Best leg bands?

[rabsabq]

Any concerns about the zip ties rubbing against legs and causing sores?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I have not had any sores on any of the legs of my chickens that have zip ties on their legs. Longest zip tie wearer is going to be 2 years old soon. The biggest issue with zip ties is making certain they are replaced when they get tight as the chickens grow.

 

[aart]

I have not had any sores on any of the legs of my chickens that have zip ties on their legs. Longest zip tie wearer is going to be 2 years old soon. The biggest issue with zip ties is making certain they are replaced when they get tight as the chickens grow.

Ditto Dat^^^^

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Jiffy wing bands are a better option and they don't need replacing as the chickens grow. Zip ties are plastic strips used to bundle electrical wire together and as such don't belong on a hen or roosters' leg.

https://www.cutlersupply.com/collections/leg-bands?page=6

there are also reusable numbered aluminum leg bands that can be removed or moved between birds and that don't require a special tool or pliers to apply or remove.

Jiffy wing bands can be applied to young chicks or you can use a chick toe web punch to mark your young birds and later put a colored aluminum wing band with numbers up to 999 on the wing webs of week old chicks and that chick can be followed for life.

Then when the bird becomes an adult a colored spiral leg band or bands of 10 different colors and the correct size is added to one or both feet. The spiral leg bands can be seen without getting the chicken into your hands. That is the only selling point of zip ties or spiral leg bands. You will be amazed at how quickly a zip tie or a spiral leg band can become to tight and result in a hens' or roosters' foot dying and falling off.

 

[BantyChooks]

Zip ties are plastic strips used to bundle electrical wire together and as such don't belong on a hen or roosters' leg.

Why? Do you mind elaborating on this?

 

[Folly's place]

I have been using the numbered plastic leg bands, and they do fall off, break, and sometimes ride up on a leg causing injuries. They have to be watched! Now that I'm raising white Chanteclers, it's become an issue; which white hen is that? Very irritating! I've never been able to use the wing bands (softie!) and just might go to colored zip ties this year, because they tend to stay on better. I would also appreciate more feedback here. Mary

 

[song of joy]

I've been using the plastic, numbered bandettes (from Cutler Supply) for the past 4 years, but I've only used them on birds that were mature or fairly close to their mature size. So far, I've never had any break, cause injuries, or shift to the wrong position on the leg, but it's important to choose the right size for the bird.

This year was the first time that one of the bandettes came off a hen. I think the band got stuck in some bird netting that was draped over blueberry bushes, and the band came off when the hen broke free from the netting. There were no injuries when the band came off. I guess I'm glad to know that they will come off in this type of a situation rather than holding the hen fast.

If I were banding chicks, I might think about going with zip ties, but getting them on and off safely, and constantly monitoring them for size, really makes me nervous.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would like to hear elaboration on why it's not appropriate to use a zip tie on a chicken leg. UM... if it works, and it does not cause injury, and it's readily available, and pretty much comes in a "one size fit's all" option, and is available in multiple colors, and it's easy to put on, and if it's easy to remove, I'm at a loss for why they should not be used. However, I would caution the user... never put a zip tie in your mouth to hold it while you juggle the "to be banded bird" and the pliers. Zip ties taste like puke.

 

[BantyChooks]

I would like to hear elaboration on why it's not appropriate to use a zip tie on a chicken leg. UM... if it works, and it does not cause injury, and it's readily available, and pretty much comes in a "one size fit's all" option, and is available in multiple colors, and it's easy to put on, and if it's easy to remove, I'm at a loss for why they should not be used. However, I would caution the user... never put a zip tie in your mouth to hold it while you juggle the "to be banded bird" and the pliers. Zip ties taste like puke.

Try not tickling your tonsils with them, holding them between your teeth works much better.

 

[lazy gardener]

View attachment 1100330
Try not tickling your tonsils with them, holding them between your teeth works much better.