Best method for marking baby chicks with feathered legs

[oregonkat]

What methods do you guys use to identify your chicks with feathered legs? I tried the leg bands but they were immediately lost in the feathers and then were a huge pain to get off again.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Still trying out how to tell Silkies apart!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

nail polish on the head

 

[sylviethecochin]

Youtube banding chick wings--This does actually involve piercing the wing.

I'd use temporary hair spray and a paint brush, personally.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The best way to mark any baby chick is with Jiffy Wing Bands. This method is quick. This method is easy. This method is permanent. This method is tamper proof. If you sell birds and a customer has a gripe it is super easy to determine if the bird in question came from your flock or if the customer is scamming you. The Aluminum bands are numbered from 1 to 999 and they also come in 10 different colors, you may also order them with three letters AND 3 numbers. I am unsure how many 100s of 1000s of unique combinations that gives you but I don't think there is anyone reading this who will ever top out and need to repeat any combination of identifying numbers, letters, or colors, EVER.

When you record the tag number add your best guess as to which sex the chick is and because every chick has an unique ID number, once the chick is old enough you can grade yourself as to how accurately you sexed your chicks.

 

[Deedswan]

I just marked mine with food coloring on the back end. I started to mark the heads but the chick turned really quick and I got food coloring in its eye. I felt so bad! Glad I didn't use polish.

 

[aart]

I use small zipties...works for feathered legs too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[cjoffutt]

The best way to mark any baby chick is with Jiffy Wing Bands. This method is quick. This method is easy. This method is permanent. This method is tamper proof. If you sell birds and a customer has a gripe it is super easy to determine if the bird in question came from your flock or if the customer is scamming you. The Aluminum bands are numbered from 1 to 999 and they also come in 10 different colors, you may also order them with three letters AND 3 numbers. I am unsure how many 100s of 1000s of unique combinations that gives you but I don't think there is anyone reading this who will ever top out and need to repeat any combination of identifying numbers, letters, or colors, EVER.

When you record the tag number add your best guess as to which sex the chick is and because every chick has an unique ID number, once the chick is old enough you can grade yourself as to how accurately you sexed your chicks.

If repeating #s and letter is allowed (111AAA), I believe the options would be 17,576,000.

If no double usage of letters is allowed, then 11,232,000 I think?

but...........going way, way, way back to high school stats & probability class there. So odds are, I'm wrong.

 

[JedJackson]

Non toxic markers. Don't use red.

 

[chickens really]

I also use small zip ties..Different colours.