If you have a very small flock, can you tell birds of the same breed apart?

[aart]

Any type of leg ring/band takes vigilance.
It's pretty easy to check them on the roost at night,
one good reason to have easy access to the roosts.

I have used zipties for my 15(in winter) to 30+(in summer) birds for 4 years.
Never had any real problems, they do break and fall off on occasion,
and a set of end cutters is critical IMO for cutting thru the lock to swap them out as needed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Even when I had just six starting out, I had trouble telling a couple apart unless they were right next to one another. One might have slightly more uniform coloring and fewer dark feathers in her tail, but such things are relative and I just shrugged and guessed until I got bands. I also have several black birds who are easy to tell apart, but only from the front. Leg bands help me there, too. I use spiral ones and am happy with those so far.

 

[Aerliss]

Don't think I've seen spiral ones. I'll look into them. Thanks.

 

[aart]

I use spiral ones and am happy with those so far.

Are they hard to get on,
and most importantly get off if the leg grows making them too tight??
Maybe you don't put them on until birds are older?

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Are they hard to get on,
and most importantly get off if the leg grows making them too tight??
Maybe you don't put them on until birds are older?

Not hard at all. It’s like putting a paper clip on a stack of papers, only you have to do both ends. I found a size 11 good for all my mixed breed hens so far. I did not put them on anyone until 20 weeks or so so far. I have not had any fall off. They are easy to remove but you need fingers on both hands.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

They do make them down to very very small for songbirds and such.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

It’s like a key ring but more flexible. The ends can be pointy. I haven’t tried to trim them but you probably could. That lies alongside the bird’s leg so I haven’t had any problems with it poking anybody so far.

One of the local co-ops carries them here but so far I haven’t seen them at the chain stores. You can get them much less expensively online and order even a small bag of ten or 20, I think, or single colors. I use them primarily to identify age and then individuals.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Aerliss,

Chickens are just like any other creature, if you give them names, you'll be able to identify each one. After all, what's in a name? A lot...there is color, size, habits, eyes, wattles, comb, and yes, personality. You're going to only have four chickens. At the beginning you'll be a stranger to them, and they to you. But, as the days pass, and you observe them, you'll notice differences in each one. Or, maybe you already have some names in mind, that you just like. Either way, if you keep the four hens as pets, you will soon know each one by name.

And if you choose to just keep them as a mini flock of nameless chickens, the color rings will be fine too.

But, if you bond with them, and they are not part of a busy farm setting, with many other animals, you may want to name them.

I have 8 hens, and one rooster, currently. I know each one's history, age, breed, and even the egg they lay. Each has a name, some are the same breed. But, I know each one by sight. Each has a distinct personality.

They know their names too. If I don't see one out in the yard, I can call their name, and the hen will come running. Or, sometimes they'll cluck loudly, "I'm in here, in the bush!". They are just a joy to have.

It's a wonderful thing you are doing, adopting ex-batts. I hope you will post pictures, once they are settled, may some before and after feathered pics.

Well, these are my thoughts on your new hens, I hope they have been helpful.

God Bless and peace to you.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

If they're all of the same breed, I would suggest leg rings. I had two RIRs that looked very different and didn't need them but they can look very similar.

 

[Aerliss]

Well, these are my thoughts on your new hens, I hope they have been helpful.

God Bless and peace to you.

That was a very thoughtful and lovely reply. Thank you. Hopefully I'll learn to distinguish them, recognising their foibles and quirks, but as a back up I'm going to get leg rings.

I'll be spending lots of time with them, just quietly sitting in the garden with them. At least until the long Scottish winter nights come in, but by then they'll be better feathered, and more comfortable in their surroundings, so I won't have to feel too bad about only seeing them awake once a day and on weekends.

Oh, I have names picked out. I just hope they suit them.