Banding question

[angelbabyamy]

My chicks are due to hatch on Saturday. I have FBCM eggs from different lines. I would like to band them with different colors so that I know which chicks are from what line. I have them on different shelves and plan to keep them in separate totes until they get a little bigger. How old are they when you can band them and what sizes, types of bands, etc should I use?

 

[jvls1942]

You can band them quite young.. HOWEVER keep in mind that the leg will become fatter and the band will become tight.
You will have to remove it and re-band them..

I thought that hose plastic rings would expand with the chickens growth.. I was way wrong.. I almost crippled a turkey..

Now I use those electrical zip-ties.. just adjust it to where it does not slide over the foot and cut the excess length off ..

 

[gumbii]

there's always toe punching and wing banding...

 

[txhomegrown]

First, you build a fire.
Then you take a really tiny branding iron...........

 

[gumbii]

LOL...


i want to toe punch, but i've never seen it done, or know anyone that does it to teach me... i don't want to struggle with pull ties, or forget to take one off one day... that would suck for the chick...

 

[HathawayHens]

Quote:

 

[chicknfishn]

I learned this from another BYC friend.

Buy the Vet Wrap in different colors. This is the stretchy fabric wrap that is used on horses etc.
Cut it in 1" long strips and place it on the chicks leg. Make sure that it goes around completely more than once and overlaps, press down on it so that it sticks to itself.
It will grow a bit with the chick and you do not need to watch this as closely as you do with the small chick bands or the zip ties.

Every so often check it for fit, and you can even put your fingers under it and pull to stretch it or put on a new larger size. Very inexpensive.

This way you can have several different lines all in the same brooder. If you are afraid that it will come off then put it on both legs.

 

[jvls1942]

I was not aware that chickens did not struggle when putting other types of bands on.. I think I will try some of that horse wrap.. It doesnt seem to be mush of a bother to monitor my 200 assorted fowl, and catch each one to check how tight the banding is.. how do you toe punch a chicken? could someone post how ?

 

[Christine21656]

I just tried it on one chick... and used masking tape

I folded it over on itself first, then taped it to itself, if that makes sense. You could write on it. I tried writing on a little piece of paper, then taping that on with clear tape, but I think they are too little for that, still. I couldn't get it small enough to stay on LOL!

 

[al6517]

I buy chick bands they are plastic and spiraled so they expand as they grow, then I put on full size bands of the same model. They work very well are cheap to buy and maintain.

AL