Bands (or marking) for baby chicks

[redinator]

With my last batch of chicks I had several that looked identical, and tried several different things. I hate using zip ties because I always have a hard time cutting them off and being scared I will cut the chick on accident. But this time I found the best solution. Braces rubber bands! I bought these ones, and I got the medium weight 3/8” size. https://a.co/d/6L9lWTq

They were only $3 and have held up amazingly well. The only thing I didn’t love is that there are only 4 colors. Purple, green, orange and red. But if you don’t need more colors than that, it has worked super well for me.

That is awesome! I would've never thought to look for this, lol.

 

[Slothinc]

That is awesome! I would've never thought to look for this, lol.

Trust me, I tried all different kinds of bands before I settled on these. And these ones don’t have the gross latex smell or anything. They’re perfect!

 

[redinator]

I use flat coil bands. easy to put on and take off and since they are coiled they can expand with the chick, meaning I can go week's before needing to upsize (I still check regularly). I use them from hatch to adult

Do you have link for these? These look way easier than trying to get a rubber band around their giant feet. I plan to get some more chicks soon.

 

[AusHen]

https://www.birdbands.com/legrings/coiled.html


Page for sizing for mew chicks, older chicks and adults by breed, you need to scroll a bit for poultry
https://www.birdbands.com/birdlist/

 

[redinator]

https://www.birdbands.com/legrings/coiled.html


Page for sizing for mew chicks, older chicks and adults by breed, you need to scroll a bit for poultry
https://www.birdbands.com/birdlist/

Thanks

 

[Chickiemamaw]

I use flat coil bands. easy to put on and take off and since they are coiled they can expand with the chick, meaning I can go week's before needing to upsize (I still check regularly). I use them from hatch to adult

Where do you purchase yours?

 

[AusHen]

Online at birdbands.com

 

[Gargoyle]

Braces rubber bands! I bought these ones, and I got the medium weight 3/8” size. https://a.co/d/6L9lWTq

I tried those, got the 1/4" and 3/8". I just tried putting the 1/4" on 5 day old chicks. The size was right, but they were immediately biting everybody else's bands, the bands stretched as the banded chick tried to run, and with another biting and holding on to the band, they'd trip and fall.
After two minutes of them frantically biting the bands, and several of them falling over, I went to remove the bands- but one band had already disappeared. I hope no one swallowed it!

 

[Slothinc]

I tried those, got the 1/4" and 3/8". I just tried putting the 1/4" on 5 day old chicks. The size was right, but they were immediately biting everybody else's bands, the bands stretched as the banded chick tried to run, and with another biting and holding on to the band, they'd trip and fall.
After two minutes of them frantically biting the bands, and several of them falling over, I went to remove the bands- but one band had already disappeared. I hope no one swallowed it!

Wow! I am so sorry to hear that! I have not experienced that issue… I do have mostly silkies and other bantams though, and they don’t seem to pick on each other as much as some of the larger fowl that I have seen. Again, so sorry for the bad advice, I guess those aren’t great for every chick. Just to note, I did use them on emu chicks recently and no issues

 

[Gargoyle]

Wow! I am so sorry to hear that! I have not experienced that issue… I do have mostly silkies and other bantams though

Mine are Wyandottes and they are very active and Interactive.

Are there any kind of markers that are safe and non-toxic?