How to Identify Chickens Same Breed/or Lineage

[Mowglimommychick]

I have a flock of about 40 birds. I don't plan on growing beyond that, but I do want to avoid hatching from inbreeding. How do you identify chickens of the same breed to tell them apart and keep track of which is parent and which is offspring? I've looked at zip tie leg bands and wing bands. I don't want to spend a lot, and I don't want for them to be uncomfortable. Suggestions?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Colored zip ties or leg bands....they are easier than numberedtmarked bands as you can identify birds without having to physically read the band markings by using different colors or combinations of colors to mark individual birds, birds of the same hatch, birds from specific breedings, etc by what color band(s) you use, which leg you put them on and so on.

 

[Melky]

I would have breeding pens myself to separate breed stock and start new flocks in separate pens/housing. I don’t breed though just own hens so can control numbers. Roosters are also banned here so I only order and own females so not subject to chicken math.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've never used the wing bands but the pros often used coded ones. You can also get coded leg bands, but again I've never used them. I use colored zip ties. You just have to come up with your own code to cover the information you want. I use the 7" long zip ties and cut off the excess. The legs will continue to grow so you have to check regularly to make sure they are not to tight.

I use the left leg to tell which year the chicken was hatched. A yellow zip tie on the left leg might mean hatched in 2017, a blue hatched in 2018. If you are just worried about generations that should cover you.

Don't use clear, those can be hard to see, but you can get a lot of different colors. I don't now how many chickens per generation you have, but I use different colors and color combinations on the right leg to identify individuals. A single pink on the right leg would be a different individual than a pink + green, a single green, or a pink + orange. A blue on the right leg would mean something different than a blue on the left. I've used bright red without any pecking issues. I find it helps a lot to keep notes on colors used and to keep tack of individual traits, such as are they good egg layers.

If you are not worried about individuals but want to know which hatch they came from (assuming multiple hatches per year) use one color on a specific leg to show year and a color or color combination on the other leg to show first or second hatch. Come up with your own code for the information you want.

 

[centrarchid]

I mark down on head of hatching chicks with colored permanent markers. By week four those marks are replaced by numbered Jiffy wing bands with colors. Birds kept to breeding age also have numbered leg bands, also with color. The markers are pennies each.

 

[Mowglimommychick]

I would have breeding pens myself to separate breed stock and start new flocks in separate pens/housing. I don’t breed though just own hens so can control numbers. Roosters are also banned here so I only order and own females so not subject to chicken math.

In a perfect world of unlimited chicklandia, breeding pens would be great, but I don't have the resources for that.

 

[Mowglimommychick]

I've never used the wing bands but the pros often used coded ones. You can also get coded leg bands, but again I've never used them. I use colored zip ties. You just have to come up with your own code to cover the information you want. I use the 7" long zip ties and cut off the excess. The legs will continue to grow so you have to check regularly to make sure they are not to tight.

I use the left leg to tell which year the chicken was hatched. A yellow zip tie on the left leg might mean hatched in 2017, a blue hatched in 2018. If you are just worried about generations that should cover you.

Don't use clear, those can be hard to see, but you can get a lot of different colors. I don't now how many chickens per generation you have, but I use different colors and color combinations on the right leg to identify individuals. A single pink on the right leg would be a different individual than a pink + green, a single green, or a pink + orange. A blue on the right leg would mean something different than a blue on the left. I've used bright red without any pecking issues. I find it helps a lot to keep notes on colors used and to keep tack of individual traits, such as are they good egg layers.

If you are not worried about individuals but want to know which hatch they came from (assuming multiple hatches per year) use one color on a specific leg to show year and a color or color combination on the other leg to show first or second hatch. Come up with your own code for the information you want.

Excellent ideas! I feel stupid for not even considering using right/left leg placement and stacking colors, but that makes perfect sense. I'll just have to sit down and think of what my system will be. And thanks for addressing the red bands because I had some that I was afraid to use because of drawing pecking attention.

 

[aart]

I don't plan on growing beyond that, but I do want to avoid hatching from inbreeding.

'Inbreeding' is not the same with birds as it is with mammals.
You'll need to read up on it, but in (very) short:
Parent to offspring is fine, siblings not so much.

What is your goal in breeding?
Pure breeds?
Show birds?
Selling egg layers?
Got plan for all the males?

I too use zipties, it's worked well for me, here's my tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[Mowglimommychick]

Thanks for the article I was aware that chicken breeders breed back to parents to emphasize certain characteristics but have not done any extensive reading yet. I'll do some research. I think using the word lineage may have made my post seem more serious than I intended. I just want to know who is who and how old they are and not end up with deformities in offspring. I'd be selling chicks just locally, straight run only.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the article I was aware that chicken breeders breed back to parents to emphasize certain characteristics but have not done any extensive reading yet. I'll do some research. I think using the word lineage may have made my post seem more serious than I intended. I just want to know who is who and how old they are and not end up with deformities in offspring. I'd be selling chicks just locally, straight run only.

Great, you understand!
The word 'inbreeding' was a red flag that made me want to explain.
Have Fun!