How can you "tag" a duckling?

[nissa_loves_cats]

I use metal sheep ear tags as wing bands for my poultry. (It's the metal govt. ear tags that I got sent for free that were too awful to use on sheep ears.) It's probably a federal offense, though, so I'm buying some non-govt. related sheep ear tags for wing bands.

 

[Amiga]

Initial report:

We needed to treat a couple of chocolates for minor scratches. We did so, and while we were at it, gave them lovely ankle bracelets of velcro, soft side in. I wrapped it so it covered the slotted end, trimmed it, and we set them back in with the other nine.

So far (half an hour), some of the others seemed to admire the bracelets, one gave it a half-hearted peck, and that's been it. No one got stuck to themselves or the bedding

Will they still be wearing them in the morning? We shall see.

I charged each of them to "not eat the velcro."

 

[Amiga]

This morning, about twelve hours after receiving their bracelets, the velcro is still attached, looking like it did at first, just dirtier. It really helped find the two scratched-up ducklings quickly in the "crowd."

 

[FenDruadin]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing, Amiga. I have zillions of zip ties on hand at the moment, but when my supply starts to dwindle, I think I'll give some velcro a try--maybe a little of each, and see what I like better. I'd certainly love not to have to throw the little plastic bits away after every band-change. Thanks.

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

Can you post pics? Mallards and Pekins are very easy to tell apart....

 

[Amiga]

Okay, here is what I have (very basic).

A couple of weeks ago

Yesterday - from a little distance - it's all I have right now

Five black, six chocolate.

There are a few we can tell apart, and it is much easier if they are all together to see who is the tallest, the smallest, etc. It is not easy to distinguish several of them, because the middle height ducks really do look very similar.

 

[duckclo99]

Thanks for your help. Can you paint their little toenail things on their feet? My Dad suggested that. I'm going to try zip-ties first, because I have some on hand. I think that dye might get in their water and when they drink it it might be not very good for them.

Maybe food coloring. Could someone run a test and give me the results, because dying them sounds like a good way to tell the difference... I won't dye their whole body, don't worry. I don't have any velcro with me, but i'll be sure to try it. I found out that all of my ducks are peckins, but they all look the same right now so I'm still going to tag them. Thanks!