I hate these leg bands

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

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No, it never seems to bother them. If you had them out in the snow, it could bother them.

You're from my area Ewe Sheep. We have the same winters. Yes, mine are outside birds with no supplemental heat. Thanks for the advice, I'll stick with the plastic.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

We have used the numbered plastic bandettes and the atlas seal leg bands. Both work pretty well, but the atlas ones DO NOT come off unless you cut them off. They may be an option for you. The only draw back is that you can't see the numbers very well from a distance.
http://www.poultrymansupply.com/2007Legbands.htm

 

[mychookschick]

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Hello... This seems like a good idea to me but howo do you get all of those different combos with only 3 colors?

 

[mychookschick]

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But... Do you get to choose your numbers? Also... Do you have to use the tool for application?

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

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But... Do you get to choose your numbers? Also... Do you have to use the tool for application?

I haven't ever requested a certain number set, but they sent consecutive numbers. For application, I just use needlenose pliers. There is a special tool you can buy, but we just haven't.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I use the plastic bandettes and I did have one slip off over part of my hen's foot. I found her stumbling around and had to fix it. Other than that I haven't had a problem. I do worry about how thick the ones I got are. I'm not sure if I should try to get them above my rooster's spur once it grows in. It doesn't look like there's enough room between the spur and the foot for it to fit comfortably. I guess since I'm only planning on keeping one rooster of that variety I could just take it off all together.

 

[EweSheep]

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If that is a problem, put the band above the spur that way he has plenty of leg room. I never put bands beneath the spurs to foot.

 

[Muggsmagee]

Does any of this info make a difference in feather legged breeds? Do the leg feathers affect the band application?

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

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Hello... This seems like a good idea to me but howo do you get all of those different combos with only 3 colors?

7 different combos per leg, x 2 legs =14 That's just with different colors - not double colors like "BB=Blue Blue
Then you can put them on BOTh legs in different combos
For instance I have on bird who is RBP,LB = Right Blue Pink, Left Blue
I'm not a math wiz but I haven't run out of combos yet with just 3 colors and 2 legs - Blue, Pink, Orange
Then of course you cold do RBB,LBB
see?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I was gone for a while, and it took me some time to read all the posts that were here when i returned.

I got to thinking about the metal band thing though, and it occurs to me that "they" use something similar to that on wild birds for tracking, right? They're in the elements a lot more than my birds are.

I have used zip ties before, back when i had six girls to tag, but the color combinations for 40 birds or more is just not agreeable to my mind.

I know it would seem like my bands were the wrong size, but one of my roosters had the same problem as the hens, and i am sure that his was not too big. I did get him the next size up, but i saw how it fit on him. It was above his spur (small as it is), and he still managed to push it off. I saw it down around his foot one day and on the floor of the coop the next. Maybe i just have rowdy chickens; i don't know. But i do know that this isn't working for them. I have country chickens, who spend a lot of time in the woods and whatnot, so maybe that makes a difference. Either way, i can't say that i'm willing to try the plastic numbered bands again. I can see using the spiral bandettes for the babies because they're temporary, and they're sort of cheap. I'll just resign myself to one time usage.

As to the adults.

Pop, i followed your link (thank you), but i really need some pictures to understand how the hole punching and piercing and whatnot works for toe punching and wing bands. The whole idea makes me cringe, but i might be willing to give it a shot. I don't want to spend $25 on an applicator tool before i'm pretty sure i really want to go that route.