The Legbar Thread!

[Junibutt]

Good info Junibutt --

you are such a pro~ I use zip ties from the start (little teeny zip ties )--- and cut them off and replace them on a regular basis. Sounds like you have it down to a science.

Hi I am not a pro, someone on BYC had sent me this link during one of the HALs. I learnt the hard way that not all chicks grow equally and 2 of my Orpington's almost lost their legs because I was only looking at the Legbar legs (a lot skinnier than Orpingtons). Chicks (especially Orpingtons) can grow really fast. I ignored their bands for 1 week and had to perform minor surgeries to dig them out.

 

[chicken pickin]

Hi I am not a pro, someone on BYC had sent me this link during one of the HALs. I learnt the hard way that not all chicks grow equally and 2 of my Orpington's almost lost their legs because I was only looking at the Legbar legs (a lot skinnier than Orpingtons). Chicks (especially Orpingtons) can grow really fast. I ignored their bands for 1 week and had to perform minor surgeries to dig them out.

Sorry to hear that and thanks for sharing. This is such a good reminder to those that do use any sort of leg bands. This happened to me once before when I bought pullets that had leg bands on already and I was not used to using them so I didn't think to check until they were already very very tight. and slightly in the skin.

Everyone keep an eye on leg bands and change them before they get to tight. Chicks quickly turn into juveniles and juveniles quickly mature to adults.

I will check the leg bands on my very fast grow males tonight, I think they are due for a band change.

 

[goldie1234]

Here is my chick 5 weeks. This is the one I was a little unsure about. What do you think?

 

[ochochicas]

Cute chick Goldie!

I leg banded all my legbars with zip ties about a year ago. I'm not sure what happened, but only one hen still has her zip tie on. They are all molting and I can't tell them apart anymore.

When I mark my chicks I have used food coloring and zip ties. It seems like the zip ties need to be removed/replaced every two weeks. Their legs grow so quickly that any longer than that you run the risk of damaging them. Food coloring on the head lasts 2 -3 weeks, and on the body it last 7 - 10 days. I prefer the food coloring to zip ties. Applying new food coloring every 2 weeks is a lot easier than putting on new leg bands.

 

[ChicKat]

Here is my chick 5 weeks. This is the one I was a little unsure about. What do you think?

Hi Goldie,

was it a gender question ? -- I'm thinking female -- because the crest is so large - it looks to me like a girl..... Are the feet particluarly large or legs thicker than your other chicks? I think it was expected to be a female - but the barring was more pronounced than most female chicks have---right?

 

[ChicKat]

Cute chick Goldie!

I leg banded all my legbars with zip ties about a year ago. I'm not sure what happened, but only one hen still has her zip tie on. They are all molting and I can't tell them apart anymore.

When I mark my chicks I have used food coloring and zip ties. It seems like the zip ties need to be removed/replaced every two weeks. Their legs grow so quickly that any longer than that you run the risk of damaging them. Food coloring on the head lasts 2 -3 weeks, and on the body it last 7 - 10 days. I prefer the food coloring to zip ties. Applying new food coloring every 2 weeks is a lot easier than putting on new leg bands.

Any pictures to show us? The idea is great - the risk seems less if it will save the frequent legband changes that the littlest babies need, and is safe. maybe because my flock has such dark pigment, I think I may have tried it and it didn't show up...can't recall now.

 

[goldie1234]

Hi Goldie, 

was it a gender question ?  -- I'm thinking female -- because the crest is so large - it looks to me like a girl..... Are the feet particluarly large or legs thicker than your other chicks?  I think it was expected to be a female - but the barring was more pronounced than most female chicks have---right?

It was a general what do you think and gender, lol! My other two pullets are only 2.5 weeks old. This one the breeder gave me because he was unsure on gender. He is 2-3 weeks older so I can't compare. These are my first Legbars! I have no frame of reference.
I thought she/he looked heavily barred! He/she had eyeliner and a tiny white spot when I got it!

 

[agadams]

i just got legbars too but this one looks like my roo. The roo had a white spot on the head and is lighter in color compared to the hens (girls). My roo does not have the hairdo yours has but Im putting my 2 cents in that it is a roo.

 

[goldie1234]

I posted this a couple weeks ago. Here he/she is a little younger again.

 

[ChicKat]

i just got legbars too but this one looks like my roo. The roo had a white spot on the head and is lighter in color compared to the hens (girls). My roo does not have the hairdo yours has but Im putting my 2 cents in that it is a roo.

I posted this a couple weeks ago. Here he/she is a little younger again.

yep, that is a pretty definite white headspot there, isn't it? --It also looks like it isn't contained inside the darker V. So agadams is probably correct, and I'm mistaken about the gender. I hope that the comb will stay straight the way it appears in the photo---wouldn't that be nice to have a big crest and a straight comb on a male?

You are going to post pictures frequently so we can all watch this one grow up!