What do you use to tell your chickens apart?

[NatJ]

Oh! I know of folks who put food coloring on their heads to tell them apart until they can recognize them individually. It obviously works well with lighter breeds, but I thought I'd mention it.

it might work with OP's Barred Rocks, too. The food coloring could show on the white barring, even though it won't show on the black.

 

[Missys Chicken Ranch]

Oh! I know of folks who put food coloring on their heads to tell them apart until they can recognize them individually. It obviously works well with lighter breeds, but I thought I'd mention it.

Smart Idea!

 

[The Moonshiner]

I use a toe punch.

 

[WhySayWhat]

I just don't have any 2 who look alike!

Me too. I did end up with 2 white leghorns this year, but I can tell them apart by the shapes of their combs (one has a deep V split near the front).

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I use a toe punch.

Pic?

 

[froggyphore]

i can usually tell by personality and little physical differences. when i use markers i use black white or clear zip ties. i avoid red and pink because chickens like to peck those colors

 

[The Moonshiner]

Pic?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have little pink spiral leg bands on this year's chicks, who are now adolescents. But I only have them marked so I know what year they joined the flock. That way I know the 3-year old EEs are due to be culled and don't accidentally process this year's EEs. I don't think I would make a mistake like that, but the leg bands are insurance. Mostly the leg bands give comfort to TheMan that when the time comes, no mistakes will be made.

I can tell some of my older individual EEs apart. There's Friendly, who's, well, friendly. And Jewel, who looks like a black opal with gold glitter. There's Blue, who survived the dog attack, being nursed daily for three weeks in my kitchen. And Ivory, my escape artist. Ebony, one of three surviving Black Australorps, and I can't tell you how I recognize her, I just do.

The Dominique cockerels are not banded and I recognize only one of them. Cocky. Three guesses why, lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

View attachment 2908612View attachment 2908613

Hm. Interesting. Doesn't seem there are many options for punching, though? How many chickens can you identify this way? Oh wait, i get it. Multiple combinations! Have you ever had a chicken or chickens get infections where they've been punched?

 

[Lizzy733]

I used pipe cleaners on my last hatch. Sufficed till I could tell them apart by sight.