Identity Leg Bands

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Hi. So I have some new peachicks that I bought. The guy said some shifty things like, " these white chicks are split to pied so if you breed them they'll be pied". Umm what? Dude I'm pretty sure that's not how that works. I got out of him that the only birds he has are pieds, but I couldn't see the parents so I'm not sure. I bought some pieds but also the India blues he had. They could be dark pied if his story was true. I want to put identity bands on them but how safe are they? Are they uncomfortable for the bird? Does anyone use anything other than zip ties?

 

[Chef JimmyJ]

There are Plastic Colored Leg Bands that Snap together. If the bird outgrows them, as they likely will, they POP off. Crimp on Metal Bands and especially Zip Ties, can be quickly over looked, get tight and Cut into the leg causing infection and Necrosis. The Foot Dies and eventually falls off. That is IF the Bird Lives long enough!!!
Choose Wisely young Padiwan...JJ

 

[Rose Quartz]

Hi. So I have some new peachicks that I bought. The guy said some shifty things like, " these white chicks are split to pied so if you breed them they'll be pied". Umm what? Dude I'm pretty sure that's not how that works. I got out of him that the only birds he has are pieds, but I couldn't see the parents so I'm not sure. I bought some pieds but also the India blues he had. They could be dark pied if his story was true. I want to put identity bands on them but how safe are they? Are they uncomfortable for the bird? Does anyone use anything other than zip ties?

I have in the past used different things, I don't bother with bands right now because I can recognize who's who, at least for now.

If you only band 1 the others will pick at it. Zip ties have a butter zone for tightness it's difficult, but easier than finding the proper size leg band online. I have lots of those and could never get the smallest I could find to fit on, and stay on, any chick under 2 weeks.

I've tried those tiny colored elastic bands but they just fall off or snap.

If you do use zip ties, when you cut off the excess try to minimize sharp edges. The best tool I've found for removing them is large nail clippers. They're strong enough to cut through the band. If it does end up tight against the chickens leg you can take the square part off and that will remove it, it's just harder to cut through that.

 

[The_BirdNerd]

I have a chicken who had a cable tie on her leg and it was clear that she was uncomfortable with it. Thankfully it was just loose enough to cut off but it was pretty tough. I wouldn’t normally use leg bands since I don’t need to keep track of my birds but if you’re doing it for breeding purposes and to keep track of which one is which then look for breakaway bands. Best of luck with the peachicks!

 

[EggWalrus]

I've had better luck with wing bands. And you don't have to worry about it cutting off circulation.

https://www.ketchummfg.com/wing-bandear-tags-aluminum-numbered-and-lettered
Reasonably priced also.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I use the smallest colored zip ties, changing as they grow. When I first put on the chicks, they peck at it cause it's "odd" but then I toss in some mealworms and they forget all about it. I don't use red nor the bright colors.

 

[EggWalrus]

I have a chicken who had a cable tie on her leg and it was clear that she was uncomfortable with it. Thankfully it was just loose enough to cut off but it was pretty tough. I wouldn’t normally use leg bands since I don’t need to keep track of my birds but if you’re doing it for breeding purposes and to keep track of which one is which then look for breakaway bands. Best of luck with the peachicks!

All three of the brands of click lock/break away plastic leg bands I've tried had problems staying on. I was constantly finding them all over the place. Out of around 100 I put on birds about 2 years ago, there is only one little leghorn girl that still has her band. Plus, even if you sand the plastic band (manufacturer recommends) before writing your bird ID# on it, the marker washes off within a couple months.

 

[KsKingBee]

When you breed a White to a Dark Pied all the chicks will be Pied.

We apply wing tags and the small zips to the chicks at hatch and replace the zips at four to six weeks. By that time the chicks are large enough that the forever zip can be put on loosely, just small enough that it won't go over the foot. We raise around 30 different colors and patterns so we have to have a quick and easy way to ID the birds without catching them. Our breeders and special ($$$) birds get metal leg bands and even those will pull apart when and if the bird gets a toe in them.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I've got some thinking to do now...

 

[EggWalrus]

...metal leg bands and even those will pull apart when and if the bird gets a toe in them.
View attachment 1867702 View attachment 1867703

The aluminum ones can bend easier, but they make brass ones too. A bird would have a hard time removing the brass ones, they're pretty tough.