How do you remove zip tie from chick's leg? Please help!

[oliviaandjosh4]

I just bought a few chicks from a local woman that raises and sells them. The chick is less than a week old and has a small zip tie around its leg. The lady didn't know apparently, and I only noticed it once I was home. I messaged her and asked how to remove it and she said use nail clippers. My husband and I have tried nail clippers, scissors, and basically anything sharp that will grip it but everytime he goes to cut it the chick starts chirping really loud, I assume because of the pressure which I'm sure is painful. We are scared to death we are going to hurt it. We have no experience at all with dealing with leg bands and we want to get it off as soon as possible. What can we do to get this off without hurting the chick??
Thank you in advance!

 

[FridayYet]

The big toenail clippers work best, cut through them next to the hub and cut up and down, not flat.

It's the only way that works for me.

I'll try and take a pic if it would be helpful.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use dykes. They also call them diagonal pliers or side cutters. I have about 10 pair laying around. I keep a pair wherever I have chickens - hatcher, brooder, coops, etc..
http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/t...mpaignId=T9F&gclid=CPv1pduE0MsCFZA2gQodxF8Kjg
A good nail clipper should work.

 

[oliviaandjosh4]

Yes, please take a picture and post, thank you!!

 

[oliviaandjosh4]

there is very little wiggle room to slide anything in there to grip it

 

[FridayYet]

Like this:

 

[oliviaandjosh4]

THANK YOU! We were able to get it off without hurting the chick

 

[FridayYet]

Great! Took me a lot of trial and error to figure it out, but the hub seems to keep the tie from twisting as you cut.