What is the best way to ID geese?

[plantcityhomestead]

I want to identify my geese so that I can make notes on their development and breeding, but geese mouth everything. What are the rest of you using to ID your geese? Where do you get whatever you are using? All I have been able to find locally are livestock ID tags.

cindy

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I got the colored numbered #12 leg bandettes from Twin City Poultry Supply online. I don't think they will be able to get them off and they were only $6.95 for 25 of them plus shipping. They come in six different colors.

I know Celtic also uses numbered metal wing tags, which are really nice. I think she has a photo of them on her geese in one of her old auction threads. You may be able to find it by looking at the photos in her profile.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

I got the colored numbered #12 leg bandettes from Twin City Poultry Supply online. I don't think they will be able to get them off and they were only $6.95 for 25 of them plus shipping. They come in six different colors.

I know Celtic also uses numbered metal wing tags, which are really nice. I think she has a photo of them on her geese in one of her old auction threads. You may be able to find it by looking at the photos in her profile.

Here is the link for this site:
http://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/store/

They have some great prices compared to what I pay locally. Let me know how they hold up Mrs Magoo.

cindy

 

[Going Bhonkers]

How does it work with leg bands... do you ever need to remove them once you put them on?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Cindy, we have the plastic bandettes also, the little boogers take them off from time to time. We leg banded the juveniles two days ago, last night two of the boys had there's off.

We use the plastic leg bandettes in green for girls and blue for boys.

Permanent banding is brass engraved wing bands. They are numbered on one side and have our farm name and phone on the other.

I would be happy to teach you have to apply the wing bands if you go that route. I like them because the birds don't bother them at all. I can look up a number and pull parent info, and I keep an excel spread sheet where I can note anything I want/need.


There are also solid metal leg bands, you squeeze them closed the end butt together. They don't easily come apart or come off either. Basically once on they are on.

 

[birdking11]

differant coler pull ties.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

Cindy, we have the plastic bandettes also, the little boogers take them off from time to time. We leg banded the juveniles two days ago, last night two of the boys had there's off.
We use the plastic leg bandettes in green for girls and blue for boys.
Permanent banding is brass engraved wing bands. They are numbered on one side and have our farm name and phone on the other.
I would be happy to teach you have to apply the wing bands if you go that route. I like them because the birds don't bother them at all. I can look up a number and pull parent info, and I keep an excel spread sheet where I can note anything I want/need.
There are also solid metal leg bands, you squeeze them closed the end butt together. They don't easily come apart or come off either. Basically once on they are on.

Celtic Oaks, I am leaning toward the wing bands. It makes sense to me. I have used the metal leg bands on chickens, and find they are hard to read. I don't want to have to get the bifocals in just the right place while wrestling with a goose. I think it would be easier to check a number on a wing.

I would love to take you up on the wing band lesson. Next time you are going to apply them, let me know.

Going Bhonkers, the leg bands do have to be changed on chickens as their legs grow if you put them on young birds. I haven't used them on geese yet, but I assume it would be the same. I guess you could put a large one on from the beginning, but I think it would be annoying to the bird.

cindy

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Cindy,

When sorting goslings I noticed we missed one this spring who needs a wing band yet. We also need to band a set of ducks too. When ever it isn't 95* out we will net all of the mandarins and band them.


Shellie

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Bhonkers:

This year I waited to leg band until the birds were adult sized. I memorized the markings and know which line they are from and which was the oldest (lower number). That is easy enough with less than 20 birds from two sets of parents.

I don't think I will mentally be able to keep track of goslings born to up to six sets of parents this upcoming breeding season, so I am going to have to do banding from very early on. The leg bands used on goslings will have to be changed to larger ones as they grow: At least until they are about 4-5 months old when the adult bands become the right size.

I am going to have to research the metal wing bands. I should probably invest in some of these and band all the breeding stock with them (other flocks would be okay with leg bands). Things could get away from me very quickly if I don't have good records and identification once I have brought in a couple more bloodlines next spring.

Shellie:

Where do you buy your wing bands, if you don't mind sharing your source?
Thanks....
Rhonda

 

[plantcityhomestead]

Cindy,
When sorting goslings I noticed we missed one this spring who needs a wing band yet. We also need to band a set of ducks too. When ever it isn't 95* out we will net all of the mandarins and band them.
Shellie

Hummm. That would be November, right?

cindy