Keeping track of chickens - leg bands?

[Toothpick]

I know I’ve asked this in the past but can’t find the thread -

Does anyone use leg bands or any other form of identification for the flock?

Reason I ask is I have a flock of roughly 2yr old hens. I’ll be hatching soon and integrating the new hens with the old hens. I want to be able to distinguish the old from the new so when egg production slows down I can cull the old ones. I’m thinking leg bands would be the easiest way. But unsure what kind to get and when to put them on.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[PittyLova]

They actually sell some that are colored zipties with numbers on them. I got mine off of ebay. They're the only ones that I've tried that don't fall off. If I were you I'd gather up your older hens and band them with the zipties. That way you don't have to worry about the youngsters growing and having to cut off and re-band. When those girls are grown you can use another color ziptie on them before another batch of chicks grows up.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I use jiffy wing bands to identify my chickens.

 

[starri33]

I'm thinking about the spiral, anyone have experience with those?

 

[Toothpick]

Catching the old hens would be dang near impossible. Unless I had a net, and somehow kept the rooster from attacking me.

 

[Toothpick]

I'm thinking about the spiral, anyone have experience with those?

Is the idea that they stay on and expand as the chicken grows?

 

[starri33]

Is the idea that they stay on and expand as the chicken grows?

Yes, the zip tie won't grow as the chicken does, the spiral will keep opening up (stretching?) so as to not cut off circulation. They have a bunch of different sizes and colors.. I found mine on Ebay

 

[Toothpick]

Yes, the zip tie won't grow as the chicken does, the spiral will keep opening up (stretching?) so as to not cut off circulation. They have a bunch of different sizes and colors.. I found mine on Ebay

At what age do you put them on the chicks?
Do you have to change them out for a larger size ever?

 

[starri33]

I haven't put any on mine yet, due to the fact I bought one's big enough for a elephant, But I'd guess that you could put them on say at a month or two.. someone else that has used them could probably tell you, as far as I will say, I do not believe you would need to change them out unless the ones you've bought are to small for them to grow into.. they are plastic so I don't believe they will stretch enough to say pop off. They have more give than the solid piece.

 

[Toothpick]

Cool, thanks for the info!