Adding bracelets to legs

[Kaitlynd12]

Hello! Just curious as to how old a chicken should be before I add ankle bracelets for identification? My concern is adding the bracelets and then the chickens leg getting larger. TIA!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I haven't used bracelets before but the ones I have seen in the store are leg bands. The leg bands are a spiral. I think they can still come off is snagged and I don't know if they expand as the leg grows.

 

[black_cat]

One that I've seen that I'd probably use is zip ties. You don't have to worry about sizing as they are adjustable, and they can be cut of easily.

 

[RainbowHen]

One that I've seen that I'd probably use is zip ties. You don't have to worry about sizing as they are adjustable, and they can be cut of easily.

Please note that zip ties only tighten, they don't come loose. You have to be very careful as it doesn't take much pressure at all to tighten them and they can then constrict the leg.

 

[black_cat]

Please note that zip ties only tighten, they don't come loose. You have to be very careful as it doesn't take much pressure at all to tighten them and they can then constrict the leg.

Yep! You do have to make sure to keep an eye on them. Also make sure to cut the tail as close to the little box thingie as possible, so they can't accidentally tighten it by pulling on it.

 

[CluckerFamily]

If you settle on the zip ties, make sure you check them daily. I have seen some nasty pictures of zip tie problems with legs. Also, some people recommend not using the red ones since they will peck them more.
Do you have chickens that you can't tell apart?

 

[black_cat]

In smaller flocks you probably don't need leg bands at all, especially if you can tell them all apart. In larger flocks people use them more often, usually to differentiate ages/hatches of chicks. @aart knows a lot about zip tie leg banding.

 

[333113]

The other BIG problem with any bands is that gunk can build up on them, kind of like mud toe. One of my ducks was hanging out in the corner of her cage, not getting up when I brought food and water, as she normally would. When I picked her up, I discovered that she had developed the equivalent of a ball and chain around the cute purple zip tie her first owner put on her.

Maybe a piece of straw worked up into the loop and started gathering mud.

When it was cut off and I put her on the ground, she immediately flapped her wings and went for the water and food. She has been fine, ever since.

I have occasionally had similar problems with spiral ties, which come in two types, flat with a number, and just a spiral color band. I only use them at shows where I am required to have a leg band. Then, before I take them home, I take off the band. As black_cat said, above, with a small flock, you know who your birds are.

 

[aart]

I can see where leg bands on ducks and their inevitable mucking about could be problem.

I have a small flock, under 20 over winter, and still band birds for IDing.
Many of my birds look alike and after they grow up it's pretty hard for me to tell them apart.
I alternate leg side for year hatched and use colors for further delineation,
and keep a running roster with notes on individual birds.

In 7 years I have never had a ziptie tighten on it's own.
Yes, you need to clip off the ziptail close to the lock.
Yes, you have to check them regularly as the birds grows, like with any band, and even after.
It takes a bit of practice to size them for less frequent changes due to leg growth.

Red bands are not problem.
If the color red sparked cannibalism, chickens would eat all their brethren's combs and wattles.

Here's how I do ziptie leg bands:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

Just curious as to how old a chicken should be before I add ankle bracelets for identification?

I put them on right out of the incubator to keep various special crosses ID'd.

 

[333113]

I do use red bands at shows. There is an interesting bit of research that came out some years ago saying that teams with red color uniforms tended to be judged as "winning" more often.
https://www.samford.edu/sports-analytics/fans/2017/Wear-Red-and-Youll-Win-Gold