Best leg bands?

[Lazy Farmer]

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

We have used them for years and never seen damage or irritation. I use the tiny micro ones. Color coded for years, introduction time/for sale/not for sale/sold. Different leg sides also worked into our color coding. 10 different colors, primary colors and fluorescent colors.
If our birds get into the neighbouring birds we can ID them.
When someone tries to return a bird wanting a trade or refund, I tell them not to remove the tag before purchase and record bands that leave our property.

But after time in Florida heat, the bands degrade and break off. So we have to monitor bands constantly.
Inexpensive and effect inventory tools.
Never a single health issue.

 

[ScarletAndColonel]

I use the tiny micro ones. Color coded for years, introduction time/for sale/not for sale/sold. Different leg sides also worked into our color coding. 10 different colors, primary colors and fluorescent colors.

That sounds do-able. I've been using the snap-on plastic bands and like them but they only come in 4 colors so I've had to use 2 bands in different orders on one leg to ID my ladies. Now the flock has grown so I'm looking for a more extensive method of marking them so I can keep track of who is whom at a glance. Do you have a preferred source, Farmer Connie?

 

[BantyChooks]

That sounds do-able. I've been using the snap-on plastic bands and like them but they only come in 4 colors so I've had to use 2 bands in different orders on one leg to ID my ladies. Now the flock has grown so I'm looking for a more extensive method of marking them so I can keep track of who is whom at a glance. Do you have a preferred source, Farmer Connie?

I do the same. I got mine off Amazon.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

That sounds do-able. I've been using the snap-on plastic bands and like them but they only come in 4 colors so I've had to use 2 bands in different orders on one leg to ID my ladies. Now the flock has grown so I'm looking for a more extensive method of marking them so I can keep track of who is whom at a glance. Do you have a preferred source, Farmer Connie?

Us anyway.. Left legs are our keeper birds and color for age/introduction. Right leg = for sale W/florescent colors.
Double bands on one leg are temporary meaning dusted or medicated and a band eventually comes off.
I don't have my chart handy to tell you all the codes but recording inventory for us is a must. Last month we had over 150 birds. Sold about 90. We breed and raise them up until they are more docile then sell on line and local swaps. Having so many is confusing. Beyond confusion.. Kaos.
Purchased where??
Northern tool or harbor freight.. Can't recall.. Bulk packs in a giant tub container.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

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.

Lets start here, chickens grow way faster than most chicken fanciers can keep up with changing out zip ties on their young birds tootsies to make sure that the zip ties don't become ingrown. Crippling the bird.

Someone mentioned banding the birds that they intended selling. In this case a Jiffy Wing band is a better choice because it is ........
A: Permanent
B: They are available with custom lettering. like "Lazy gardener" plus a number... Well at least "LG"XXX
C: Jiffy wing bands can be had in multiple colors
D: Jiffy bands are 99% unseen when applied correctly and they don't interfere with the chicken doing it's chicken things.
E: Jiffy Wing bands will not become entangled in pen wire or vegetation.
F: All Zip ties that I am familiar with have serrated sides needed to lock the Zip ties in place. These serrations rub and irritate a chickens' feet (in most peoples minds its legs) and this can result in blisters or open sores on your birds' shanks.
G: Jiffy Leg bands work equally well on feather footed breeds.
H: Spiral Leg Bands can become ingrown as well as a Zip Tie.
An old game fowl breeder of my acquaintance banded as many as 7,500 roosters per year and he sold his birds all over the world for $350 or more FOB in Memphis, Tennessee. I worked for him from time to time when there were special tasks to do like dubbing, marking and wing banding chicks. As far as I know he never had a bird lose a Jiffy Wing band and I never had one to lose a Jiffy Wing band either. Suit yourself.

However a chicken has no choice in whether or not it wears a crippling Zip Tie or Plastic Spiral leg band on its feet.

 

[aart]

There are many mismanagement's that can cause injury.....
......'mismanagement' being the key word.
And yes, mismanagement can be 'cruel'.

G: Jiffy Leg bands work equally well on feather footed breeds.

Did you mean wing bands?

Been using zipties on my small flock (15-35) for four years and have never had an injury from a ziptie, but I keep a good eye on them and change them out when they start to get tight during chickdom.

I'm sure for large flocks wing bands are the best choice, harder to monitor 7.5K birds.

 

[BantyChooks]

There are many mismanagement's that can cause injury.....
......'mismanagement' being the key word.
And yes, mismanagement can be 'cruel'.

Did you mean wing bands?

Been using zipties on my small flock (15-35) for four years and have never had an injury from a ziptie, but I keep a good eye on them and change them out when they start to get tight during chickdom.

I'm sure for large flocks wing bands are the best choice, harder to monitor 7.5K birds.

Agreed on the last sentence. Most of us have under 50 birds, including me, and it's easy to check and replace bands on that few birds.

 

[ScarletAndColonel]

BantyChooks, do the zip ties you use have a serrated edge on them? The ones we buy at HF (Harbor Freight) and use around here for "construction"-type uses (like attaching chicken wire to a cattle panel to make an impromptu wall for a chicken run, or to attach shade cloths to the chicken tractors for shade) don't have serrated edges. So I could see safely using them on a chicken's leg, although I have been reluctant to switch until now that the plastic bands are no longer adequate for my growing flock. I suppose I could limp along a while longer with the plastic bands since there are a few different breeds, and no more than 13 females of any breed. But with 8 red sex-links who pretty much look alike when they're zipping around the yard and darting under bushes, I have relied on those colored bands! Red is Reba, Green is Pecky Becky, Red+Green bands are Merry, etc. With only 3 Orpingtons, the Red band on the Orpington is Scarlet, you get the idea. Now I'm adding in 13 amber links, although with their markings I might could learn to tell them apart by sight, or at least narrow it down to 2 or 3.

Sometimes I envy those who don't try to keep track of who is who. My hubby has no interest in telling them apart, and it's much simpler for him.

 

[BantyChooks]

BantyChooks, do the zip ties you use have a serrated edge on them? The ones we buy at HF (Harbor Freight) and use around here for "construction"-type uses (like attaching chicken wire to a cattle panel to make an impromptu wall for a chicken run, or to attach shade cloths to the chicken tractors for shade) don't have serrated edges. So I could see safely using them on a chicken's leg, although I have been reluctant to switch until now that the plastic bands are no longer adequate for my growing flock. I suppose I could limp along a while longer with the plastic bands since there are a few different breeds, and no more than 13 females of any breed. But with 8 red sex-links who pretty much look alike when they're zipping around the yard and darting under bushes, I have relied on those colored bands! Red is Reba, Green is Pecky Becky, Red+Green bands are Merry, etc. With only 3 Orpingtons, the Red band on the Orpington is Scarlet, you get the idea. Now I'm adding in 13 amber links, although with their markings I might could learn to tell them apart by sight, or at least narrow it down to 2 or 3.

Sometimes I envy those who don't try to keep track of who is who. My hubby has no interest in telling them apart, and it's much simpler for him.

https://www.amazon.ca/Nylon-Mountin...d=1501866128&sr=1-2&keywords=colored+zip+ties

No. I used these. There are no poky bits on them.

 

[ScarletAndColonel]

Good, that's what I had hoped. Thanks for the link!