When can I toe punch?

[NonnasBabies]

WOW.... Totally not what I was expecting!!

When I read the post about cutting off a toe I was like "You've got to be kidding me!"

*Shaking my Head*

Learn something new EVERY day!!

Missi

 

[McCord6]

OMG! Why do something like that when u can simply get ankle bands?! I wouldn't circumcise my son so why would I want to cut the web/skin off my chicken's feet! Sorry, my option. I won't do it! I rather go for ankle bands.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
leg bands work too, and many people use them. But toe punching is permanent, quick, cost sufficient, and you don't have to worry about it falling off the leg and getting lost or breaking. All personal choice though, everyone raises their birds differently though and it's up to that person to decide what is moral and immoral.

 

[Mahonri]

I'd love to see a pic and I'm still baffled at what this accomplishes.

Serious breeders? Give me a break.

 

[paulray2]

A Toe Punch Just Punches A Small Hole In The Web Between A Chicks Toes. This Is Best Done When The
Chicks Are Only A Day Or Two Old. The Web Is Very Tender At This Age So They Bleed Very Little If Any. This Also Marks The Chicks For Life And Can't Come Off. By Putting The Punches In Webs Between Different Toes And On Different Feet You Can Keep Track Of Who The Parents Are Or Lineage Is By Keeping Records Of Where The Chicks Were Punched.

Here Is A Link To Show The Different Ways A Chick Can Be Toe Punched.
http://www.dominiquechicken.com/Toe_Punch_Chart.html

 

[Mahonri]

Wow.

 

[debsbirds]

Hey, did you know that leg bands can bring sores so your bird cannot walk? I use wing bands and toe punch. It really works.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I like to toe punch my chicks (16 combinations) when they come off the nest or out of the incubator. I hold off on the wing bands until the peeps are a few months old when it is easier to handle the bird and I don't have to be as careful. Since you will always loose a few chicks (if you hatch many) so you don't have as many bands to buy or band numbers to record. The toe mark also is recorded with the band number at that time. Do record the year of hatch because if you don't sooner or later all your records will become useless in a multi age flock if you don't use custom band numbers.

Also by holding off on the wing bands you can record whether the wing band number belongs to a male or to a female.

By clipping out the little flap of skin in a chicks nose (4 combinations) as well as toe punching (16 combinations) and by splitting the toe webs (16 more combinations) as well as toe punching and splitting the web (HELP my head is beginning to spin) you can expand the number of marking combinations from 16 with just a toe punch all the way to....

oh gee, I have never set down and done the chicken math on that but it is over 128 distinct marks.

By toe punching your chicks at one day old you can also better keep up with them and be sure none of the punched holes scabbed over or healed up. If it is scabbed over gently rub the scab on the toe web between your thumb and fore finger and the wee hole will appear and remain for life.

Hope this helps.