Help! Plastic leg band too small

[Heymac08]

I just picked up 3 silkie chicks and realized the green plastic ties around their legs are Getting too small. It looks like they might be zip ties but I can’t tell since they move a lot.
How the heck can I get these off them??

 

[sourland]

Cut them off with a pair of wire cutters.

 

[Folly's place]

Use nippers or a small scissors, or something. They MUST be removed!
Mary

 

[yakitori]

if it’s indeed zip ties you can cut the protruding head where the locking mechanism is. once that is cut, it will fall apart. no need to clip between the band and the legs.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Best to have 4 hands for this

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Wire snips, or end cutting pliers (which is what I use), are best, but toe nail clippers are acceptable, too. Assuming its zip ties - cheap, readily available, no special tools required, cutting the little "box" off, rather than attacking the tie itself is the correct and safe way to remove them. as @yakitori said above.

If you only have a tiny screwdriver (and four hands) you can carefully lift the little plastic tab inside the box with a tiny flat head screwdriver, allowing the band to slide free - but under no circumstances should you try it alone, or with less than perfect vision - better to head to the hardware store/farm store and get the proper tool.