Valentine's Day 1st Annual Hatch Along

[fried green eggs]

Yes if u punch a u out of the webbing if u punch a complete hole it could grow over

When they are older - How visible is it, can you see it when they are walking around ?

 

[sdm111]

Depends on how much is cutout. I see mine. If I know what I'm looking for

 

[misfitmorgan]

Is the toe punch permanent? That may be favorable for marking my BCMs.

It is permanent...be very careful doing this on day old chicks...you can permanently cripple them if you cut to deep. They will also bleed so be prepared.

When they are older - How visible is it, can you see it when they are walking around ?

No...you have to pick them up and look at their feet to see it..unless perhaps you have a dark footed bird walking around on a light floor and holding still for you too study their feet.

 

[misfitmorgan]

Properly done toe punch





Improperly done toepunch

 

[sdm111]

It is permanent...be very careful doing this on day old chicks...you can permanently cripple them if you cut to deep. They will also bleed so be prepared.

No...you have to pick them up and look at their feet to see it..unless perhaps you have a dark footed bird walking around on a light floor and holding still for you too study their feet.

Cut too deep? It cuts all the way out

 

[paris_r]

Yes if u punch a u out of the webbing if u punch a complete hole it could grow over

not so sure about that, may be the tool you are using, but (toe) punching is as reliable in research facilities for chickens as well as mice. admittedly we use a 2mm punch designed for that. personally i use zip ties as they can be applied to different legs (3 combinations-other than 'none') come in multiple colours and can be applied multiply. i have a hen who still has her zip tie on from 4 years ago, i could probably now toe punch her and not worry about it, but she has a distinct comb so i can now ID this black hen by that. i have heard of studies using marked male birds (cant remember which species) where the choice of legband colour affected mate selection by the females! they werent even deemed sensitive to that colour under normal situations, but the novelty and colour changed their minds.

toe punching/cutting gives a potential inroad to infection on an already challenged chick.

 

[misfitmorgan]

Cut too deep? It cuts all the way out

For someone who has never done it before it would be quite easy to cut into the meaty part of the foot on a day old chick with cuticle scissors. Thats why they make toe punches..the guard on the end of the punch helps to prevent you from cutting to close to the meaty part of the foot.

 

[LPeaslee]

Properly done toe punch Improperly done toepunch

How old were they when you marked them?

 

[fried green eggs]

It is permanent...be very careful doing this on day old chicks...you can permanently cripple them if you cut to deep. They will also bleed so be prepared.

No...you have to pick them up and look at their feet to see it..unless perhaps you have a dark footed bird walking around on a light floor and holding still for you too study their feet.

Ok. I think I will stick to using small zip ties and small colored plastic beads. I have been using this system for 3 years. Once the bird is full grown, there is no need to change out zip ties and they are easy to see when walking around. I use different bead colors for different birth years and breeding so, I know who's who.

 

[misfitmorgan]

See how there is metal beyond the actual part that punches the toe...thats a safety feature so you can only get so far into the web of the foot and not into the meat....putting the end of it up to the chicks foot set backs the punch part.