Telling chicks apart in the incubator

[alicefelldown]

I had a barrier set up in the incubator (which has worked fine in the past), but the first little guy out broke through like the kool-aid man. How can I make sure he gets his proper leg band once everyone else hatches?

The barrier was a length of 'fence' that blocked off a corner. It's worked for the last three hatches, but I probably should have braced it more this time. I didn't have any strawberry baskets handy.

The eggs/chicks are all the same breed, so there won't be anything feather coloring wise to make sure the chicks from these two eggs are properly tracked as they age.

Does anyone have any tricks or tips to help me keep an eye on this one? Thanks!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Build something like this out of hardware cloth to fit your incubator.

Or just built cubes out of hardware cloth to set in there.

 

[alicefelldown]

I'm in lockdown right now, I can't open the bator. I'm asking for things I can do NOW, not for next time. Like I said above, the barrier worked the last three times, I just didn't do the best job of setting it up for this hatch. Thanks though!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Baster an an air line to drop food coloring on them?

Paint or nail Polish on a stick?

 

[colby318]

I mark them on the leg with a sharpie (permanent marker). whoops, missed the lockdown in bold lettering. sorry about that!

 

[mothersin2ition]

Quote:
Those are both really good ideas! Though Id skip the nail polish just because its so flammable.
It should be fairly easy to get some aquarium tubing in a vent hole and use a large syringe filled with darkly colored water or kool aid, and try to get some on the chick.