How do you mark chickens

[RachaelS]

I want to keep track of what chicken was born from what eggs, but how do I mark the chickens?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not sure if you mean in the incubator or after they are hatched. If in the incubator, the only way I know of to tell which chick came from which egg is to build a small wire cage and put one over each egg. Put a tag of some mark on each cage.

If you are talking about after the incubator or broody hatch, there are several ways. Toe punch, wing bands, colored zip ties around the legs, maybe those colored plastic spiral bands. You can use food coloring but that can wear off pretty fast since they grow so fast. I've even heard of using nail polish on the toes.

 

[RachaelS]

Yep, I mean after they hatch

Nail polish won't hurt them?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've never tried it, but does it hurt your fingernails or toenails when you put it on? I would not use red since they like to peck that color, but other colors should work well. I'm not sure how fast it would wear off.

 

[Illia]

Temporary legbands (such as plastic ones or zipties) marking them with different colored markers, stuff like that can work.

 

[lemurchaser]

I use different colored zip ties. I get the color variety pack (4 colors) and can mark them by pink on right leg, pink on left leg etc. That gives me 8 variations. If I need more then I use 2 zip ties, so pink on right leg & blue on left leg, or pink and blue on right leg etc. That gives me unending variations. I might set one breed as blue on right leg, and then use zips on the other leg to mark individuals.

 

[pkw]

My daughter had different colors of nail polish on her toe nails last summer and the chickens pecked her feet every time she went in the chicken area so I told her to quit wearing nail polish or wear some different shoes. She had bright green and pink fuschia nail polish mostly. She spent the night at her aunts house and a girl that is no relation spent the night also and they painted each others toe nails so if you go with toe nail polish don't use a bright color.

 

[RachaelS]

Okay, will go with the nail polish idea until I can go get zip ties, which might be good anyway since they have little legs when born. Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[snazzyboots]

thanks for asking that. i was wondering too. i may try the nail polish.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Quote:
Ridgerunner, there are going to a gazillion chickens with painted toenails and it's gonna be all your fault.

At least no one mentioned lipstick.