 10). No difference in feather pecking was detected in birds bearing leg bands, markers, or tags (P > 0.10)."
"Initial BW, taken before treatments were applied, were not different between treatment groups (P > 0.10). However, leg-banded birds were significantly lighter at the final BW compared with the C birds (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 1)."
"Leg-banded birds had shanks that were significantly more asymmetric than the control birds (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 2), whereas wing-banded birds tended to be more asymmetric (P < 0.10). No difference in FA was detected in birds bearing Swiftack tags or livestock markers (P > 0.10)."
"Similarly, asymmetry of shank development has been shown to result from elevated stress during development."
"Leg-banded birds had reduced BW and percentage of heterophils, along with increased asymmetry in the shank. These data may be suggestive of an increase stimulation of the sympathetic-medullary-adrenal axis and subsequent suppression of immunocompetence."
"Proportion of heterophils were significantly reduced in leg-banded chickens compared with controls in a while blood cell differentiation count (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 3). No difference in heterophil count was noted in the birds with wing bands, tags, or livestock markers (P > 0.10). There was also no difference in percentage of lymphocytes found in any of the marking treatments used in this study (P > 0.10)."
https://academic.oup.com/ps/article/87/6/1052/1588223
Some highlights:
"Although leg banding is a less invasive marking method than wing banding or tagging systems, here we have shown that they have the greatest effect on the physiology of the bird. Our findings also illustrate the welfare concerns with the use of wing and leg banding systems in pair-housed hens because they increase the stress of the bird. Livestock marker and neck tags provide a more well-being-friendly alternative for hens tested in pair-caged systems. "
"Feather pecking tended to increase in wing-banded birds compared with control birds (21 ± 3.6 compared with 13 ± 3.8 feather pecks per bird per hour; P < 0.10; n = 10). No difference in feather pecking was detected in birds bearing leg bands, markers, or tags (P > 0.10)."
"Initial BW, taken before treatments were applied, were not different between treatment groups (P > 0.10). However, leg-banded birds were significantly lighter at the final BW compared with the C birds (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 1)."
"Leg-banded birds had shanks that were significantly more asymmetric than the control birds (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 2), whereas wing-banded birds tended to be more asymmetric (P < 0.10). No difference in FA was detected in birds bearing Swiftack tags or livestock markers (P > 0.10)."
"Similarly, asymmetry of shank development has been shown to result from elevated stress during development."
"Leg-banded birds had reduced BW and percentage of heterophils, along with increased asymmetry in the shank. These data may be suggestive of an increase stimulation of the sympathetic-medullary-adrenal axis and subsequent suppression of immunocompetence."
"Proportion of heterophils were significantly reduced in leg-banded chickens compared with controls in a while blood cell differentiation count (P < 0.05; n = 10; Figure 3). No difference in heterophil count was noted in the birds with wing bands, tags, or livestock markers (P > 0.10). There was also no difference in percentage of lymphocytes found in any of the marking treatments used in this study (P > 0.10)."
