Banding baby chicks...When???

[tail_feather]

About to have baby chicks to hatch. I have never banded my chicks. Can someone tell me when I need to band them? Thank you!!

 

[tail_feather]

I know this seems rather stupid, but If anyone has any info on banding, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

 

[addicted2chicks]

I have never banded chicks but I know domestic bird breeders band their babies as soon as they can so that their legs don't get too big to fit the band. I would guess within the first couple of days you could band them. But that isn't from experience, just my opinion.

 

[needtohatch]

I have not yet done this, but will need to as I am going to want to tell mine apart by age when they are older. So I would love to get a good answer also.

 

[tail_feather]

I think it is a good idea. Definately for the age issue. If anyone out there has knowledge and would like to share pls do! Thanks again!

 

[farrier!]

me too!!!! waiting for answer

 

[TaLani]

SundownWaterfowl uses Velcro and cuts them into small strips. That way they are easily repositioned, washable, you can use several colors to distinguish between breeds &/or sexes and can be adjusted to grow with the chick. Hope that helps you a little.

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

are you just looking at banding for age. or for knowing who it's parents are???
just curious.....

I have never banded any of our birds before. but I would assume you can band at a couple days old(so legs are strong enough to hold that little bit extra weight...I know they are very light, but I would think it'd be like a lead weight for a baby chick)...You will probably have to have different sizes for the birds as they grow too....
I am sure different breeds have different sized legs too and may grow at different rates...



on a side note...do they make bands small enough for day old chicks???
Or was that one of your main questions when asking...lol (I get confused easily at times....

)

 

[tail_feather]

I personally have BBS Orps in one bator to hatch the 12th and all black Orps in another bator to hatch on the 13th. I am wanting to keep the all blacks "marked" in some way. For breeding purposes next year. The velcrow is a good idea!!! It is not heavy. Does anyone know if they have bands that are "snap on" for when the chicks become adults??? I would like to keep record of age and parents when I begin to breed.

 

[needtohatch]

I just need to be able to tell last yrs hens apart from this yrs. We have them for eggs and meat and replace our roos each yr so don't worry about breeding.