INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Randy54sm]

I'd just like to wave a hand to the fellow Hoosiers out there. Anderson on this end.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: do you have a link to your kind of cover? The wind has been really good at ripping our covers here. It would be nice to cover the pool with something different.

 

[Dish chickens]

I'd just like to wave a hand to the fellow Hoosiers out there. Anderson on this end.

Hello

 

[iamfivewire]

welcome Creek & Randy

 

[chisNchickens]

Im not sure if she is still breeding or if she has replied to you yet, but here is one of their most recent ads on here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...how-flock-nwi-northwest-indiana#post_14350397

Thanks Brad...unfortunately that ad was a flock dispersal. I did find someone with eggs though, in Florida. Seems not many breed or stick with the d'uccle. Easy to find hatchery but not heritage or improved flocks.

ETA: Still breeding silkies Brad??

 

[PeacefulWalls]

Sally and Brad sent me some sample bands of various different kinds and I ended up liking this type the best: http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/numbered-plastic-bands

The reason I like them is that they are easy on and off. Seemed harder to put the plastic spirals on/off.

The down side of these - for my use - is that I don't have lots of chickens so the numbers aren't the main issue for me; variety of colors is the issue for me.

I use different colors when I have several birds that look identical so that if someone else is taking care of them for me I can say: "The black bird with the yellow band" and they know which one I'm talking about. So since these come in a box of a single color with numbers, it is more suited to someone that is banding a certain year of hatch, etc.

Still like the way they go on best, so bought 2 different color boxes which was enough in the short run. If I could find a box of this style in multi color in the size I wanted I get it.




For my younger birds, I used the children's rubber bands that you can get at Joann's or any craft store. Those things work great and easy on/off for me too. I like them better than the zip ties because of the ease of removal. No scissors or cutting needed.

I got a package of them for about $1.99 at Meijers if I remember correctly.

These are the bands I also use. Rubber bands for chicks and juveniles and bandettes for the adults. Some of my little escape artist take their off, but after a few times of putting them back on they realize it is a losing battle. I can't stand spiral leg bands

Thanks for the chicken band responses! For the rubber bands in the picture -- are they too small for adult chickens? Are the bandettes the numbered leg bands? Would any of these work for ducks? I can't imagine any of the stretchy ones would stretch enough to go over the duck feet.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well....I can't answer about ducks.

The bandettes are like the old fashioned "snap bracelets". I think they do come without numbers at some suppliers if you search around. The ones I have are numbered but I'd prefer some w/out numbers so if anyone has a source let me know.

Those little rubber bands come in various sizes so you have to look at the packages. Some of them are too large for little ones.

My package had a variety of colors and sizes and I put it on a week-old and was also able to use them on adult size. I still have one on one of my 30 wk pullets. The only bad thing about that is that they aren't as "in your face" as far as seeing them from a distance when the birds are older. But they are stretchy and don't cause any trauma to the legs either. Another drawback is that there is the potential for them to wear out over time and just come off (like an old rubber band). I've had one on that particular pullet for about 38 weeks now and it's still there. If I was going to continue using those on the adult, I'd likely put 2-3 on the leg in the same color so it was more visible to me. Again...just my opinion.

@SallyinIndiana may have a duck idea

 

[SallyinIndiana]

For me the ducks legs were larger than my roosters legs in diameter so I did not band them. I heard toe punching was a bad plan so I did not try that. Wing banding might work but I never got it accomplished as I could not even get it right on a chick. I watched and watched the wing banding videos and decided after a few attempts that for me I would have to see it in person before I could use it.
Personally I think the spiral bands or the numbered bands would come off in a lake or pond or pool. I would vote for zip ties even though that is a pain as the ducks grow so fast.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

my turkey hens keep looking for their tom. They prance and pace by his 3 favorite roosting areas and one is squatting for both me and my DH. I thought she was injured the first time she did her little squat and wing spreading.

 

[PeacefulWalls]

For me the ducks legs were larger than my roosters legs in diameter so I did not band them. I heard toe punching was a bad plan so I did not try that. Wing banding might work but I never got it accomplished as I could not even get it right on a chick. I watched and watched the wing banding videos and decided after a few attempts that for me I would have to see it in person before I could use it.
Personally I think the spiral bands or the numbered bands would come off in a lake or pond or pool. I would vote for zip ties even though that is a pain as the ducks grow so fast.

Aw nuts! I was hoping there would be an easy way to identify the ducks from each year. One of my daughter's friends said her duck eventually chewed off (somehow) zip ties. Our 3 ducklings hatched around October 8 so they're just a bit over 2 months old now & big! Any suggestions for integrating them with the rest of the flock? What would happen if we just added them to the others? Right now they're in a coop far enough away that they've never seen each other. The main flock is 10 hens & 3 drakes and they are about 1 1/2 years old.