To Band or Not To Band, That Is The Question

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I am getting 2 silver sebright bantam pullets, 2 golden sebright bantam pullets, an ameraucana pullet, & an araucana pullet this March and I am wondering if I should band them. Some of my reasons for wanting to band my chickens are:
1. To tell the sebrights apart
2. To have a way to identify them if they ever get lost or stolen
3. To track their ages
4. I will be keeping records on all of my chickens so that I can track their health and when I have multiple birds of the same breed it would be easier to identify them by leg band color/number

If I decide to band my chickens what type of bands should I purchase? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[aart]

I band most my birds....small zip-ties work for me, they work on chicks so should work on sebrights.
But you must keep a close eye on them and change out if they get tight.
Here's how I do:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Yes the bands will be checked weekly. First time around we banded our brahmas and the spiral bands dug into their legs. Newbie mistake.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I band most my birds....small zip-ties work for me, they work on chicks so should work on sebrights.
But you must keep a close eye on them and change out if they get tight.
Here's how I do:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-banding-with-zipties.68075/

Just read your article and it’s really informative. My only question is, when I band them should I make the zip tie flush with the leg or leave a bit of room to allow for growing?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Is it worth it to buy the numbered zip ties from Stromberg’s? https://www.strombergschickens.com/category/Numbered-Zip-Tie-Poultry-Bands

 

[aart]

My only question is, when I band them should I make the zip tie flush with the leg or leave a bit of room to allow for growing?

I just added this to the article:
Put the band on as loose as possible but tight enough so it can't slip over the foot and come off.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Ok thank you aart you are so helpful and knowledgeable.

 

[Folly's place]

I use the spiral numbered plastic bands, and the plastic clip-on bands, and the zip ties. All can have issues and need to be watched.
The spiral bands can slip off, or what's worse, slip up over the hock and damage the leg. If the band 'disappears' make sure it's not up over the hock. It will be painful and the bird will limp. One of my birds had a very nasty wound there before I realized what had happened.
The clip- on bands fall off too.
The zip ties have no 'give' and can get too tight. I found some that are numbered last fall, and plan to get more.
I've never used the metal bands, or the wing bands.
Mary

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I use the spiral numbered plastic bands, and the plastic clip-on bands, and the zip ties. All can have issues and need to be watched.
The spiral bands can slip off, or what's worse, slip up over the hock and damage the leg. If the band 'disappears' make sure it's not up over the hock. It will be painful and the bird will limp. One of my birds had a very nasty wound there before I realized what had happened.
The clip- on bands fall off too.
The zip ties have no 'give' and can get too tight. I found some that are numbered last fall, and plan to get more.
I've never used the metal bands, or the wing bands.
Mary

Thanks for the warning regarding the spiral bands slipping up the hock Mary. I really appreciate it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If you are serious about identification then the Jiffy Wing bands are the way to go. They are unobtrusive, quick, easy, permanent (if you want them to be) and every band has a number that can be recorded in you stud book for future reference and breed information, they also come in colors and a series of 3 letters to give you more ID options. The only downside is that they are not reusable but they can be recycled, and there is also no danger of you forgetting to let them out to allow more space for the chickens' legs as your birds grow.