permanent markers for chicks

[wolftracks]

I've heard of people using those tiny colored rubber bands for braids for marking.

I've used a permenant marker, but I should have remarked them sooner. They never seem to last long.

I dab nail polish on the heads now. LOL Comes off when the down does.

 

[centrarchid]

Day 24 after permanent marker was used to mark day old chicks and marks still clear and readible. Chicks marked were dominiques and dominique crosses. Colors used were red, purple, orange, green, and yellow. Least easy to read was yellow as unmarked off white area had to be exposed for comparison. Colors even visilble on black down if mark heavy. Combinations also working.

Permanent markers I think worth effort and appear to cause no harm.

 

[centrarchid]

last round of marking chicks with Sharpies I went a little crazy marking chicks all over the place. Some looked rather dazzling. Marks were applied to back of head, throat, white patches in front of eyes, the sides of abdomen and wing tips. Marks on top of head and throat area were visible from distance at 5 weeks. Abdomen marks not visible at all. Wing tips proved to be a surprize on chicks with light colored feathers, especially white, emerging from where mark was applied. These marks visible to at least 7 weeks. Will not work with most of my dominique project birds but those working with lighter colored birds, this may be a marking technique to consider. It is fast, cheap and has for colors easily distinguished. Since birds have two wings, sixteen color combinations possible using wings alone.

Initially checking for wing band retention.

Note red color remaining on white down area at base of primaries.