Marking/Identifing Chickens That Look Alike

[CJW]

I went to my local fleet supply dealers and they had no leg bands.

I have 7 Plymouth White Rock Pullets, and they all look the same! My boys are excited to name "theirs", but I want us to be able to identify them individually.

Could I use elastic ribbon or something? (How would I put that on?

)

If you have anything that works, please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

 

[chicmom]

You could put a little dot of color on their heads. Lots of hatcheries do that to identify which chick is a rooster if they ship an order of chicks.

 

[mommyofthree]

I would check eBay, I'm sure you can get leg bands on there.

 

[gryeyes]

I bought leg bands on-line. Haven't put them on the birds, because they're all different breeds right now. But I have a slew of chicks I've hatched so there are now multiples of the same breed. The bands are for future use.

Here's some information: http://shilala.homestead.com/spiral.html

But here's where I bought mine:
http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=562

 

[Matt A NC]

Zip ties are what I use. 120 of different colors for $1 at the Dollar Tree is alot cheaper then any bands. Just cut off the excess once you zip it on.

When I have alot of chicks I use multiple bands on each leg to keep track of who is who. That is how I had a Rooster named L-RBG(Left - RedBlueGreen).

Just be sure to check them often on growing birds. A tight band of any kind can cause permanent damage if not caught early.

Matt

 

[6littlechickies]

You'll need to keep a close eye on them b/c their legs grow fast but zip ties work great for this!

I actually buy some just for this purpose. I use the really small ones for the chicks and then, as they grow, clip them off and put new ones on.

If you don't have any of those, I've use a small hair tie or rubber bands from braces, something small like that. To put those on, I just gently hold their toes together, stretch out the band and slip it over. I watch closely and if it start getting snug just clip it right off--same for the zip ties.

pretty soon they will just 'know' which one is theirs--my kids always do!

good luck!

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
x2 and in the meantime bingo daubers work great for short term identification.

 

[Illia]

This is what I did with my Wyandottes until I started to tell them all apart.

Colored leg bands AND wings.

 

[CJW]

Wow, you guys rock! Thanks for the ideas!

I think the most cost efficient way for me to do this would be the zip tie them. I will head to the Dollar store tomorrow. My ladies are 6 months old, and they are pretty big! How much bigger are they going to get?

Here are my boys with two of them:

Quote:
I would do this, however, if I did, I would have to do both wings, but I trimmed one wing. Plus, I really like how pretty-white they are...And I am too picky about symmetry. (aka I am a nutcase)

I am strongly considering putting a leg band on each leg, but I might let it slide...just this once...er...7 times.

I am so excited to name them. (And so are the boys!)

 

[6littlechickies]

what an adorable picture!

Your boys look so proud of their girls! At 6 months, they should be about full grown size wise, may fill out a little bit more.