Cutting off bands

[TwinWillowAcres]

I put zip ties on my chicks to identify them. Some of them are still loose enough that I can put our thin pair of scissors or a knife and cut them off. However on one or two chicks, it seems to have gotten tight so my question is how do I cut them off without cutting their leg? Do you think a utility knife will work with me scraping away at the zip tie until it's severed? They are very small zip ties that were 3-4 inches in length before I cut them. Maybe 1/8 inch wide or less.

 

[RiddleMe]

Try toe nail clippers (the big kind), clip the band right up against the square head. If you do it so you are squeezing/clipping from the top and bottom as the band orients on the birds leg, you should be able to basically pinch through the band in one clip. Much less risk than using a knife which might slip and cut you or the bird.

 

[rc4u]

I use a side cutter as it goes over the big part of the tie and chops straight down...