Leg Bands, what brand?

[WoofMeowCluck]

Hi!

I ordered some leg bands but they are SO rough around the edges (they are a hard plastic). I'm afraid it will make sore spots on the chicks & adults legs, they are that rough!

Does anyone have a favorite brand and place to order that you could share with me? I know the chicks will have to have them changed often as they grow. Is there a company that makes a heavy duty rubber one that will be less likely to irratate the skin on their legs?

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

I subscribed to this thread when I saw it this morning because I'd like to order some and am afraid of something like this happening. I tried zip ties and they pulled them off.

 

[dkosh]

I also tried the zip ties. Very frustrating to see them on the barnyard ground. I was thinking of getting the "bandette" type. The wide band. Put on loose enough it shouldn't bother them.

 

[Gypsy07]

I bought cheap 16mm snap-close leg bands from eBay and carefully checked each one and cut off or filed down any rough bits. All my birds wear them, some have been wearing them for 16 months now, and everybody's legs look fine. You can also buy spiral leg bands that I imagine would be softer plastic...

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Quote:
Thanks, Gypsy07! I'll file down the ones I have and see how it works. A "toe punch" was recommended but I want to be able to see the color and number on the leg bands.

 

[Gypsy07]

Toe punch? Is that what I think it is? Something that puts holes in the webbing between their toes?

Ouch!!!!!

I think sticking with the leg bands is a much nicer way to go. I hate to think of the possibilities for infection if everybody was running about with open wounds in their feet. Then again, I'm sure loads of people use it and don't have any problems at all. At first I was worried about the leg bands catching on things, but after a year and a bit of free ranging, I haven't seen anything like that happening to anyone.

Did you say you got numbered leg bands? Cool! Where did you get them? I wanted numbered ones but could only get different coloured ones and I had to scratch my own numbers into them. Looks awfully untidy...

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

I ordered them from Randle, but since then have seem them on line at other poultry supply stores. They were out of the color pink, and so are all the other places I looked. I love pink LOL

 

[riftnreef]

The scales on a chickens leg are pretty tough. I use aluminum bands on my fully grown birds, lettered and numbered for tracking of course. Never really had a problem with them either, just have to find the right fit so they don't slide around too much, but don't fit too snugly either. Now on my cochins, I just use the plastic bandettes because the metal bands can do a number on the leg feathers. HTH

 

[WoofMeowCluck]

Thanks! I'm going to use the plastic ones I bought and see how it goes. I really like the idea of permanent metal ones though. Is it a two or three person process to put the metal ones on?