Keeping track of specific hens

[BoPeep75]

For several years I have kept about 9 to 12 hens at any given time. I love having a mixed flock for a lot of different reasons, easy identification being one. But I had a rooster accidentally sip into an order of hens and am going to let him give us some new chicks this year. It made me start to wonder, if you have a flock of all one breed or just a flock that has naturally bred over time and several of your chickens look the same, when it comes time to cull the older ones, how do you tell them apart? Because I already have a blonde golden star and a buff Orpington that I really have to squint at to see the difference LOL.

My great grandmother just used to pick one at random, but I would like to know if I’m getting ready to butcher and eat one of my best laying hens as opposed to one that’s quite a bit older and not laying well. Not sure if there’s a secret tip that I am overlooking somewhere. I know we mark our sheep, but I’ve not seen anyone do that with a chicken. I have seen leg rings but not sure if they work well or stay on for the open kind of clip.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I use colored zip toes, the 7" as opposed to the 4" though both can work. Just clip the excess length off whichever kind you use. I used to use the hard plastic rings but did not like those very much. With anything around the leg you have to monitor it so it doesn't get too tight. Those hard plastic ones were hard on my arthritic fingers to get off, even harder than putting them on. And one size doesn't fit all, You have to have the right size or you can get SueT"s problem, they can come off. When I got my rings I got packets by color and by size so I needed many packets. With the zip ties you tighten them up to fit. Simpler.

I'll say this again. No matter what you use you need to monitor the to make sure they don't get too tight. That's zip ties or hard plastic rings. I use wire cutters to cut the zip ties off when they start to get tight and need to be replaced.

You'll need to come up with your own color code system. I used the color on the left leg to tell me what year they hatched. Then I'd use the color or color combination on the right leg to identify which specific chicken it was. Of course, if some are black and others are red you can use the same color combinations on them. For example a red chicken with a green zip tie on its left leg to signify 2018 an a yellow and a red band on its right leg was a different chicken that a red one with a yellow tie on the left leg for 2019 and a yellow and a red on the right leg.

Just keep notes, it's not that complicated.

 

[RojoMarz]

So how loose should zip ties be, when first put on? I would put them on 9 month old pullets.
Thanks!
Sue

Tight enough to stay on, but not loose enough to fall off.

Seriously though, use your best judgement. I put them on so that they can freely move up and down the leg. Our LB leg feathers make that more difficult. The first time I put them on, I think they could have been looser. But, you do have to keep eye on them and remove/replace when necessary.

 

[Ridgerunner]

So how loose should zip ties be, when first put on?

Tight enough to stay on, but not loose enough to fall off.

I don't know how to say it any better. Tight enough that I can't pull them over the feet but loose enough to move up and down. Try it, you'll learn to trust yourself after a time or two. Practice can help.

 

[LizzzyJo]

When you use legbands or zipties, remember to check them ALL regularly to make sure they are not pinching, too tight, have a twig caught in them, messing with scales, or damaged. This seems obvious, but when you have a lot it needs to be a regular checklist item.

 

[-Kiwi-]

You can get colored leg bands, or just use zip ties to mark them. You can order them online.

 

[aart]

I use small zipties.
Alternating leg and color to denote year of hatch.
Additional bands for other IDing if needed.
They do fall off on occasion, so replacement might be needed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I have had up to 10 SLW hens in one setting and laugh at me if you want, I raised them from chicks and I could tell them apart reliably, my mom and siblings were baffled but I could!

 

[aart]

So how loose should zip ties be, when first put on? I would put them on 9 month old pullets.
Thanks!
Sue

Yep, just tight enough not to slip over a 'closed' foot.

 

[aart]

I wear a long apron, creates a sling between my thighs to hold them on side/back.
Left arm holds them in place, can use both hands for ziptie and cutters.
Take practice, for both keeper and bird.