how do you mark chicks

[sundancenbare]

I have chicks hatching from several different breeds. As they hatch I want to mark them so I know who is who? What is the easiest way to do that.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Some people buy the little legbands.

 

[2ACR]

When I got my chics from the hatchery the roos had some sort of ink paint on their heads. Maybe it wasn't paint because the feathers weren't tacked together but it was some kind of dye or marking powder.

 

[DeannaOR]

I've been wondering the same thing. We are hatching out a bunch of BLRW from 2 different breeders and want to keep them straight. I saw where some people use vet wrap around their legs, but I would think this would get pecked and picked at.

 

[RiddleMe]

I use the colored zip ties, they come in really small sizes as well as the larger sizes. I was able to get a container of 500, 5 different colors in two different sizes, at Home Depot for about $8.

 

[sundancenbare]

Some people buy the little legbands.

Are they safe for new chicks?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I have no experience with them but here is one company's chart mentioning baby chicken:
http://www.eggboxes.com/ccp0-catshow/birdid.html

http://poultryextension.psu.edu/Equip.html

 

[moomoodiddy]

You can get markers from hardware stores we use them to mark calves when we band them

 

[DeannaOR]

You can get markers from hardware stores we use them to mark calves when we band them

Are they non-toxic?

 

[sundancenbare]

I've been wondering the same thing. We are hatching out a bunch of BLRW from 2 different breeders and want to keep them straight. I saw where some people use vet wrap around their legs, but I would think this would get pecked and picked at.

I have olive eggers, Americanas and Auracanas so I really want to be able to mark who is who