Marking Chickens question

[ChickenDude12345]

I use plastic spiral leg bands. They come in many sizes. just my preference. Good luck...
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Awesome thanks for the idea

 

[ChickenDude12345]

I have enough room that it can't get caught but can easily move up, down and around the leg. It can't come off if the toes are closed though

Ok

 

[ChickenDude12345]

It is fine sitting on their foot, but I personally wouldn't put it lower that what this one is

K

 

[Lollychicken]

I use plastic spiral leg bands. They come in many sizes. just my preference. Good luck...
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Yes, this is another great way to mark chickens, we used to do this and it was very affective. If you did choose to go this way you should be able to find them at a pet feed place

 

[ChickenDude12345]

Yes, this is another great way to mark chickens, we used to do this and it was very affective. If you did choose to go this way you should be able to find them at a pet feed place

Ok

 

[Swbertrand1]

I am thinking about using zip ties to mark my chickens. Just one question - when I put the zip tie on should I put it on snug or put it on loose and let it drop down to their feet? Any help is appreciated!

We've used both colored zip-ties and colored rubber bands. We prefer the rubber bands just because they're easier on the scaly legs of the birds. They're cheap and easy to cut off, too, if we need to upsize a band on growing chicks.

With that said, we still have a little Silkie hen that tells us she likes her little blue band and the charm that's on it some three years after she got it...

 

[ChickenDude12345]

We've used both colored zip-ties and colored rubber bands. We prefer the rubber bands just because they're easier on the scaly legs of the birds. They're cheap and easy to cut off, too, if we need to upsize a band on growing chicks.

With that said, we still have a little Silkie hen that tells us she likes her little blue band and the charm that's on it some three years after she got it...

Yea and rubber bands won’t stop the circulation in their feet

 

[Swbertrand1]

Yea and rubber bands won’t stop the circulation in their feet

Zip ties won't either if put on loosely - we have a Silkie hen that's had one on for some 3 years now.

 

[aart]

Yea and rubber bands won’t stop the circulation in their feet

Zip ties won't either if put on loosely

Ditto Dat!

Any type of leg band needs to be monitored and changed out if there's a problem.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Ditto Dat!

Any type of leg band needs to be monitored and changed out if there's a problem.

Yep. We monitor them closely, but really only use them on chicks now. Once a couple days old, they get a band (rubber band) that's about 3/16" O.D. By the time they're a month or so old, the band gets cut off and a 5/16" O.D. band replaces it. When chicks are leaving to go to a new home, or once we are certain who is who, then the band gets removed.
We use them mostly to track which chick came from which egg-shell, thus telling us which hen is the momma, and so that we know who is who if we get DNA sexing done. It works well since we keep lots of notes on our hatches and track each chick individually as well as the group of chicks...