What do think about cable ties and beads?

[Beau coop]

I put small cable ties on my banties and after awhile one of the cable tie broke off. I had been checking them regularly to make sure they didn't get tight due to leg feathering- so I don't think it "popped" off.

Not really sure what happened, but my point is, if for some reason one of yours comes off, would they try to eat the beads?

 

[risurocket]

If you get a bin of zip ties for like 6 dollars at Menard's or places like that, it has a selection of colors - red, yellow, green, black and white, in the size that is good for leg bands. I use them and they work fine. Just make sure they are on loose enough, and use a fingernail clipper to get the dangle part off, right down to the nub, but not so close it would pop off too easily.

I don't know how many chickens you have, and how many you want to band. I use green for my potentially naughty chickens (the ones I am watching to see if they keep pecking) and I don't tag all of mine, just the ones that need to be IDed for some special reason like "don't cull, or this one is laying". The bin doesn't come with a ton of each color, which is the problem, but it comes with quite a few.

I would worry about beads being pecked at (mine love parrot toys with beads) and the chickens tripping or getting caught on something. You never know what those buggers will get into.

overall, though zip ties do work fine. Just make sure you leave like a few centimeters of slack, so that it still spins easily around the leg, so that you can trim them off later if need be. And if you are putting them on chicks, make sure you leave enough slack so they they have room for their legs to grow. check regularly to make sure they are staying loose.

 

[needmorechickens!]

Quote:
Good point...hmmm....I wonder if the permanent marker will stay on?

~Rebecca

 

[dancingbear]

needmorechickens! :

Quote:
Good point...hmmm....I wonder if the permanent marker will stay on?

~Rebecca

Good questions. I don't think they would eat the beads, but if they did, I doubt it would hurt them. The beads should just pass through and get pooped out. Chickens eat rocks, after all.

This gives me another idea, though. What about the smaller plastic ties, the ones that look almost like ball-chain, you know, like the chain on light switch cords, only plastic? You see it on price tags a lot. It would allow the use of much smaller beads, is more flexible and maybe more comfortable for the chickens. I'll have to see if I can find some on the web.

Interesting idea, Needmorechickens!​

 

[Mrs MIA]

I found some colored plastic beads at the bead store... look like short colored elbow-macaroni. I use the smallest white zipties that have the safety zip... the ends lie flat against the band instead of sticking out like all the others. I use pink for identifying girls on breeds I can't tell the difference (like chukars) and blue for boys. The permanent marker is not permanent... it rubs off in time. So I use combinations of colors if I need to. I use a different color each year so I can tell at a glance which ones are older. At least now that I've got so many birds I can't tell them apart.

You'll want a low-profile bead... plastic is better than wood (trust me), and if you can find the safety-ties, those don't leave sharp edges sticking out.
Good luck!

 

[ewesfullchicks]

Why don't you just use bird leg bands?

They're very easy to put on. No special equipment needed.

The only thing to beware of is to make sure that as the chickens grow, that the bands will not become too small, because they can grow into the leg if too tight.

Hope this helps,

Rachel
Bellecreek Farm

 

[Mrs MIA]

I tried the numbered aluminum bands... You have to wait to put them on until the birds are full grown, as I found out, because I wasted a bunch of them when the birds outgrew them and I had to cut them off. Plus, they're a lot more expensive. Those are the reasons I chose to use the zip ties and beads instead. I'm sure others have their reasons too... what ever works for you.

I have been thinking about the wing bands, though...

 

[the1much]

i use the ties,, and both legs,, lol,, 1 red tie on left leg= this breed 1 red on left and white on right= this breed ,, a white, and red on right, 1 yellow on left= this breed.
leg bands are over rated and priced

 

[allen wranch]

There is also the toe punch.

I use cable ties also.

Something else to think about is how much of the tail is sticking out. If another birds pulls on it, it will tighten the tie. I also only leave a tiny tiny amout of space between the tie and the leg. If too loose the bird can catch it on something. It can also creep up the leg and tighten up around the hock if it is too loose.

If using beads, I think the ones you show are too big and could cause several kinds of problems.

 

[needmorechickens!]

I don't like leg bands because I just want to have something cheap and very identifiable without having to catch the bird and look at the number. They are also not readily available.

Thanks all, this is great info.
~Rebecca