Can I make DIY leg bands?

[RIR chicks]

I bought some spiral leg bands like these, and put one on my friendliest chicken before attempting to catch the skittish ones. She reached down w her beak and pulled it off within seconds:
View attachment 2375179
I'm thinking of using marker or food color to dab some color on the tail or back of their heads and see how long that lasts.

Maybe I will try that

 

[rosemarythyme]

I used a piece of thread, Blaze didn’t like it

NEVER use string, thread, anything like that around chickens. NO to the ribbon as well. Chickens can swallow them and choke, can get them wrapped around toes or tongues, cutting off the blood flow.

 

[aart]

I've had great success with zipties, careful monitoring and the right tools make it pretty easy.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[RIR chicks]

NEVER use string, thread, anything like that around chickens. NO to the ribbon as well. Chickens can swallow them and choke, can get them wrapped around toes or tongues, cutting off the blood flow.

I made little bracelets with little beads, the beads are to big to fit in their mouth but to small to weigh the chicks foot down

 

[rosemarythyme]

I made little bracelets with little beads, the beads are to big to fit in their mouth but to small to weigh the chicks foot down

Beads probably aren't a huge issue but how are they strung? I'd be worried about them breaking the string or wire and then eating it. Yes chickens will eat everything from metal screws and jewelry to bandages and string.

 

[RIR chicks]

Beads probably aren't a huge issue but how are they strung? I'd be worried about them breaking the string or wire and then eating it. Yes chickens will eat everything from metal screws and jewelry to bandages and string.

Like this: (I know other ways to make them so that their are more beads. I used elastic so that I can stretch it to get it on and if I don’t realize the are growing to big for the bracelet it will stretch so that it isn’t to tight on them)

 

[RIR chicks]

Like this: (I know other ways to make them so that their are more beads. I used elastic so that I can stretch it to get it on and if I don’t realize the are growing to big for the bracelet it will stretch so that it isn’t to tight on them)View attachment 2376222

I also have bigger beads

 

[rosemarythyme]

Like this: (I know other ways to make them so that their are more beads. I used elastic so that I can stretch it to get it on and if I don’t realize the are growing to big for the bracelet it will stretch so that it isn’t to tight on them)View attachment 2376222

It's very cute, but yes it's a choking risk (elastic will snap as it gets worn down), so keep a very close eye on them.

Colored zipties would be a safer way to mark but still do require regular checks to make sure they don't tighten/get outgrown.

 

[aart]

Sure you can make cute little leg bands....but should you put them on the birds?
Answer is no, not a good idea.