The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[mithious]

I've never actually used the wing bands, not too popular on the show circuit. I rely on toe punches to identify the pen/lineage of the hatch right out of the hatcher and add that to the lineage charts. (toe punches are free) The only time I band birds is when they are selected for a breeding pen. Then they will be given a colored and numbered aluminum leg band. The color will represent the hatch/ lineage, the number will belong to the individual and that info will be added to the charts.

Thank you

We did the toe punching, am new to the leg bands and wing bands. Both are great ideas though.

I also read that people had problems with the leg bands falling off but I guess if the judges don't like the wing banding, than it's settled. If people buy birds for showing, the last thing they will want is a wing band.

Do the birds pick at the bands when they are banded for the breeding pens?

 

[DMRippy]

Fred those eggs are SMALL. My two pullets I hatched form the eggs I got from Frank Reese are good size almost a large already. The eggs he shipped were good sized too. The pullets/hens from my GSBR roo all lay good size eggs and lay really well.... too well most of the time LOL.

As for marking birds TOE Punching is the way to go. It is permanent so if the other bands you use fall off it is no problem to ID them. I have used several methods for banding birds... most home made. I used Velcro and it works REALLY WELL on the cheap. You can use different color velcro (comes in all kinds of colors at walmart) then I can use Pipe cleaners to further ID birds. The good thing about velcro is it is easy on easy off and stays on FOR EVER. I have birds I put them on almost 2 years ago and they are still there. The only time I had one come off was when they got too close to each other and the band from one got stuck to the other LOL. Zip ties will work but I will NOT use them on growing birds. When they are at POL I can use the zip ties. I have used Vetwrap (can be hard to get off and to stay on)

The only thing I use now for young chicks are the legbands in my siggy. They are EASY on and EASY off. When I move them outside they get another band usually.

AS WITH ALL LEGBANDS you have to check them OFTEN.

 

[mithious]

The subject comes up with some frequency here, but not all leg bands are created equal. At the farm store the other day they were out of the bands I prefer. All they had were the spiral type, so unfortunately, I had to pass. I need to re-supply. While popular with some folks, I'd rather not use the spirals.

Strips of vet wrap are pretty good for temporary banding. It tends to fall off, so some caution is advised.

We had a member here, just a two dozen posts back, show the wing band. I'm sure a private message would get you the scoop on them. I do not use them.

Thanks Fred

What brand do you use? I will need to order some and don't want them to easily fall off while ranging. Also, why do you like the brand you use?

Also, what about chick banding? Say you have two or three different lines of the same breed and want to keep track or would toe punching be better for chick tracking of the lines?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
I only use those kind of bucket inside now and they are screwed into the pens. The handles broke on so many we replaced them with wire. I have converted those pens to a central waterer of 110 gallons. 2 x 55 gallon water barrels that feed pipes (soon to be pex since the PVC didn't survive the first winter with these weird temps we had). It is a great time saver and we have really missed my water system since the BIG FREEZE. The pipes SHATTERED. Now we spend about 30 mins a day watering my breeding pens with the waterer system we don't have to worry, just make sure there is water in the barrels.

IN BREEDING NEWS.... LOL

I hope to set up my SPPR pen next week. Slowly I have been able to move everyone around and I think the SPPR are next. I set up my project Partridge pen and they are laying nicely so we will see how that hatch goes in a few weeks..... collecting eggs now

this will be the 3rd crossing and hoping to see a HUGE jump in the penciling. I know it will take a few more generations to get them looking as good as the Partridge but it will be well worth the wait I think.

 

[mithious]

Fred those eggs are SMALL. My two pullets I hatched form the eggs I got from Frank Reese are good size almost a large already. The eggs he shipped were good sized too. The pullets/hens from my GSBR roo all lay good size eggs and lay really well.... too well most of the time LOL.

As for marking birds TOE Punching is the way to go. It is permanent so if the other bands you use fall off it is no problem to ID them. I have used several methods for banding birds... most home made. I used Velcro and it works REALLY WELL on the cheap. You can use different color velcro (comes in all kinds of colors at walmart) then I can use Pipe cleaners to further ID birds. The good thing about velcro is it is easy on easy off and stays on FOR EVER. I have birds I put them on almost 2 years ago and they are still there. The only time I had one come off was when they got too close to each other and the band from one got stuck to the other LOL. Zip ties will work but I will NOT use them on growing birds. When they are at POL I can use the zip ties. I have used Vetwrap (can be hard to get off and to stay on)

The only thing I use now for young chicks are the legbands in my siggy. They are EASY on and EASY off. When I move them outside they get another band usually.

