Leg banding chicks..

[KYBOY]

this year we are hatching out a lot of chicks of the same breed but from different lines so I need to band them..Were do you get your bands, what sizes do you use when banding chicks etc..Thanks

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I use colored zip ties till they're big enough for #7 bands. Then they get 9 or 11 when mature.
You have to check the zip ties weekly so they don't get too tight. Replace as needed.
If you only need to identify 2 lines then zip ties is all you need. If you want to identify individuals, you'll need numbers.

http://www.strombergschickens.com/prod_detail_list/bird-identification

 

[aart]

I use zipties too.....details here https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/leg-banding-with-zipties

 

[Jensownzoo]

Zip ties here too. Used colored ones to ID individual chicks within a breed.

Just got numbered zip ties from ebay--thinking ahead to flock sitters and them being able to identify individuals in case of issues. So, they'll probably have two bands. Number and color, color being easier for me to tell at a glance who's who.

 

[aart]

Zip ties here too. Used colored ones to ID individual chicks within a breed.

Just got numbered zip ties from ebay--thinking ahead to flock sitters and them being able to identify individuals in case of issues. So, they'll probably have two bands. Number and color, color being easier for me to tell at a glance who's who.

Link?

 

[dheltzel]

I use elastic bands, much easier to take on and off, and a little bit more "give" if you forget and leave them on too long.

http://www.paws-and-tails.com/elastic-grooming-bands.aspx

1/4 inch for newborn
3/8 for older ones

 

[Jensownzoo]

Link?

There are different colors, but the numbers show up best on the yellow. You could use different colors for breeds if you only have a few.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/25-Yellow-N...977072?hash=item3d0b8fc730:g:6m4AAOSwcBhWaw7u

 

[grace4261]

Wanting to track mine for gender. I marked only the two I think are going to be roosters using Rainbow Loom Bands and the S clips that come with the rainbow loom. I do not know how well they will hold up, but it was what I had on hand, and the kids long ago got bored of their loom.

 

[aart]

Quote: thanks....but then just realized numbers won't help if I have to change 3-4 times between from chick to adult....would have to buy 3-4 sets...hmmmmm.

 

[Jensownzoo]

thanks....but then just realized numbers won't help if I have to change 3-4 times between from chick to adult....would have to buy 3-4 sets...hmmmmm.

Yeah, I got them for later. Now that they're 9 weeks, I can leave them loose enough so I won't have to change them out. I am hoping not to have any unexplainable losses after 8 weeks of age, so I'm starting their individual records now. If you have ten different colored ties, you could always designate colors as digits 0-9 and use both legs while they're chicks if you don't want to do toe punches. That would work up to 99 at least.