Leg bands ??

[Sungrove Farmstead]

I really need a way to identify the girls, I can't tell them all apart anymore but they are free range and leg bands make me nervous for some reason - for those who band, what do you use an what do you suggest? There seems to be so many mixed opinions out there I don't know what to do!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I buy 11/16th heavy hen bands. You can find them online. I use a single color to differentiate between flocks.

 

[casportpony]

I use colored zip ties.

 

[SA Farm]

I use colored zip ties.

Me too

 

[paneubert]

Yep. I am on the Zip Tie train as well.

There are people who are scared a zip tie can continue to "zip" and cause issues, but I have never had it happen, and I think it would need to be a freak accident for it to happen. If you zip it so it is loose, then cut off the tail, it is virtually impossible to zip it any further. Both due to the circle of plastic already being bent in a shape that actually is resisting further reduction in circle size, but also because there is nothing to pull on to zip it. Some folks think their other chickens will somehow peck/grip a zip tie and zip it tighter, cutting off circulation. I think that is a ridiculous concept.....as long as you trimmed the pull tab off.

 

[centrarchid]

I use a combination of wing bands and leg bands. Latter in particular can have a retention issue when free-range, but they are easy to see from a distance. To give redundancy I use Jiffy Wing Bands that require birds to be handled to see. I have tried the zip tie option, but they can be even more problematic when it comes retention and they require more effort to affix to a birds shank.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I use colored zip ties. I have 2 wing banded birds from a breeder and I will use wing bands when I eventually start breeding.

 

[aart]

I use zipties too.
Clipping tail off close to lock,
and frequent checking as chicks grow is essential,
and just plain common sense for any kind of leg band.

Here some tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/