AS WITH ALL LEGBANDS you have to check them OFTEN.

Nice. Velcro and pipe cleaners, who woulda thought. I have heard the bands do fall off, which is why I was interested in info on the wing bands, but shows don't care for them, so that clears that question up. So leg bands with chicks in the brooder, gotcha ya. Thanks

I might try that Velcro with the older birds. Definitely gonna toe punch. Enough of you have endorsed that to make up my mind. Still want some good leg bands, as they are numbered.

I don't think I would like using zip ties. On the things I have used them on, they tend to become lose quite easily. I have lots of range that has cover, so anything that could catch on say berry bushes would seem to come lose more easy also.

Have you ever hand written numbers on the Velcro? Is that doable?

 

[DMRippy]

Nice. Velcro and pipe cleaners, who woulda thought. I have heard the bands do fall off, which is why I was interested in info on the wing bands, but shows don't care for them, so that clears that question up. So leg bands with chicks in the brooder, gotcha ya. Thanks

I might try that Velcro with the older birds. Definitely gonna toe punch. Enough of you have endorsed that to make up my mind. Still want some good leg bands, as they are numbered.

I don't think I would like using zip ties. On the things I have used them on, they tend to become lose quite easily. I have lots of range that has cover, so anything that could catch on say berry bushes would seem to come lose more easy also.

Have you ever hand written numbers on the Velcro? Is that doable?

I guess you could figure out a way to do that. Maybe just a sharpe on a white velcro. It might fade though. If you use the pipe cleaners make sure they don't rub their legs. The part where I twisted the pipe cleaner together was on the OUTSIDE. The pipe cleaners really give you UNLIMITED combinations. You can put lots of colors, you can twist 2 colors together.... you name it and it can be done.









OH on the zip ties.... I don't use them because they can be missed and grow INTO the chickens LEGS. I don't worry about them being too lose.

 

[mithious]

I've never actually used the wing bands, not too popular on the show circuit. I rely on toe punches to identify the pen/lineage of the hatch right out of the hatcher and add that to the lineage charts. (toe punches are free) The only time I band birds is when they are selected for a breeding pen. Then they will be given a colored and numbered aluminum leg band. The color will represent the hatch/ lineage, the number will belong to the individual and that info will be added to the charts.

Another question racertomtom, if you have a few different lines of the same breed, how do you know who is from what line if they are not banded from the beginning? Would simply toe punching them work for that? For the first generation at least? This year, it is looking like I will have two lines of the BR's I will be working with. Maybe another next year. ( Lord willing ) I need to keep meticulous records, so need a sure system for tracking the lines. I may take this in two separate directions. Breed my GSBR's to this years new line, and GSBR's to next years new line, an entirely separate line from this years new line. This I have not done before. I have used one line to introduce new blood, but not two completely separate lines. Does that make sense? I am trying to figure out how to track them and record what I choose to breed out of them. Next year, at first it will be easy, as there will be a size difference, but once they are grown out????? See what I am saying? Or did that just come out a jumbled mess because it's late and I should be in bed

instead of running breeding plans through my head.

What about a HUGE genetic line, on paper, on the wall? Would that even work? Like people tracking their heritage? With all the branches ect? I am a visual person, numbers get so jumbled, but if I can SEE it, it makes complete sense.. Is that too far out of the box? But back to the birds, I still need a way to keep track of multiple lines on the actual birds. I guess toe punching then banding would be the only way to do that, wouldn't it?

 

[rancher hicks]

I can not keep up with this thread.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

Wynette put me on to a "locking" plastic leg band last yr and I ordered some in green and in white

I put them on last yrs Col Rock females and NOT A SINGLE ONE has come off. I'll try to find the info....perhaps Wyn will check in before I find it and help us out

I do also toe punch for the reasons stated before....its permanent!! Leg bands make it easy for me to ID a bird and the pen it was from (which means I need a few more colors this yr)

 

[rancher hicks]

Wynette put me on to a "locking" plastic leg band last yr and I ordered some in green and in white

I put them on last yrs Col Rock females and NOT A SINGLE ONE has come off. I'll try to find the info....perhaps Wyn will check in before I find it and help us out

I do also toe punch for the reasons stated before....its permanent!! Leg bands make it easy for me to ID a bird and the pen it was from (which means I need a few more colors this yr)

Which bands are these? I could use some since I'm working with Birchen Marans and it means hatching out a lot.