Keeping records/Identification on your flock - Need suggestions!

[CowgirlHC]

Is that just typical, every day velcro from like wal-mart?

 

[DMRippy]

Is that just typical, every day velcro from like wal-mart?

Yes. They have it in all kinds of colors. Pink, brown, black, white, red,....... I know they have more. I use pipe cleaners for the other colors on the velcro. I have all kinds of color combos. I use certain colors for pen colors and then another color for individuals in that pen.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know you said you don't like the spiral for some reason, but that's what I use. I use three different colors and I can mark a lot. When you consider shipping the cost of those two extra bags isn't that much.

To be up front, their are size issues. Cutler Supply has a chart as to what size to get for what breeds and species, but for chickens, that only applies to hens. For my full sized hens, size 10 works great but they are too tight for roosters. I don't know what size would be needed for roosters as I just use zip ties for them. Whatever you use on the legs, be careful they don't get too tight.

Another thing is to watch for color contrast. Try to get contrasting colors compared to the chickens leg color. Yellow on a yellow-legged chicken is not real clear. Dark blue on a black-legged chicken can be a bit of a challenge. You can see them with them walking around but with the light wrong it can be a bit harder.

You can develop your own system depending on what you want to track, but the method I use is that the left leg shows which year they were hatched. 2012 is orange. 2011 was bare. If all others are banded, a bare leg is a clear identification.

The right leg is the individual chicken. You are not limited to three hens with three colors. You can put more than one band on a leg. Don't put two of the same color side by side because it is hard to tell whether it is one or two. I've made that mistake. Another thing to consider is that you can repeat color codes on different colored chickens. If one is black black and one is white, you can tag both with orange left and yellow right and still identify them.

For example, with an orange on the left I might have on the right leg:

Bare
One yellow
One blue
One orange
Yellow over blue
Yellow over orange
Yellow under blue
Yellow under orange
Yellow under blue under yellow
Yellow under blue under orange

You can get as complicated as you wish but maybe you get the idea. If you add a fourth color, the options really go up.

 

[mickey328]

You can also use cable ties. They come in a lot of colors as well and since they're tough nylon, the chickens can't peck them off. Just leave them loose enough so that you can get a pair of scissors under them to remove them when you're ready.

 

[DMRippy]

I have had to cut zip ties, cable ties out of the skin. Not a good thing. When they are chicks I use vet wrap, come in all colors too. I cut a strip and wrap it around the leg. Then at about 2 months you can add the velco and it will stay for years.


This chick pose nicely for the vet wrap LOL. It was about 4 wide and I just kept wrapping it, seal it good at the leg so I will not come off. I have tried to cut the vet wrap in half to save money, but it will not stay on. This stays on for weeks.

 

[galanie]

You can also find colored velco ties at some home centers that are made to keep electrical wires bundled up like your computer cables. They come in multicolored packages I think 4 or 5 colors to the package. Velcro is my favorite banding stuff but after a year they get pretty dirty and fade.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! For chicks, I use plastic hair bands. They are REALLY cheap and come in lots of different colors and sizes. I start small and just put the bigger ones on as they get bigger. But then I do use the spiral leg bands on the full grown birds. They come in lots of colors, got the assorted pack, and are easy to put on. I have never had any trouble with them. Guess you could use the bigger plastic hairbands, you just have to replace them every so often as they "give up".

 

[CowgirlHC]

Yes. They have it in all kinds of colors. Pink, brown, black, white, red,....... I know they have more. I use pipe cleaners for the other colors on the velcro. I have all kinds of color combos. I use certain colors for pen colors and then another color for individuals in that pen.

How neat! I may have to look into trying that. Would it be too much trouble to see if you could post a pic of how yours look? You've peaked my interest lol

 

[CowgirlHC]

I have had to cut zip ties, cable ties out of the skin. Not a good thing. When they are chicks I use vet wrap, come in all colors too. I cut a strip and wrap it around the leg. Then at about 2 months you can add the velco and it will stay for years.


This chick pose nicely for the vet wrap LOL. It was about 4 wide and I just kept wrapping it, seal it good at the leg so I will not come off. I have tried to cut the vet wrap in half to save money, but it will not stay on. This stays on for weeks.

Vet wrap is brilliant! I have TON of it (we're a cattle farm first, horse farm second, chicken farm third, although my Pap would like to eliminate our 2nd reputation lol). Thank you for sharing this!

 

[CowgirlHC]

...I know you said you don't like the spiral for some reason, but that's what I use. I use three different colors and I can mark a lot. When you consider shipping the cost of those two extra bags isn't that much....

OK, why didn't I think of this?! Seriously, I'm not lacking of common sense or anything, lol, I just never thought of combining colors to "code" the hens. Great idea! May have to try this option. I am also concerned about the sizing. I've seen 4 companies have their own sizing chart and according to my breeds, I need anywhere from 9,11,12 and one site was an 18 but I think it was how he decided to size his. That was one thing that caused me to shy away from them because they seemed to vary so much. Regarding sizing, can anyone here help me in that regards? Hens we have are Ambers, Red Star, Plymouth Rock, and Buff Orpington, then a BO Rooster. He is a pretty good sized boy!