Banding Ducklings

[Kerath]

I have an incubator full that is about to go into lockdown tomorrow. For various reasons, I'd like to keep track of who is who from day one. Do you guys have any suggestions for marking or banding ducklings so I can keep them straight?

 

[duck&chickencrazy]

colored twisty ties?
yarn?
mini zip ties?
colored string?

 

[DuckLover179]

duck&chickencrazy gave you a lot of great ideas. Another is by painting their toenails different colors. Zip ties are one of the most common bands.

 

[Quacking]

I just use zip ties on mine Kerath. I do have to swap them over about three times as they grow. They come in so many different colours and using them on just one or each foot rather than just left or right can give you so many different colour combinations.

 

[dumb_cluck]

DON'T use anything that they can chew on! Especially string, yarn, etc. They will get the fibers caught around their tongue.

 

[Kerath]

That was my fear in using something like yarn or string.
Where do you find the tiny zip ties? Hardware store?

 

[dumb_cluck]

Any hardware store should have them, unfortunately, they don't come in a pile of colors. You may need to "paint" them.

If you do colorize, make sure the paint is water proof! (and non-toxic)

I've seen some multi-colored bands for sale at the chicken-duck internet sites..........they are not cheap.

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
i get my cable/zip ties online at SecureCableTies.com they have 13 colors in the little 4" ties.You can't beat the prices or customer service either!

 

[TLWR]

Check out staples or office depot or the like for colored zip ties if you can find them at a HD or Lowe's type place. I have seen small ones at HD/Lowe's though.