How to mark Silkies to tell them apart.

[tcfoster]

I have 3 6-week old black silkie chicks who just went out into their coop full time. Two of them are almost identical, and the small one 'Peanut' is catching up quickly. For our other grown sexlink and Orpington hens we use leg bands, but I'm afraid by using them on the silkies they will get tangled and caught in all their leg and foot feathers. Has anyone used something else to mark feather-footed breeds in order to tell them apart, such as painting a nail? Thanks!

 

[Ohmyheart]

We painted nails. After they got older we could tell them apart by the poofy head and tails.

I just recently used a dab of food colouring on some chicks to mark the ones we suspected as boys. That would work too.

 

[tcfoster]

Thanks, I think I might try the nail polish idea and see how it works.