When do their legs stop growing?

[latb611]

I am wanting to band my chicks legs so that one my kids can tell them apart and two so that if they are loose my jerk of a neighbor can't try and claim them as his. My chicks are 5 weeks old and I don't want to go ahead and band them if their legs are just going to get bigger and I will have to cut the band's off and redo them.

 

[brood mother]

Look this may not be the proper thread to ask this on but I have a question! When do spurs begin to show on roo chicks??? Where and what does it look like in the beginning?

 

[RockerHen]

To the first question: yes, their legs will continue to grow and thicken, well into around 4 or 5 months. Wing bands are another option, as well as maybe painting a toenail a different color for each bird (not red, though, that may induce pecking). I do believe you can buy adjustable leg bands online, however.

To the second question: It varies from bird to bird. Most cockerels I've had don't have any noticeable spur growth until around 8 months old. Even then, the spur will only be a small blunt nub. ALL chicks, cockerels and pullets, will have a small 'spur bump' on the side of their leg from the time of hatch. The presence of a spur bump does not indicate sex. In addition to this, hens will occasionally develop sizable spurs. If you are trying to determine the gender of your chicks, wattle/comb growth and feather growth (such as hackles and saddles) will indicate gender far before spurs begin to grow. Hope this helps

 

[Oceanic109]

Chicks can live alone at 8 weeks old but that doesn't mean their legs stop growing at 8 weeks old like many believe! Their legs stop growing when they are fully matured. Roosters legs grow the most and get much more thicker then hens legs usually so watch out for the roosters you may need to get larger bands for them. Though it depends on the breed when the chicken is fully matured so i can't give a exact age.

 

[brood mother]

Thanks so much! But what are hackles and saddles??